their pupils, their own brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters, as it were, than a person wholly unconnected with the tribe; and a teacher's heart should always be in his work if he wishes to accomplish anything. The girls are employed a portion of each day in making garments for themselves and the boys, or in washing and ironing their clothes, or in scrubbing the desks, benches, or floor. The boys cut, haul, and prepare the wood for the stoves, build fires, carry water, &c. Cleanliness and neatness are strictly required of all, and some seem to realize the benefit to be derived from it, and take pride in presenting themselves in proper condition.

The school has done and is doing much good in the tribe, but on many accounts it is far less useful than a boarding school would be. Under the present arrangement we have to contend with many disadvantages and difficulties which would be entirely removed, or very much obviated, if our school was established on the boarding school principle. One of the greatest drawbacks to the usefulness of the school, at present, is the extreme irregularity of the attendance of the pupils. Of course everything is done to mitigate the evil that can be done by the teachers, but the pupils, following the bent of their own inclinations, come to school when they please, and remain at home when they please. Another thing which operates greatly against the success of the school is the continual migration of the Indians. In the spring they go to their sugar camps to make sugar; when summer comes it brings them back to the prairies to plant and raise corn; in autumn they seek the vicinity of rivers and lakes to hunt and trap; in winter they take up their abode in the forest, that they may more easily obtain fuel. Thus they keep continually changing their location with every change of season, alternately crowding and depleting the school, frequently withdrawing our most promising pupils for periods of three or six months at a time. These evils of course will gradually grow less yearly, especially if the present policy of building them houses and settling them permanently in one place is carried out; but they can only permanently be cured by the establishment of a boarding school. The expense of a boarding school, except perhaps for a few months at first, would not be greater than at present, especially if established upon the manual labor principle.

For these reasons, and because of the great superiority of such a school for Indians, over all others, which must be apparent to any one, upon a moment's reflection, I would respectfully recommend the establishment, among the Winnebagoes, of a boarding school upon the manual labor principle, at as early a date as possible. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES H. MIX, Esq.,

W. E. CULLEN, Superintendent W. M. L. School.

U. S. Indian Agent, Winnebago Agency, Minn.

No. 28.

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, St. Joseph, October, 1860. SIR: In obedience to the requirements of the department, I have the honor of submitting the following as my report for the year ending September 30, 1860:

The annual reports of the agents of this superintendency for the past year certainly justify the opinion that the Indians of the reservations, more particularly those who have been located for several years, have made perceptible improvement in agricultural pursuits, and that they evince an increased desire to prosecute with more ardor such branches of industry as are calculated to surround them with the more substantial comforts of life. Indeed, my own observation upon a recent visit to a limited number of the reservations, is to me confirmatory that such is the fact. This I consider an advance towards civilization, and will have an influence on the moral condition of these communities. There appears also to have been awakened among those more advanced, no little anxiety upon the subject of education. Whether this progress can be kept up with an impetus which will finally result in preserving for any length of time these people as a distinct race or community, is a question which should not be permitted to dampen the ardor of those engaged in this work of humanity. Let the philanthropist do his present duty, and leave to time the development of results. Believing that this improvement is the result mainly of the locating and allotting policy which has been for several years pursued by the government, I cannot too earnestly urge upon the department the propriety and necessity of continuing a system from which alone any material benefit has resulted to these unfortunate people. It will be remembered that during the year 1859 great excitement pervaded several of the tribes of this superintendency, caused by the frequent hostile attacks made upon the reserve Indians, whilst engaged in their hunts, by the prairie bands. Upon this subject I regret being under the necessity of saying that the harmony of 1860 is not more appreciable than that of 1859; indeed, an increased boldness has in the past year brought these wild tribes several times upon the Pawnee and other reservations for the purposes of murder and theft. For the correction of this evil, so detrimental to the prosperity and happiness of these people and destructive to the race, I have nothing to add to my recommendations of last year.

In reference to the treaties recently made with the Delaware, Sac and Fox, and Kansas Indians, I beg leave to say that I believe that great good will result from their execution, not only to the Indians, but also to the citizens at large of the Territory; and consequently feel it to be my duty to recommend that an effort be made to form similar treaties with the Pottawatomies, Kickapoos, Omahas, and other tribes within the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, who hold larger tracts of land than they now or ever will have capacity to cultivate. This surplus territory must remain an uncultivated waste so

long as held by the Indians, depriving the Territories of all the benefits which would result from their settlement and cultivation.

By reference to the reports of the agents, the department will be apprised of the almost total failure of all crops in Kansas Territory and South Nebraska. The effect resulting therefrom it is apprehended will prove very disastrous to most of the tribes located in this region. To alleviate the suffering of the Indians incident to such a state of things, as well as to protect the citizen from the depredations and conflicts certain to arise under such adverse circumstances, is certainly a subject well deserving the early consideration of the department, and I cannot too earnestly press its importance.

From a letter of Agent Schoonover, recently transmitted through this office, it will be observed that there exists among the Sioux bands of the upper Missouri agency an amount of discontent towards the government and its agents, which renders intercourse with these bands very unpleasant as well as difficult. To allay this state of things certainly requires some action on the part of the government. What that action shall be, I submit for your consideration, and hope it will not be intrusive for me to say that, in my opinion, the best means which could be resorted to for the purposes desired, would be the formation of new treaties with these and other disaffected bands-increasing their annuities, and in this wise make their dependance upon the government a matter of more importance to them than does the limited annuity now received by them; otherwise they must be coerced by the military arm of the government to an observance of their present treaty stipulations and the duties due therefrom to the government and surrounding tribes. The former of these suggestions is certainly more consistent with humanity, economy, and the established policy of the government towards this people. These predatory tribes charge that their lands have been sold by tribes not entitled to dispose of them, who are receiving all the benefits arising therefrom; that they still encroach upon the Sioux country, destroy their hunting grounds, and hence these restless bands seek a justification for a violation of their treaty stipulations.

The condition of the Blackfeet agency is in most respects satisfactory. A due regard for the interests of the tribes of this agency induces me to bring to the consideration of the department the recommendation of Agent Vaughan, in his letter recently transmitted through this office, regarding the necessity of irrigation in connection with his farming operations. In consequence of the continued drought to which that section is subject during the growing season, I am disposed to favor the views of the agent, and more especially when I take into consideration the limited expenditure required to produce a result so important.

The discontented condition of a part of the tribes of the Upper Arkansas agency is so well known to the department that I deem any remarks upon that subject superfluous.

The Poncas, Pawnees, Yanctons, and Omahas will, from the abundance of their crops, together with the benefits arising from their treaties, be well prepared to meet the inclemencies of winter.

In conclusion, I have the pleasure of stating that the tribes of this superintendency have the past year enjoyed unusual good health. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. CHARLES E. MIX,

A. M. ROBINSON, Superintendent Indian Affairs.

Acting Com. Indian Affairs, Washington City.

No. 29.

BLACKFEET FARM, August 31, 1860.

SIR: In compliance with the regulations of the department, I have the honor to respectfully submit the following as my annual report

for 1860:

The fleet of steamers for the Upper Missouri, viz: Spread Eagle, Captain Labarge, Chippewa, Captain Humphreys, and Key West, Captain Wright, all under the control of Mr. C. P. Chouteau, of the firm of P. Chouteau, jr., & Co., contractors of the government troop's stores and Indian annuities. The troops commanded by Major Blake left St. Louis on May 3d. We arrived safe at Fort Randall after a tedious trip on account of the low stage of the river. At this point we met a rise, which enabled us to make the balance of the trip without any detention. We arrived at Fort Union on June 15, and, after discharging the Assinaibone annuities, went on our way rejoicing.

In due time we made Milk river; the landing of the steamer El Paso was passed: the steamer Spread Eagle accompanied us some ten miles further and then returned on her homeward way, having been ten miles further up than any side-wheel boat was before.

Our little fleet, now reduced to two, the Key West, commanded by Captain Labarge, in the van, boldly and fearlessly steered their way up what would seem to the uninitiated an interminable trip. At length the long expected goal is made, and on the evening of July 2 the two gallant crafts, amidst the booming of cannon and the acclamations of the people, were landed at Fort Benton with but one single accident, and that was a man falling overboard, who unfortunately was drowned.

Without wishing to be thought invidious when all do well, too much praise cannot be bestowed upon Captain Labarge and all the officers of the command for the untiring skill and energy displayed by them on this remarkable trip. Also to Mr. Andrew Dawson, partner, in charge of Fort Benton, for his forethought and sagacity in having wood hauled some sixteen miles below the fort, which enabled the two gallant crafts to land where no steamer was moored before.

In the conduct and condition of the Indians there is no change to note, except that not an Indian has committed a depredation since my departure to the States; also, all the warriors have promised not to go to war any more.

And while on this head I would say, that so large a command as

Major Blake's passing through the Indian country, has had a salutary and I trust permanent influence upon the Indians. They begin to see the power, and will respect and fear the government accordingly.

Major Blake and his officers informed me they never saw better be-haved Indians. I have delivered the Piegans, Gros-Ventres, and part of the Bloods their annuities. All received them with marked satis-faction, and started to their hunting grounds rejoicing. The balance of the tribes will not be in for some time, being far off in quest of buffalo, a scarcity of which prevails over the nation. No epidemic sickness has been among them, save the usual illness incidental to the climate, which has only been partial.

It affords me unfeigned pleasure to inform the department of the complete success of the Blackfeet farm this year, which places the matter regarding the fertility and productiveness of the soil beyond all cavil and doubt forever. Providence has bountifully supplied it with genial showers this season, and I am now cutting as fine wheat, I think, as ever was raised in any State, samples of which, both fall and spring, I will forward to the Patent Office. The best of Indian corn and vegetables of all kinds and varieties in profusion, which the Indians are getting very fond of, especially corn and potatoes. I would further state that men of integrity, residing in the Bitter Root valley, informed me that none of their crops can compare, in anything planted or sown; and one of the gentlemen who traveled all over the farm with me, said there was more raised in the aggregate than in the whole Bitter Root valley.

I have the main chief of the nation residing on the farm. He is quite intelligent, and he sees the importance of his people working the soil for a subsistence, or starving in a few years. And as an evidence of his serious desire to see the nation at work, I have promised to open and cultivate for him this fall a small farm some ten miles from the Blackfeet farm. It is also the wish and desire of the Indians, as wild game is diminishing every day, and from present appearances I think there may be considerable emigration from St. Paul and other points through this country to Washington Territory, and if so, in a few short years there will be no more wild game. The Indians call on their great father to stretch out a saving arm, which they say, from past experience of his bounties, they know he will do, and substitute cattle in its place. I would therefore respectfully suggest to the department an appropriation of $10,000 to be applied in the purchase of cattle, the Sun River valley being unsurpassed as a grazing country.

I would again urge upon the department the extra appropriation of $200 per annum for interpreter. It is impossible to secure a faithful and competent interpreter for less than that amount.

For further reasons on this head, I respectfully refer you to my annual report of 1859.

My opinion regarding Catholic missionaries among the Indians, as expressed in my annual report of 1854, still remain unchanged. They propose establishing a mission amongst the Blackfeet, which I sincerely trust they may do, for I believe they are the only denomination who have shown sufficient zeal, patience and industry to carry