their arrival the depth of snow increased to such an extent it was impossible for them to leave for nearly two and a half months, during which time the Santees shared with these starving supplicants for food the scanty allowance so sparingly dealt out to them by government.

By the instructions of the department, under date of March 27, 1866, received from Gov ernor Edmunds, April 10 and May 22, I was ordered to co-operate with Superintendent Taylor, under whose charge the Santee Indians were to be removed from Crow Creek reservation, and accompany them to this place, I left the old reservation at Crow creek, Dakota Territory, May 28, 1866, and arrived here with the Santees on the 11th day of June. On the 12th I relieved special agent Jedediah Brown, and took charge of the Indians who had lately been prisoners at Davenport, also of the government property here, which consisted merely of supplies for the Indians.

Previous to my arrival Agent Brown had planted some one hundred and fifty acres in corn and twelve acres in potatoes; but fifty acres of the land cropped was enclosed by fence; the balance of the planting was done in small patches on the open prairie. The utmost vigilance has been used to guard the growing crop, but, as it is very difficult in this sparsely-timbered country to get material for fencing, we have been unable to entirely protect them from the ravages of the white settlers' stock, which are at all times allowed to run at large. The crops looked well up till about the middle of August, when the country was invaded by countless millions of grasshoppers, destroying in many places every vestige of the growing crop. Our crop was severely damaged. The entire yield will not exceed one thousand bushels of corn and two hundred bushels of potatoes. This is but a poor return for the labor expended in farming operations during the present season. It is very discouraging to the Indians, and will deter many of them from making any attempt at farming here next year. The Indian is more easily discouraged than the white man; he will plant only where he is sure the earth will yield sufficient to reward him for his labor.

The Santee Indians of this agency are inclined to give their attention to agriculture: they have not the prejudices common to most Indians against settling upon a reservation; the sad experience of those who took part in the massacre of the whites in Minnesota has convinced them of their own weakness, their dependent condition, and the necessity of establishing friendly relations with the whites. At present, owing to their late removal to this place, they feel that they are temporarily unsettled, living as they do upon land owned and occupied by white settlers; this feeling unfits them for labor, begets habits of idleness, and, to a great extent, prevents them making the necessary exertion to obtain comforts that are within their reach. We cannot expect any permanent improvement, or that the Santees will evince any great desire to cultivate the soil as a means of subsistence, until they realize that this is their home; that they are not trespassing upon the rights of white men who were here before them, many of whom have owned the land they occupy for the last eight years. The Indians were brought here without the consent and against the wishes of the white settlers, and if they are to remain, it is all-important that the government obtain a title to the land and define the boundaries of the reservation as soon as practicable; until this is done conflicting interests will necessarily create more or less ill-feeling between the whites and Indians, and it is but just to both that this matter should be settled at an early day.

The annuity goods for the Santees arrived here July 19, and were distributed on the 29th of September. As is always the case, they were highly gratified at receiving their annuities, but were disappointed in consequence of the almost entire absence of cotton drilling, or any material to make lodges. They would gladly undertake to get along with less blankets, if, in their stead, they were furnished coats and pants for the men, cotton-cloth for lodges, or lumber to build shelter for their families; the near approach of cold weather, and the scarcity of timber in this section of country, causes them to apprehend great suffering during the winter. If we would ameliorate the condition of the Santees we must give them a reservation to themselves, a small supply of farming implements furnished them, with not less than one hundred breeding mares, three hundred head of stock-cattle, (to be given only to those who would take good care of them;) thus they would have a source of permanent income that would decrease the annual expense of government for their subsistence. It would also encourage the Indians to pursuits of industry and domestic habits, and tend to create a love of home, without which efforts for their civilization will avail but little.

The failure to raise any considerable crop this season will leave the Santees entirely dependent upon the government for provisions and clothing for the next year; the scarcity of game in this section of country forbids them relying upon the chase for subsistence; the buffalo are far distant, and the Santees have not a sufficient number of horses to hunt them successfully.

Steps should be taken at once to provide this agency with the necessary building material to erect a warehouse and shelter for the Indians during the coming winter. I mentioned this in my report for the month of June, and trust that its importance will be sufficient excuse for again urging it upon the attention of the department. I am now using for agency purposes the only two buildings I can procure on the proposed reservation; they are mere shells, in very bad repair, and entirely unfit for the protection of the agency property. I have erected, of logs, a blacksmith shop 20 by 24 feet, carpenter shop 20 by 24 feet, and a stable 24 by 24 feet, all of one story high; these buildings were indispensable; the logs for their erection were procured from an island of the Niobrara river, about four miles distant.

I do not deem it advisable to erect any more log buildings, as the timber on and in the vicinity of the proposed reservation should be carefully preserved for fuel and fencing pur

poses.

When ordered from Crow Creek reservation with the Indians, I was not instructed what to do with the government property there; I brought with me all that I could obtain transportation for, but was obliged to leave behind much that was valuable, also considerable that might be of service there, but was not worth the cost of transportation to this place: a list of the property left there has been forwarded to the department. I learn that J. R. Hanson, esq., United States Indian agent for the Upper Missouri Indians, has been stationed at Crow Creek reservation, and would respectfully suggest that he be instructed to take charge of said property, a list of which has been forwarded to him.

I have kept during the past year only such number of white employés as were indispensably necessary; have employed Indian labor in doing much of the work about the agency. For detailed account of the work accomplished by my employés, and of the removal of the Santees from Crow Creek reservation to this place, permit me to refer you to my monthly report.

Accompanying this please find the report of Judson Lamoure, farmer, and Anthony Gerrick, blacksmith.

I would also respectfully refer to the accompanying report of the Rev. John P. Williamson, for a detailed statement of the educational interest among the Santees.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Colonel E. B. TAYLOR,

Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Omaha, N. T.

J. M. STONE, United States Indian Agent.

No. 114.

NEW SANTEE AGENCY, NIOBRABA, N. T.,
August 24, 1866.

SIR: I present the following report of the mission and school sustained by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions among the Santees :

Designation and locality of school, 1 day-school, at agency; number of teachers, 2 ; under what charge, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; missionaries, what denomination, 1 Presbyterian; number of scholars, 179; number of boys, 103; number of girls, 76; average attendance, 90; school opened September 25, 1865; school closed April 10, 1866; total time taught, 142 days; number pursued Dakota reading and spelling, 129; number pursued penmanship, 50; number pursued English reading and spelling, 89; number pursued arithmetic, 75; number pursued geography, 7; number pursued composition, 22.

The Dakota children are very fond of learning to read their own language as committed to the written form by the missionaries, and, on account of the simplicity of the orthography, they learn to read it sooner than American children do the English language. They peruse and reperuse all the books written in Dakota, and are fond of composing in their own tongue, and many of their compositions show considerable brilliancy of thought. When they come to learn English their progress is slow. There are a number in school now that can read English fluently; some who have been studying it for more than two years; but none of them are good readers, because they understand but very imperfectly what they read.

Learning English with them is much the same as learning Latin with us in our modern schools. It will be a long time before they can master English literature. Though they might gain much by what they hear of the English spoken, they do not on account of their diffidence in speaking it themselves. For those who can talk no English, (as very few of them can,) the proper way to teach it is by the use of a grammar and dictionary as we do French or German, or any other foreign language, and for this suitable books have yet to be prepared.

Since the removal of the Indians from Crow Creek to this place we have not had school on account of the want of a suitable school room, but we hope to make arrangements for school this winter.

It would be well now to have a different plan adopted for the education of these Indians There should be two classes of schools: first, Dakota schools, taught by themselves and at no expense to government or missionary society, though it would still be well for the missionary to give some attention to the superintendence of these schools; second, English schools, under charge of teachers appointed and supported by government.

For the last four years the government has supported no schools among these Indians.

There are now over one hundred children here who are able to read their own language and desirous of being taught English. The aim of the government is to civilize the Indians. If so, she should take these children and school them for three or four years, and many of them will take a step up in advance of their ancestors. Were the government to establish a good school it would relieve the missionaries of a charge they are unable for want of means to carry on to the extent called for, and it would leave them more time to devote to the religious interests of the Indians, which, in their present state, requires much care. Four years ago the Santees with a very few exceptions were bigoted heathen, giving heed to no religious doctrine except that of the "medicine man," and determined not to listen to any other. Now a majority of those have professed to throw away their idolatrous worship and to be seekers after the religion of Jehovah. But never having heard the name of Jesus, or known there was a decalogue, they are deplorably ignorant and need much instruction. Very many vices never having been counted such by them, they do not feel sin and disgrace as persons trained in Christian lands.

But while they are willing to listen to instruction and reproof there is hope; and of their willingness to hear, the Sabbath congregation, often embracing more than half the men and women in camp, is sufficient proof.

Being pleased with the interest you take in the welfare of the Indians, and grateful for many personal favors, I remain yours, respectfully,

Major J. M. STONE,

JOHN P. WILLIAMSON,
Missionary to Dakotas.

United States Indian Agent.

No. 115.

SANTEE SIOUX AGENCY, NIOBRARA, N. T.,
September 26, 1866.

SIR: In obedience to a regulation of the Indian department, I have the honor to submit the following report relative to farming at this agency.

In the early part of the present season, just after I had commenced preparing land for seed at the Crow Creek reservation, the orders of the department requiring the Indians to leave, and the preparations for their removal, necessarily suspended all farming until my arrival here with the Indians in June, when I took charge of the farming operations at this place, where I found about one hundred and fifty acres in corn and twelve acres in potatoes, planted under the superintendence of Special Agent Jedediah Brown, esq. Both potatoes and corn were looking well. They have since, by the assistance of Indian labor, been carefully cultivated, and though seriously damaged, and in some places entirely destroyed by the white settlers' cattle, yet what was left promised a fair yield up to the latter part of August, when the grasshoppers commenced their work of devastation upon the growing crops, destroying in some places patches of four and five acres, in other places entire fields. What seems most unaccountable is that fields in the immediate vicinity, not differing in soil or cultivation, have entirely escaped their ravages.

The whole yield from the one hundred and sixty-two acres planted will not exceed 1,200 bushels of corn, and 200 bushels of potatoes.

The soil of the bottom lands of the Missouri and Niobrara rivers in this vicinity is peculiarly adapted to produce corn, potatoes, and almost every kind of root crops. Owing to the dryness of seasons in this latitude it is all-important that seed be put in the ground as soon as the frost is out in the spring, before the moisture absorbed by the soil when the snow melts has evaporated. I would, therefore, respectfully suggest that all the seed required for next season be obtained in time for planting early in the spring.

In addition to cultivating the growing crops, I have during the present season cut and stacked 200 tons of hay for winter use, assisted in the general work of the agency, the re pair of wagons, farming implements, &c., and the erection of a blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, and stable.

I would suggest that twenty yoke of oxen, two good draught horses, and a new supply of agricultural implements will be required to successfully conduct farming operations for another year.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES M. STONE, Esq.,

JUDSON LAMOURE.

United States Indian Agent.

No. 116.

WINNEBAGO AGENCY, NEBRASKA,
September 24, 1866.

SIR I have the honor to inform you that on the 21st instant Captain Rudolph Hollob, special agent of the Indian Department, left this agency, (ninety miles north of Omaha,) for the Santee-Sioux agency, (150 miles north of this point,) with full instructions to Agent Stone relative to the construction of shelter-houses for the Santees for the coming winter. A copy of these instructions will accompany the report of Captain Hollob on his return to Washington. I have no doubt that suitable houses or huts, of round logs, and covered with poles, prairie grass and earth, will be constructed before the end of the month of November, at a very small expense. Flour and beef and salt, sufficient to supply the tribe till after the public letting which you authorized to be made for the subsisttence of these Indians, have been forwarded, and there is every reason to believe that they will be comfortably cared for until spring; arrangements can then be made of a more permanent character for their welfare, and it is believed that next year they can raise a large portion of the breadstuffs necessary to supply them. Good crops were raised this year at Niobrara, and there is no reason to doubt that agriculture can be successfully prosecuted at that point. At Crow Creek, in Dakota, where this tribe has been located for several years, no crops were raised at any time, and the entire appropriation of $100,000 made to subsist the Santees was consumed in affording them a scanty supply of food. Thirty thousand dollars can be saved annually at Niobrara, even if it were necessary to purchase their entire subsistence, leaving $30,000 to be expended for improving their new reservation. I sent to Agent Stone some glass and nails and putty, and a few other articles essential in making the improvements required for the winter, proper vouchers for which expense will be forwarded in my quarterly report for the current quarter.

Very respectful y, your obedient servant,

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

Commissioner Indian Affairs.

E. B. TAYLOR, Superintendent Indian Affairs.

CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 117.

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS,
Atchison, Kansas, October 6, 1866.

SIR: In conformity with the regulations of the Indian department I have the honor to submit the following annual report.

Since my last annual report I have visited the Kickapoos, Ottowas, and Pottawatomies twice, the Delawares five times, the Shawnees, Wyandotts, Miamies, Kaskaskias, Peorias, Weas, Piankeshaws, and Sacs and Foxes of the Mississippi, once; in fact, all the Indians under my charge, except the Kaws and the Comanches, Kiowas, Apaches, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, of the upper Arkansas, which I failed to visit, owing to their remoteness from this office, and because I did not deem the events transpiring among them of sufficient importance to warrant a personal visitation. These personal visits have been of great service to me in the discharge of my official duties, have stimulated agents and employés to increased exertion, and, I trust, have tended to the social and moral advancement of the various tribes. The agents have devoted their time and talents to the discharge of their important duties with a degree of zeal and industry which promises highly satisfactory results. For more particular information as to the operations of the agents I respectfully refer you to their several reports already forwarded.

The health and prosperity of the various tribes will compare favorably with former years. Those who planted largely have reaped abundant crops, but many have manifested an indifference to agricultural pursuits, for the reason that those who had made treaties with the government, extinguishing titles to their lands, expected that those treaties would have been ratified during the last session of Congress, and that they would be removed to their new homes in the Indian country, south of Kansas, while others who had not yet made treaties, but were anxious to do so, were disinclined to make improvements on lands which they would at no distant day be called upon to relinquish.

The statistical reports of farming show that there have been cultivated by the Indians of this superintendency about 11,645 acres of land, producing 12,020 bushels of wheat.

323,487 bushels of corn, 16,675 bushels of oats, 1,140 bushels of barley, 26,330 bushels of potatoes, and 1,075 bushels of turnips. In addition to this they have cut 3,901 tons of hay, and sold $18,650 worth of furs. They own 4,982 cattle, 5,896 hogs, 313 sheep, 6,144 horses, 400 frame, 1,400 log, and 205 stone houses.

The number of Indians in this superintendency is estimated at 6,005, owning individual property to the amount of $1,089,925. There are 8 schools, 21 teachers, and 491 scholars.

This is exclusive of the Indians of the Upper Arkansas agency, comprising the tribes of the Comanches, Kiowas, and Apaches, and Cheyennes and Arapahoes, who are supposed to have a population of 30,000 souls, and to own in individual property about $90,000, consisting chiefly of horses. The recent abortive attempt to negotiate a treaty with the Kickapoos is attributable to the fact that the Indians were dissatisfied because the promises held out to them by their agent when the treaty of 1862 was made had not been kept, and that they had as yet derived no benefit from that treaty. This question has been considerably agitated in the tribe recently, and, so far as I can learn, they are willing to make a treaty next winter, provided they receive a payment in the spring under the late treaty. The Delawares having concluded a treaty for the sale of their diminished reservation, which has been ratified by the United States Senate, I regard it of vast importance that they be removed early next spring to their new homes which the government may provide for them in the southern Indian country, in time to enable them to put in a small crop for that year.

The construction of the Union Pacific railroad, eastern division, and the running of the same through the Delaware diminished reserve, has been a source of grievous annoyance and damage to the Delawares; also an organization styled the Delaware Lumber Company has caused them much mischief and detriment. Out of these two companies grew much complaint and investigation, resulting in the appointment of a special agent, whose duty it was to sell to the above railroad company the timber required in the construction of the road, and for no other purpose. The Delaware Lumber Company, being thus restricted in the sale of their lumber, gave up the business and stopped their mills. By the direction of the department, Agent Pratt, Special Agent Bartling, and myself, recently assessed the damages sustained by the Delawares from the railroad. Every precaution was taken to arrive at the truth in every case. We found and assessed damages against the company amounting to over $28,000. I am satisfied this falls short of the actual damage sustained by the Delawares from this company. This much damage we ascertained to a certainty beyond the possibility of a doubt, and, if promptly collected and paid to the Indians, it will be satisfactory to them, and will greatly assist in equipping them for their journey to the southern country.

The affairs of the Wyandotts are in a most deplorable condition, owing to the construction put upon, and advantage taken of, certain sections of their treaty of 1855, relative to incompetents and orphans. Much of their land has been sold to whites for taxes and debts, who have stripped it of the timber, which, in many instances, was more valuable than the land itself. I believe it would be for the best interest of this tribe to have a full investigation of their affairs entered into, negotiate a treaty for their lands, and provide a suitable home for them in the Indian country south of Kansas.

I regret that the treaty made last winter with the Shawnees failed to be ratified by the United States Senate. From my personal knowledge of the affairs of this people I am satisfied that the treaty was acceptable to the majority of the tribe, and that they were anxious for its ratification, for several reasons. It would have secured them good prices for their lands, would have given them the choice of selections of lands in the southern Indian country, as theirs was the first treaty made, and would be instrumental in uniting in harmony and friendship a people who have been divided and distracted for years. Under a law of this State, which has been argued in our courts, and decided by the supreme court of the State against some of our Kansas Indians, the lands belonging to the Shawnees have been assessed and sold for taxes since 1860; these cases have been carried to the Supreme Court of the United States, but, up to the present date, no decision has been rendered. By your direction I caused abstracts to be made from the records of Johnson, Wyandott, and Douglas counties, showing the lands in these counties which have been sold for taxes since 1860, together with the amount of taxes, interest, and costs, which abstracts have been forwarded for the information of the department. large number of white men, with their families, have located themselves upon the lands known as the Black Bob settlement. These are lands belonging to those Shawnees who hold their lands in common, and do not occupy them to any great extent. Upon consultation with the agent and some of the Indians I have deemed it unadvisable to molest them, for the reason that they are not obnoxious to the Shawnees, and do assist them very materially in protecting their timber from the depredations of outsiders.

A

The reservations belonging to the Miamies and confederated bands of Kaskaskias,