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these various classes of Indians, and of doing justice to all without unnecessarily increasing the burdens of the government.

Such was the condition of affairs when Superintendent Taylor, whose attention, as one of the northwestern commissioners, had been called to the case of the Indians at Crow dreek, and who had been directed to make special examination with reference to a proper location for these Indians, being present in this city in February last, reported in favor of a reservation of four townships within his superintendency, at the mouth of the Niobrara river in Nebraska. Several other locations were proposed and considered, but the question of economy in the transportation of necessary supplies until the people could raise crops sufficient to sustain them, the reasonable certainty that they could succeed in agricultural operations at that point, and the objection of the military authorities to a concentration of the other classes of these Sioux north and west, were sufficient to turn the scale in favor of Niobrara; and, under the date of March 1, four townships of land were, by order of the department, set apart for the purpose, it being understood the improvements already made by settlers upon these lands could be purchased for about $40,000, and that many of the buildings thus purchased would be needed and valuable for the purposes of the agency. Measures were immediately taken to notify the agency at Crow creek of the intended removal, which it was then thought could, by the co-operation of the War Department in furnishing transportation, be accomplished in time for the Indians to put in the spring crops at Niobrara. Delay and final disappointment, however, was the lot of these plans as to transportation, and the removal took place by land, the Indians arriving at their new reservation June 12, too late to plant a crop. Meantime the military authorities notified this office that they intended to turn over the Indians at Davenport to the civil authorities by the 10th of April, the prisoners having been pardoned by the President. A special agent was at once appointed to receive and take them to the Niobrara reservation, with instructions to proceed at once, upon his arrival, to preparing land for cultivation.

This agent, Mr. Jedediah Brown, not being heard from immediately, it be came necessary to take action at once, and, under date of April 5, Mr. E. Kilpatrick was detailed from the department to proceed to Davenport and receive the Indians and accompany them to their destination, delivering them to Mr. Brown if he should present himself, or, in default, to proceed to carry out the instructions furnished him. Mr. Kilpatrick reported subsequently that he had delivered the Indians to Mr. Brown, at St. Joseph, on the Missouri, (the transportation having been furnished by the War Department,) and thenceforward they remained under his charge until June 12, when he turned them over to Agent Stone, who had arrived with the main body of the tribe from Crow creek. Meantime, however, Mr. Brown had accomplished much valuable work with the Indians in his charge, in preparing the ground and planting crops, so that with reasonable success a fair supply will be raised towards the support of those people this year.

About the 1st of April, Major General Sibley was authorized to employ some reliable person, in whom the Indians about Fort Wadsworth reposed confidence, to secure a proper representation of those bands, and, if possible, of those who were still hostile, at Fort Rice, on the Missouri, with a view of entering into a treaty with the commissioners, then en route up the Missouri; and that officer reported April 16, that he had engaged Mr. J. R. Brown for that purpose.

It was intended to collect that portion of the Indians who were still upon the old reservation, and remove them to Niobrara, in time to plant a crop there, but various delays occurred to prevent the consummation of this part of the plan.

A thorough examination of the whole matter relating to these Sioux resulted in the deliberate conviction that, as a people, they had not been treated fairly or with just discrimination by the government, and the forfeiture of their annuities

had been a measure uncalled for and unjust to a large number of the people who had not taken part in the outbreak of 1862, and an elaborate report upon the subject was prepared by this office April 20, and submitted by the department to Congress, favoring the restoration for the benefit of the tribe of such portion of the capital of their annuities as had not been used for the payment of losses and damages by those hostilities.

A few days later came a protest addressed to the President, May 8, by Mr. Burleigh, delegate from Dakota, against the removal of the Crow Creek and Davenport Indians to Niobrara, as being a measure fraught with danger to the frontier settlements. To this as well as to a resolution of inquiry by the House of Representatives, dated May 21, this office replied by report to the department, stating the facts in the case, and endeavoring to remove objections which appeared to be unfounded. Such ample proof of the good conduct and disposition of these two classes of Indians had been received through Mr. Kilpatrick, who had had charge of the released prisoners from Davenport, and from Rev. Mr. Reed, of the northwestern commission, who had spent some time at Crow Creek, just previous to the departure of those Indians to the eastward, and who, after noticing their schools and religious services, had reported them as being "for intelligence, reliability, diligence, and morality, among other Indians like light in a dark place;" that it was felt that no possible danger could occur from the new location. Previous to turning over his charge to Agent Stone, Mr. Brown had made a careful appraisal of the land and improvements of the settlers upon the Niobrara reservation, showing an aggregate of about $36,000, being about one-half of the amount at which the occupants hold their property. Measures should be taken to make an equitable settlement with these settlers, so as to leave the reservaions in the exclusive occupancy of the Indians; and as, upon the recommendation of this office of July 13, two additional townships, upon which there are a few settlers, have been set apart as an enlargement of the reservation, provision should also be made for the payment of their just claims.

If the Crow Creek Indians could have been brought down to Niobrara in time to raise a full crop this year, there would probably have been a sufficient saving from the amount appropriated for their use to pay for all these improvements of the settlers. As it is, recent advices from the reservation are so favorable as, in the judgment of this office, to vindicate fully the removal of the Indians to that point.

The estimates for funds now required must be left for further consideration upon the receipt of the accounts of the quarter.

As soon as it was ascertained that the remnants of the tribe in Minnesota could not be taken to Niobrara in time to plant a crop this year, measures were taken to afford relief to a portion of them at least, by distributing the sum of $7,500 appropriated by Congress for their use, and a reliable special agent, Mr. S. Adams, was instructed to make the necessary investigation, in order to a just and proper use of the fund.

With the assistance of Bishop Whipple, who has been the warm friend of these Indians throughout, Mr. Adams reported June 25 a list of those entitled; and as it was necessary for him to leave, to prosecute other duties, the funds were sent to Mr. J. R. Daniels, at Faribault, he having given bond for distribution. Subsequently, upon a report of Mr. Adams as to number and locality of the Indians who were to go to Niobrara, Mr. A. Faribault, whose kindness to these Indians had been steady as well as expensive to him, was designated to collect and take them to that reservation. Upon his report of recent date it has, however, been deemed advisable not to make the removal till next spring.

It only remains to notice the result of the attempt to bring about treaty arrangements with the bands of Santee Sioux, in the neighborhood of Fort Wadsworth and further north. General Sibley had reported, April 16, that Mr. Brown, who had been employed as before stated, thought that he would be able to secure

a representation from at least four of the six northern bands, but would proceed with such representation as could be obtained.

By the report of the treaty commission we learned of the failure of negotiations with those bands, on account of demands made by them, (under the advice of Mr. Brown, as it is alleged,) to which the commissioners did not feel justified in acceding, and the delegates returned to Fort Wadsworth. Since that time a communication has been received from a portion of these people through a missionary friend, to whom they had written in their own language, (many of them being educated to some extent,) setting forth their regret at the failure of the negotiations, and their wishes to make some arrangement to improve their condition. It is feared that these people will suffer much during the approaching winter if not aided in some manner by the government. If the policy set forth and urged upon Congress in the report from this office, under date of April 20, shall be adopted, the department will have the means of providing for these bands at least, and it is recommended that a reasonable reservation in the vicinity of Fort Wadsworth may be set apart for them.

The interest upon the capital fund restored, as recommended in that report, together with the avails of the reservation in Minnesota now being appraised, will provide an ample fund for all these bands of Sioux.

Various papers referred to in this summary, furnishing details for the informa tion of those who desire to know the particulars of the operations above mentioned, will be found among the accompanying documents.

Of the Upper Platte agency, and the tribes under its charge, sufficient has been said under the head of this superintendency, and under that of Indian treaties. Affairs have been sadly mismanaged in past years, and the Indians grievously wronged by government officers, whose duty it was to protect them in their rights, and the loss of many lives and a vast amount of valuable property has been the result. We may be permitted to hope for better things in the future. Upon the quiet and friendly feeling of the Indians of this superintendency depends the safe transit of the growing commerce of the plains, the overland stage and wagon route, telegraph, and Pacific railroad traversing it through its whole length from

east to west.

CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENCY.

The annual report of Superintendent Murphy is received, together with those of most of the agents in charge of the various tribes of Kansas, all living upon reservations except the Kiowas and Comanches, and the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and Apaches, who, while having a nominal headquarters in the neighborhood of Fort Larned, in southwestern Kansas, roam over a wide extent of country. All of these Indians are considered as belonging to a central superintendency; the Osages, however, on the southern boundary of that State, being in the southern superintendency.

From the first-named tribes, however, we have no statistics; the remainder of the tribes number about 6,000, and of these the Kaws, whose population is 670, and the Sacs and Foxes of Mississippi, numbering about 800, do very little in the way of agriculture; yet the statistics of these 6,000 Indians exhibit the fact that from 11,645 acres of land cultivated they have. raised this year over 350,000 bushels of grain, and 27,000 bushels of potatoes and other vegetables; that they have cut about 4,000 tons of hay; that they own 6,000 horses and nearly 6,000 head of other stock; that their wealth in property, owned by individuals, is over $1,000,000, aside from their annuities; and that they have eight schools, with 491 scholars in attendance. Considering the disadvantages under which these people labor, and the fact that so large a portion of their number as yet decline to enter upon agricultural pursuits, it is submitted whether the averag products of their labor do not indicate that the Indian race is capable

of obtaining and retaining a position among civilized people equal to that which our best hopes for them have conceived.

It is to be regretted that, with all this apparent prosperity, reasons exist for expecting, in the case of most of these tribes, a check to their progress in civilization Allusion has heretofore been made to the difficulties which lie in their way, arising from the crowding into the immediate vicinity of their reservations of white settlers upon the public lands, lying in every direction, subject to public entry, around those reservations. Among these settlers are too many who are unscrupulous as to the rights of the Indians; their timber, scarce in Kansas at the best, is cut down, and their stock run off in many instances, and the hope of redress is very small. On account of these and other troubles most of the Indians, including many of the most intelligent and best educated, are anxious to remove to the Indian country south of Kansas, where white settlers cannot interfere with them. When once settled upon new and fertile reservations there, it may be hoped that they will realize their hopes of earning a comfortable living in peace; but the business of opening and preparing new farms and homes is a tedious and laborious one, and some time must occur before these things are accomplished. The State of Kansas is fast being filled by an energetic population who appreciate good land, and the Indian reservations were selected as being the best in the State. But one result can be expected to follow.

Under the head of the Northern Superintendency reference was made to certain difficulties between Indians and frontier settlers, resulting in an attempted gathering of volunteers from the reservation tribes, and to the action of this office thereupon. It only remains to add that, upon the reference to this office of the question as to permitting the Indians to enlist for a term of years in the regular army, under recent enactments, authorizing the enlistment of certain regiments for frontier service, there was no hesitation in granting the desired permission. The Kickapoos, the northernmost of the Kansas tribes, numbering 242 in all, are represented by their agent to be in a favorable condition. They have cultivated 1,083 acres this year and broken 251 more for planting; ard their crops have realized for them about 48,000 bushels of grain and 1,300 bushels of potatoes. They own about 700 head of stock, and their individual wealth is stated at $44,290. One strong evidence is given of their good disposition and conduct in the fact that, although both the overland route and Atchison and Pike's Peak railroad pass through their reservation, there is little or no drunkenness among them. These Indians having expressed a desire for the re-establishment of a school among them, their wishes have been granted, and at last accounts fourteen children were in attendance in a portion of the old mission building, repaired for the purpose, and were learning rapidly under a faithful teacher.

The opportunity of introducing the Kindergarten system has been given to this school. The agent thinks that it would be well to establish a manual labor school in the building as soon as the funds of the tribe are increased, as they soon will be by payments for their lands sold under the last treaty; but it is questionable whether it is best to undertake such a movement until it is certain that the majority of the people will conclude to remain in Kansas.

The condition of this little tribe is somewhat peculiar, as now organized and resident upon their reservation. The majority of the people are not Kickapoos by blood, but Pottawatomies, who some years since purchased a right to a share in the lands and annuities of the tribe; and when, under the last treaty, allotments were made upon the diminished reserve, a majority of those who took them were Pottawatomies, while most of the genuine Kickapoos continued to live upon the common lands.

But, somewhere in the south, lost to view among the fragmentary tribes driven hither and thither by the events of the rebellion, there is supposed to be

still remaining a large number of Kickapoos, who would gladly rejoin the tribe upon a reservation in the Indian country.

A considerable number of the Kansas portion of the tribe are anxious to make a new treaty, providing for selling their lands and removing to the south, but a recent effort to effect a treaty arrangement with them failed, owing to the discontent of the people of all parties, on account of their not having received certain expected benefits from the last treaty made with them.

In any event it may be expected that some few of these people will remain with a view of becoming citizens of the United States, and these will for the most part be of the Pottawatomie portion of the tribe.

The annual report from the Shawnee agency exhibits the condition of those people in a very favorable aspect. The census of those upon the annuity roll amounts to 660, of which 594 belong to the class which holds lands in severalty, and 66 to that which holds in common; and the aggregate amount of property owned by individuals is stated at $619,392. The number of acres cultivated was 3,667, producing over 100,000 bushels of grain, 5,000 bushels of potatoes, &c., the total value of the crop being given at $69,345. They own 2,600 head of stock of all kinds, valued at $54,597. Morally the condition of the people is also good, every dram-shop being closed, and not a drunken Indian seen for a month previous to the report.

The interest of the people in education is increasing. Some forty children at the manual labor school were making good progress, and many of the children of the tribe attend the district schools of the State. It would appear from the agent's report that the United States senators from Kansas have recently had a conference with the Shawnees, in which the opinion was plainly expressed by the former, that if the suits with reference to taxes hitherto referred to shall be decided by the United States Supreme Court favorably to the right to tax, those who are thus taxed will necessarily become citizens of the United States, and lose their tribal rights and interests. Some of the most intelligent and civilized of the Shawnees are ready to take this step, and desire to do so; but apparently a majority do not desire it, and prefer to retain their tribal organization and remove south, while both classes claim that the government cannot by law abrogate the provisions of a treaty, which secures them tribal rights. The question is one of great importance, involving the interests of not only this tribe but many others, and its decision is awaited with great anxiety. This tribe furnished over 100 soldiers to the United States army in the late war, and they proved to be brave and efficient men.

The subject of the treaty now pending in the Senate made with this people last spring has been already referred to. The superintendent expresses the opinion that it would have been greatly to the advantage of the tribe if that treaty had been ratified so that arrangements might by this time have been well under way for removing the Shawnees to a new home in the south, where there are already hundreds of their number who have refused to avail themselves of the benefits of the previous treaty, but who would join the tribe again if removed to the Indian country.

Pottawatomies.-This tribe is, so far as a considerable portion of its members resident in Kansas are concerned, rapidly advancing in civilization, and large numbers are preparing to assume the duties and privileges of citizens of the United States; at the last census they numbered 1,992, being an increase of 118 since last year, and the agent thinks that this increase is not altogether attributable to the return of absentees, but partly to a real increase of numbers consequent upon the generally favorable physical and moral condition of the people.

'Two seasons of plenty have done much towards their prosperity, and the individual property of the members of the tribe is estimated at $144,000, exclusive of the value of their crop and their annuities. They have cultivated 1,900