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and in trying to carry out this system I have had some difficulty the past year in procuring suitable teachers, who would not only take the children into the school, teach them to read and write, but would also attend to them in the work-room and on the farm, teaching the boys the use of agricultural implements, the care and management of stock and crops; the girls not only the care and management of the kitchen, but to cut and make clothing for themselves and the boys, thus qualifying them to become useful members of a civilized life. In June I procured the services of Mr. Clark and wife, who came well recommended as teachers, and who, so far as I have been able to judge since they have been here, will render the school a success, creditable alike to the teachers and pupils. The school-house was formerly used as a hospital, and several Indians having died there, the Indians are prejudiced against it, and many of them will not send their children to school that would do so if kept in another building. The building is getting old and dilapidated, and will need constant repairing to make it suitable for the school, costing, in a short time, as much as to build a new one. I would, therefore, recommend that I be instructed to build a new one that would answer for both schools, which could be done without much expense, as the mill could make all the lumber needed, and the carpenter could put it up.

Early in the spring the dam was carried away by high water, In June, as soon as the water had subsided enough, I had a new dam commenced, which, when finished, I am in hopes will stand, but the foundation is a very poor one to build upon, making it a very difficult matter to construct a dam that will stand secure against the vast quantity of water and drift-wood that rushes down from the mountains during the rainy season, without incurring a heavy expense, which I did not feel at liberty to do.

The mills, with some slight repairing, are in good running order.

When this reservation was established the government erected a fort at the eastern boundary of the agency, where more or less troops have been stationed ever since, until in July last, to assist the agents in arresting refractory Indians and in capturing and returning fugitives from the agency, when they were mustered out, and since that time there have been none stationed here, nor can I learn whether it is the intention of the government to abandon the post or not. If the fort is to be permanently abandoned I would most urgently request that I be instructed to employ an additional number of employés, for although at the present time the majority of the Indians appear contented, and are disposed to remain and cultivate their land, still it will be almost impossible to restrain some of the worst of the Indians from leaving the agency (as they would have done before now did they not think troops would soon be sent here) with the present number of employés, for I could not at any one time spare even two men to pursue and bring back any that might abscond. I most respectfully refer this matter to you and await your instructions.

For further details in regard to this agency I would respectfully refer you to the reports of the several employés herewith enclosed.

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SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I have the pleasure of submitting the following report.

I commenced my duties on this agency the 1st of July, and hence cannot make as full a report as I would had I been here a longer period.

I found the scholars that had attended school scattered to their various homes over the reservation, and it became my first duty to visit them at their homes and induce them to attend school again; in this I was very much assisted by the farmer, L. Sands. Many objected to coming back again, urging as a reason for their objections that many Indians had died at the school-house while it was a hospital, and it became a difficult matter to allay their superstitious fear, viz: that it will be the means of their own death in a very short time if they live in a house in which a death has occurred, no matter how remote the period of time; and then again their dread of the reappearance of their defunct friends is a source of greater fear to thein than that of death itself, but I finally persuaded them to give the old school-house another trial, and have gathered together nine children, five boys and four girls, two of whom have been in attendance at school before; they can read well and write very good, and have some knowledge of arithmetic; the rest had to commence at the first round of the ladder, and are now making very good progress.

Mrs. Clark has the management of the housekeeping, and instructs the girls in the useful domestic duties. The girls are apt at sewing and knitting, and render some assistance in taking care of the school-room and house.

The boys seem eager to learn, and I often hear (out of school hours) the two advanced boys instructing those that are not so far advanced. I find no difficulty in making them understand the English language, and I endeavor to make them communicate their ideas in the same language, but they will use that barbarous jargon, the Chenook.

In closing, I would recommend that a new school-house be built, for two reasons: first, we find it no easy task to persuade the Indian to give up his foolish and superstitions fears to which I have aliuded above, and if the Indian child is hindered from coming to school on account of his fears, the end and aim for which the school was intended will be a failure. While I was a teacher at the Siletz one of my scholars sickened and died, and while he was in a dying condition we had to carry him to his mother's house to die, in order to retain the rest of the school. My second reason, the very bad condition of the house; it is sadly out of repair, and to make it comfortable for the coming winter would cost nearly as much as a new house, and then it is very inconvenient for the keeping of a good school. Hoping the above will meet with your approval, I subscribe myself,

Very respectfully, yours,

AMOS HARVEY, Esq., United States Indian Agent.

J. B. CLARK, Teacher.

No. 10.

WARM SPRINGS AGENCY, OREGON,

August 25, 1866.

SIR: In accordance with the regulations of the Indian department I have the honor to submit the following as my first annual report upon the condition of the Indian affairs at this

agency.

I was first put in possession of this agency, and the Indian department property belonging to the same, on the 31st day of March, 1866.

When taking possession I found nearly all of the Indians in a destitute condition. Their crops last year having failed, and a very severe and cold winter following, compelled them to use all of the wheat, corn, and potatoes which they had reserved for seed to subsist them until the snows had disappeared from the hills, enabling them to dig roots on which to subsist until the fishing season. I immediately purchased with their annuity fund and issued to them a sufficient quantity of seed wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes, and I was well pleased with the willingness and energy with which they commenced their farming operations. There being no seed grain on hand belonging to the department, a portion of that which was pur chased with the annuity fund was used in seeding down the department farm.

I found the department horses and work-oxen and the horses belonging to the Indians very poor and weak, and wholly unfit for labor of any kind, and there being no forage on hand with which to feed them, they were left with only such food as they got by grazing on the hills. This caused the Indians to be very backward in putting in their spring crops.

The Indians broke twenty-five acres of new ground in May, a portion of which was planted with corn, but too late to produce any crop this season.

The Indians were well satisfied with the appearance of their crop till about the middle of May, when the grasshoppers made their appearance in much greater numbers and two months earlier than they did last year. The grasshoppers first made their appearance in fields located at different points upon the reserve, and would entirely consume the crops growing thereon before committing the least damage to crops growing in the adjoining fields. A great many of the Indians' crops of wheat, oats, and garden vegetables have been entirely destroyed by them, and but a very few, if any, of their crops have entirely escaped their

ravages.

The wheat crop at the commencement of harvest presented a fine appearance until carefully examined. The wheat stalks were large and very tall, but leafless, and the heads but partially filled with very light shrivelled grains, which will not average in weight more than 54 pounds per bushel.

During the present harvest I have visited every Indian's farm upon this reserve, and after a careful examination of their crops, and from the information I could gain in conversing with them, have made the following estimate of their crops of wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes, the number of Indians engaged in raising the same, and the tribe to which each of said Indians belonged, viz: 1,335 bushels wheat, 71 bushels corn, and 256 bushels potatoes, raised by sixteen Indians belonging to the Des Chutes tribe; 1,352 bushels wheat, 161 bushels corn, 31 bushels oats, and 480 bushels potatoes, raised by thirty-eight men belonging to the Wasco tribe; 655 bushels wheat, 109 bushels corn, and 194 bushels potatoes, raised by thirtythree men belonging to the Tygh tribe. Total number bushels wheat raised, 3,342; com, 341; oats, 31; potatoes, 930. Total number of Indians engaged in farming operations, 87. The number of acres under cultivation by the Indians this year is estimated as follows, viz: 260 acres in wheat, 10 acres in oats, 20 acres in corn, 60 acres in potatoes, 25 acres in garden vegetables. Total number of acres under cultivation, 375.

If the grasshoppers had not visited us this year I am confident that the wheat crop would have amounted to 5,000 bushels and the oat crop to 400 bushels.

The Des Chute tribe are settled upon and cultivating meadow land which required but little labor to clear and prepare for cultivation, which will explain why so small a number of men belonging to that tribe have raised so large a crop of wheat this season. The wheat crop raised this year by one man, Lawlas, belonging to the Des Chute tribe, will exceed 3 bushels, and the wheat crop of two other men of the same tribe will exceed 200 bushels each.

The Wasco tribe of Indians show a greater desire and more willingness to engage in farming operations than any tribe upon this reservation, but the land upon which they have setted, being covered with fine timber and a heavy growth of underbrush, requires a great amount of hard labor to prepare it for cultivation.

There are but a few of the Tygh tribe who show any desire to cultivate their land. Nearly all of this tribe reside together at the mouth of Warm Springs river, about 12 miles distant from this agency, where there is but very little tillable land, the whole of which will not produce more than 200 bushels of wheat.

I am pleased to be able to report that the desire of the Indians generally to engage in farming operations is greatly on the increase, and will so continue if the products of their farms will but moderately compensate them for their labors. I have used every means in

my power to advance them in their knowledge of farming operations, and had all of my employés to spend as much time as possible upon the Indians' farms, instructing in plowing, driving teams, harvesting, &c. They are all anxious to break up new ground this fall and enlarge their farms.

With the balance of the annuity fund remaining on hand from the purchase of seed, grain, &c., I purchased provisions and issued them to the Indians, thereby furnishing those who were engaged in farming with the means of subsistence while putting in their crops. After they had finished putting in their crops I granted permission to several of thein, for short periods, to visit the Dalles salmon fishery, that they might obtain salmon sufficient to subsist them until harvest. I have used the utmost diligence and care that none of their farms needed labor during their absence. They have been very successful in catching salmon this season, a portion of which was brought to the Indians for their daily subsistence while laboring on their farms. I have often visited them at the fishery and found them well behaved, and but very few cases of intoxication. They have salted this season 153 barrels of salmon, and have dried and cured in various ways about four times the quantity they

have salted.

The farming implements at present on hand are sufficient to supply the wants of the Indians. We require twenty seythes with cradles, and seventy-five sickles. There are on hand at present only two scythes with cradles. Many of the Indians have been compelled to cut their wheat with common butcher knives. The ploughs on hand are not fit for the use of Indians in the cultivation of such land as this reserve affords.

The Indians are very anxious to erect small and comfortable houses that will protect them from the winter rain and snow. With but few exceptions all of the Indians upon the reservation, at present, dwell in tents built of skins and mats. From the time when they had finished putting in their crops till harvest, they kept two teams steadily at work hauling saw-logs to the saw-mill, to furnish lumber for the building of houses before winter. There has been sawed this summer 62,738 feet of pine lumber, 14,078 feet for department use, and 48.660 feet for Indians.

The agency buildings require but little repairing to put them in good condition. The blacksmith shop is old and useless, affording no protection from the rains and cold weather. A new blacksmith shop, now being built, will be completed before fall. The carpenter shop is not sufficiently large for the repairing of large wagon beds, &c. The flume which condarts the water to the saw-mill and flouring-mill is now in a dilapidated condition and liable to fall at any moment. I shall change the water-course and build a new flume, which will be more substantial than the present one.

I am happy to report all the Indians at present under my charge contented and happy, and living at peace among themselves.

Que-pe-mah, accompanied by eight of the John Day's tribe, have returned to this reservation. They arrived on the 17th instant. I cannot give any information concerning them,

as I have received no visit from them yet.

For information concerning the department farm, the daily school, the sanitary condition of the Indians, &c., I would most respectfully call to your notice the reports of the several employés herewith transmitted to your office.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. J. W. PERIT HUNTINGTON,

JOHN SMITH,

United States Indian Agent, Oregon.

Superintendent Indian Affairs, Salem, Oregon.

No. 11.

WARM SPRINGS INDIAN AGENCY,
August 20, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the Indian school under my charge: From the first day of October, 1865, when all the Indians had returned from hunting game and gathering berries in the Cascade mountains, till the first day of April, 1866, the school was largely attended. The total number of scholars was forty-one-thirty-four boys and seven girls. The average daily attendance was thirty-two. Of the total number of scholars thirty-six were of the Wasco tribe, four of the Des Chutes tribe, and one of the Tygh tribe. On the first day of October last there were only five scholars who could spell words of three letters, and of the remainder only eight who knew the alphabet.

On the thirty-first of March last, when you were put in charge of this agency, there were two boys learning to read and write, six who could spell words of three syllables, five who could spell words of two syllables, and the remainder, with the exception of two scholars, could spell words of three letters.

From the first of April last up to the present time the daily attendance has been very small and irregular, no day's attendance numbering more than seven scholars; and those who have attended school during the summer did not attend last winter. If all the Indians were located within a convenient distance to the school-house, I think the attendance during the winter would at least number one hundred and twenty-five scholars. All of the Indians wish their children to attend school, but a majority of them reside from eight to twelve miles distant from the school-house. I am confident that the Indians will derive but little, if any, benefit from a daily school under the present system. The scholars during summer forget all that has been taught them during the winter.

After one year's experience as school teacher at this agency, I am fully convinced that no school, except a manual-labor school, will ever benefit the Indians. I will, therefore, most respectfully suggest that the school teacher be allowed to choose from the different tribes twelve or fifteen of their most intelligent children, and that a house will be furnished for them to dwell in. Also that a field, conveniently located near the school-house, that will produce wheat, corn, potatoes, and garden vegetables sufficient for their subsistence, together with farming implements and work animals necessary for the cultivation of the same, be given in charge of the teacher, the same to be cultivated by the scholars under his supervision. And I would further request that the scholars be furnished with comfortable clothing.

It is impossible to have the scholars present a decent appearance in such clothing as their parents can give them, or keep them clean while residing with their parents in unclean tents Neither can they be taught to speak the English language, unless cut off from all association with the Indians and placed where only the English language will be used in conversing with them.

Should the above request be granted and carried into effect, I feel confident that the Indians will be greatly benefited thereby, and that, after being in effect one year, the govern ment will be at little, if any, more expense than at present.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Captain JOHN SMITH,

J. U. D. GILLETT, School Teacher.

United States Indian Agent, Warm Springs Agency, Oregon.

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SIR: In compliance with the regulations of the Indian department, I have the honor to submit this my third annual report.

It affords me great pleasure to state that the affairs of this agency are in a prosperous condition. We have this season the prospect of a bountiful crop of potatoes, which is the main crop of this agency, for the Indians to subsist on. The wheat crop will be light, owing to so much heavy rain during last spring. For a more detailed report of farming I refer you to the farmer's report accompanying this. The most of the Indians under my charge seem well satisfied to remain at their homes, and to work with a will and determination to secure a livelihood by their own labor.

All the hunters have gone back to the mountains to kill and dry elk meat for the winter, and those that are not hunters have gone to prepare their fisheries on the rivers to catch salmon for winter. The Lyonslaw tribe of Indians, living on the Lyonslaw bay and river, have a good crop of potatoes and vegetables of all kinds this year. They are industrious and good hunters. They are but very little expense to the government. They ask for nothing more than ammunition to hunt with and garden seed. They give the agent but little trouble

The Alsea tribe are of a lower class of Indians. They prefer making their living by fishing and hunting. They have some twelve acres or more in potatoes on the Alsea river, which will be sufficient to keep them through the winter with the fish they catch and game they kill in the mountains. The Coose and Umpqua Indians have built several new houses this summer and one new barn, besides other improvements, such as making and repairing fences. Those Indians under my charge number as follows: Coose and Umpqua tribes 245, Lyonslaw tribe 133, Alsea tribe 155. The health of all the Indians at present is very good.

I would very respectfully suggest the necessity of a treaty with those Indians, as they complain very much of the promises that were made to them by General Palmer several years ago, and were never fulfilled.

This is a very desirable place for the number of Indians that are here. There is plenty of fish and game to be got, and enough good land to cultivate, but not enough to be any inducement for whites to settle on, as there is no farming land between the Alsca and Lyonslaw rivers, except this place where the agency farm is.

All respectfully submitted.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. J. W. PERIT HUNTINGTON,

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Superintendent Indian Affairs, Salem, Oregon.

No. 13.

OFFICE SILETZ INDIAN AGENCY,
Oregon, July 31, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to submit my fourth annual report of the condition of the affairs of this agency.

The number of Indians upon the reservation remain substantially the same as at the time of my last annual report, the increase of the population being about equal to the number of deaths.

Notwithstanding the non-performance by the government of the promises made to them, these Indians still remain at peace with the whites, and show an increased interest in agricultural pursuits, and are fast becoming an industrious and laboring people. Upon first assuming the duties of agent here, I found that most of the improvements made by the tribes upon the lands assigned to them were weak, frail structures, characteristic of the nomatic Indian everywhere.

I found it very difficult to persuade them to build better houses, fencing, or barns, as they were apprehensive of being again removed, their lands taken from them, and their labor lost. Their unsettled condition, arising from the non-fulfilment of their treaties, I found to be a serious obstacle to their advancement. By treating them firmly and with kindness, I succeeded in gaining their confidence and in convincing them that their location was permanent, and by a firm system of discipline for the unruly and encouragement to all, with such assistance as the limited means at my disposal would justify me in giving them, they have made many valuable improvements that will compare favorably with any farming community in the State. Every Indian family, with few exceptions, are now provided with a good substantial dwelling, surrounded by a small well cultivated garden, in every instance under fence. Special encouragement has been given them in the cultivation of these gardens. I find that this has had an excellent effect, not only in supplying food for their immediate wants, but in creating individual responsibility and an attachment for home; this attach ment for and interest in home being the first step necessary to break up the natural habits of the Indian, and consequently the first toward his civilization.

Though it would be impossible to give in this report a complete statement of the many improvements made by and for these Indians during the past three years, yet the following list will convey some idea of the kind and character they now have: 27 large log and frame barns, 352 substantial dwelling-houses, 209 acres of land in gardens, and 764 acres under cultivation and sown in wheat, oats, and timothy, or planted in potatoes and other vegetables.

This does not include the land (470 acres) under fence and in part cultivated by the department, for the purpose of raising seed, forage for the Indian department, stock, and food for the old and destitute Indians.

I would respectfully refer you to the statistical returns of farming, wealth, &c., herewith enclosed, for further information on the subject. Our crops, with the exception of the wheat, look well, and promise more than the average yield. The following is an estimate of the probable yield of the several crops upou the agency this year: 65,000 bushels potatoes, 7,000 bushels oats, 1,000 bushels wheat, 250 bushels peas, 250 bushels turnips, 50 tons timothy, 800 bushels assorted vegetables. Should the weather prove favorable this estimate will not fall short of the actual yield.

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