Our present wheat crop was planted with unusual care, and it was hoped that the result this year would prove that, with a thorough cultivation of the soil, and if sown in proper time, good crops of wheat could be raised here, but the climate this spring was very much against us; the almost constant rain from January to May has injured it so much that it is doubtful whether it will produce more than eight bushels to the acre.

In order to give these Indians a start in cattle, I purchased a few milch cows during the past year, of which as yet I have made no distribution; as the number was so small I have deemed it best to hold the control of them as government stock, so as to better provide and care for them until they increase to a sufficient number to make a judicious issue.

The saw-mill is in tolerable repair and of sufficient capacity to meet all the demands for lumber.

The dam needs some repairs, which will be attended to immediately after our crops are secured.

The flouring-mill, as before reported, being entirely irreparable and worthless. I purchased a movable patent French burr-mill, to run by either horse or water power. It is of capacity sufficient to do all the grinding required for the Indians at present, and answers the purpose as well as a larger or more expensive one.

From the peculiar location of the farming portion of this agency, the farms being from four to eight miles apart, it becomes very essential to the interests of these Indians to have good wagon roads between these points. During the past spring and summer, when not occupied with their farms, I have employed them in this manner, and we have now nearly completed a good substantial road from one extreme to the other; distance, when finished, about sixteen miles.

The Indians were well pleased with the project, and offered their services freely, asking only as compensation for their labor that rations in part be furnished to the most needy while thus occupied.

Our Indian school here is, I am happy to report, in a prosperous and satisfactory condition; the average number of scholars in attendance during the past year were fifteen, all that could be accommodated with comfort in the school buildings. I would here repeat the recommendations in my former reports that a regularly authorized manual labor school be established on this agency.

The occupation of the Yaquiria country by the whites, and the close proximity of their settlements, has so far proved an advantage to the Indians, by furnishing them with a market for their furs, skins, surplus vegetables, &c., not heretofore enjoyed by them, and if the tribes here can be kept under proper restriction, this traffic will be an unceasing source of revenue to them, without the disadvantages usually resulting from such intercourse.

You are aware that the detachment of troops that were stationed near the agency have, within the past month, been removed by orders from General Halleck, and the post buildings directed to be sold. This movement I fear will, unless I am authorized to procue the services of additional employés, prove to a great extent disastrous to the welfare and discipline of this agency. The natural disposition of the Indians is to idleness and unprofit able habits, and their success heretofore in agricultural pursuits, and in establishing com fortable homes for themselves, have been more the result of the discipline established here by myself and predecessors than any natural desire on the part of the Indian to better his condition, and I fear that without more assistance it will be next to an impossibility to conduct the farming operations the coming year with that success which has characterized the past. Without restraints, the settlements on the Yaquiria will, instead of a blessing, prove a curse to the Indians. The whiskey traffic, with all its demoralizing influences, will flourish, without it being in my power to check it, and I sincerely and earnestly hope that you will en deavor to have a small body of troops stationed here, or that you will authorize me to increase the number of employes without delay.

In closing this report, it is due to the several employés of this agency for me to say that they have been faithful and efficient in the discharge of their duties, and that to their energy and industry the Indians are much indebted for their present improved condition. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

BEN. SIMPSON, United States Indian Agent.

Hon. J. W. PERIT HUNTINGTON,

Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon.

No. 14.

UMATILLA INDIAN AGENCY.
Oregon, August 4, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to present this my fifth annual report as agent for the Walla-Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla Indians.

The Indians under my care are living together peaceably and contented, having nothing to complain of on the part of the government, all treaty stipulations being fulfilled as near as

practicable. The only cause of discontent existing in their minds is the constant fear that the reservation will be taken from them and thrown open to settlement by the whites. The past year has witnessed our usual rapid progress in agricultural pursuits. A large area of ground has been planted this year, and the season thus far being favorable, we may safely rely upon good crops.

As was long since predicted, the erection of mills has proved a great incentive to raise grain, and the result is, several Indians this summer have more wheat than they can properly take care of. I estimate the number of acres now under fence at something over two thousand, about half of which is unbroken land used for pasture, hay, corrals, &c., the remainder being in a good state of cultivation. The number of acres planted this year may be estimated as follows: Wheat, 480 acres; corn, 120 acres; oats, 100 acres, with about 200 acres in peas, beans, barley, potatoes, melons, pumpkins, onions, turnips, carrots, parsnips, beets, cabbage, and other vegetables. The approximate yield of this land will be fifteen thousand bushels of all kinds of produce, more than sufficient for the wants of all if equally distributed.

As usual, quite a number of Indian farmers will each have from five hundred to one thousand dollars' worth of produce to sell, which they can dispose of for good prices at the neighboring towns and stations on the road. I may state that the new white seed wheat introduced here last spring in accordance with your instructions is giving perfect satisfaction, and I trust we shall be enabled to furnish the new seed to all next year. The ploughs and harness received from you early in this spring have done good service, as may be witnessed in the greater area of land cultivated by Indians who never tilled the soil before without assistance from the agent. Upon the department farm of about sixty acres we expect to raise sufficient of all sorts of grain and vegetables to supply the wants of the aged and indigent, and to furnish forage for the government stock, as well as seed next spring for the improvi dent. The department property having been in constant use for seven years, has become almost worn out and valuless. Most of the oxen are aged and unfit for service. I would respectfully recommend the purchase next spring, from the appropriation for beneficial objects, of twenty yoke of young work-oxen, or ten span of large work-horses, suitable to break new land, for which service the small ponies of the Indians are incapable.

The saw-mill was finished last fall, and the flouring mill is being completed now, in time for the present harvest. The value of these mills to the Indians cannot be readily calculated. In the government of Indians, I believe the primary object is to consummate their transition from barbarism to a sort of civilization that induces them to earn their living by the cultivation of the soil and to conduct themselves peaceably towards the whites and each other. As regards these tribes nothing will conduce so much to this object as the completion of the mills upon the reservation, and the assurance that their lands shall not be taken from them by force, as is often threatened by white persons.

It is generally understood that most of the Indians here are wealthy; that is a mistake. A large majority of them are poor indeed. The numerous herds of horses and cattle in their possession are owned by thirty or forty men, who know how to take care of their property as well if not better than white people. Many of the poor, such as orphans and the old, blind, and helpless, require constant aid from the agent to prevent suffering among them. Indians never help each other without hope of remuneration.

Hitherto I have been unable to report favorably of the school. At the present time I am gratified in being able to state that our school is in full tide of successful operation, exceeding our most sanguine expectations. Since May last the average daily attendance of scholars has been twenty-five. To the unremitting labors of Rev. Father Vermeersch, the principal teacher, is due, in a great measure, our unexpected success thus far; and to continue the good work it will be necessary to feed and clothe the Indian children during the winter to insure their constant attendance. The children may be fed by me from the products of the garden and from the mill without any extra cost to the government, and I trust you will furnish blankets and woollen stuffs in time to be of use to them as cold weather commences.

If the plan meets your approbation I propose, as Father Vermeersch suggests, to plant a large field exclusively for the use and benefit of the school children. Most of the Indians residing here are Roman Catholics, and their attachment to the reverend father, who is pleased to act as their spiritual as well as temporal teacher, is very great. I have had little trouble in keeping the Indians in subjection during the past year; drunkenness and crime are becom ing less frequent than formerly. I consider it fortunate that the necessity did not arise to call upon the military for assistance during the last year, as there have been no troops stationed within two hundred miles of the agency.

These tribes, although once powerful and warlike, are now completely subdued, and the only violations of law and order are committed by thoughtless young men and renegades from distant reservations.

For further information in detail I would respectfully refer to the accompanying reports of treaty employes, which will this year be found more than usually full and interesting. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. W. PERIT HUNTINGTON, Esq.,

Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Salem, Oregon.

W. H. BARNHART,

United States Indian Agent.

UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION,

Oregon, August 1, 1866.

SIR: I beg leave to submit the following report as superintendent of farming: At the time I took charge of that duty in April last, I found that considerable work had been done by the Indians, under the superintendence of my predecessor, Mr. Cornoyer; the new ploughs sent up by the superintendent of Indian affairs had been turned over to the Indians, who were busily engaged in putting in their spring crop. A much greater amount of land is being cultivated by them than last year, and, although the continual wet weather delayed the putting in of grains, I think from present appearances the crop will turn out well.

The new white spring wheat is a great improvement, but, there being only enough to give seed to a few of the best Indian farmers, I, acting under your instructions, sowed a portion of this wheat on the department farm; it looks extremely well, and I think we shall raise suffiient to give seed another year to all who need it. The Indians seeing that the flouringmill now in course of erection will soon be finished, show a much greater anxiety to raise grain than heretofore, and if we only had the teams to enable them to break up the land many more new farms would be made next season; the department cattle are too old to be of much service, and the Indian horses too small for that purpose. I can only at present give an esti mate of the amount in cultivation this year. After a careful examination of the Indian farms, I think they have about as follows: wheat, 480 acres; corn, 120 acres; oats, 100 acres, and about 200 acres in peas, beans, barley, potatoes, melons, pumpkins, onions, turnips, carrots, parsnips, beets, cabbage, and other vegetables, all of which look well, and I think will yield an average crop. I would respectfully recommend that the farm on Wild Horse creek, which remains wet too long in the spring to raise grain to advantage, be seeded down in timothy grass for the purpose of raising feed for the department stock in future. Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. H. BARNHART, Esq.,
United States Indian Agent.

A. S. WHITE, Superintendent of Farming.

No. 14a.

UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION,

Oregon, August 1, 1866.

SIR: This is the first time I have had the honor to report to you. I came on the reservation the 1st of November last year, in quality of teacher and spiritual drrector of the Indians under your charge. No building being vacant at the agency suitable for a school-house, all my time till the middle of May last, at which time you placed a school-house at my disposal, has been employed in acquiring the language of the Indians, and visiting and exhorting them it home, and performing for them on Sundays the divine offices, which the generality of the Indians frequent with the utmost exactitude, and in which they seem to take an unusual delight. The school being opened at the time above stated, I enrolled thirty-one scholars, viz., eleven boys and twenty girls; the average attendance may be fairly stated at twenty-five, except for a short term during harvest, when a few were granted leave of absence.

This regularity in attending school must be for the greater part attributed to your solici tude and encouragement by furnishing food to the children during the absence of their parents in their annual fishing and hunting excursions. I think really that the school has been in every respect as great a success as could be expected for the few months it has been in operation. I would, however, transgress the truth if I did say that I expect much of the school on the present footing. Having but a day school, the children being under my care but four or five hours a day, there cannot be a real progress either in learning or true civilization; they will continue to speak their Indian language and follow their savage habits. It is really to be regretted that Indians who seem to show so much aptitude for progress and civil life, and so much respect for religion, are deprived of a great part of those means of education that are in existence on other reservations. There should be funds appropriated for a regular boarding school, by which the children should be taken from the control of their parents; there should also be a farm attached, on which the boys could be taught every branch of agriculture, and the girls, under the care of two or three sisters of charity, could be instructed in knitting, sewing, and all kinds of housework. At the same time I would propose the erection of a hospital for sick Indians whose condition would be greatly ameliorated, and where they could be better cared for, and their spiritual welfare to eternity better secured. This being the object of my most sincere desire, I would impose on myself every possible sacrifice to obtain this end, if the government participated in my views, and would be willing to co-operate with me for that purpose.

Submitting these views to your kind consideration and the solicitude of the Indian department at Washington, I remain, sir, respectfully yours,

FATHER WARNEERSCH, Principal Teacher for the Walla-Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla Tribes of Indians. WILLIAM H. BARNHART, Esq.,

United States Indian Agent.

SIR: I respectfully submit the following, my first annual report as United States Indian sub-agent:

I entered upon the discharge of my duties in the Klamath and Rogue River region about the 25th of September, 1865, under instructions requiring me to exercise supervision over the Klamath and Moadoc tribes, the several tribes of Snakes, and all stragglers lurking around the mountains of southern Oregon.

On the 15th October ensuing I set out for the lake country, in company with the interpreter of the sub-agency, appointed agreeable to your instructions on the 12th of that month, to attempt to conclude a treaty of peace with Howlock, principal chief of a tribe of Snake Indians not treated with, who was then said to be in the vicinity of Sprague River valley, and anxious to enter into a treaty of amity with the United States.

Having sent out a deputation of Yahooskin Snakes, together with Pauline, chief of Nollpah-pe Snakes to see Howlock, they returned reporting that Howlock declared himself for a continuation of the war, and attempted to persuade Pauline to join with him. The prospects of concluding a treaty with Howlock were bence blasted, and after remaining some time on the reservation, examining into the state of feeling among the different tribes and inquiring into their condition, I returned to Ashland.

Pauline appeared at that time desirous to carry out, on his part, the provisions of the treaty made with his tribe on August 12, 1865, and as a proof of his sincerity, offered to accompany, with his warriors, the military, if an invasion of Howlock's country should be made from Fort Klamath. Pauline, however, brought but few of his people on to the res

ervation.

On December 18, I started for Fort Klamath to attend to the issuing of subsistence to the Snake Indians and to examine into the condition of the other tribes, and on arriving there I issued to Pauline such an amount of shorts and flour as I deemed would supply him and his people until spring. At that time I found the Klamath and Yahooskins generally quite well enough provided with dried fish, &c., to subsist them during the remainder of the winter, but to quiet their loud clamorings for flour, I made some moderate issues to the chiefs and, through them, to some of their subjects who seemed rather needy. I became convinced at this time of a growing disaffection among the Indians, on account of the tardiness of the government in fulfilling treaty stipulations, and I gave it as my opinion, in a communication addressed to your office, that something should be done by the government, as soon as possible, to inspire the Indians with proper confidence in it.

In order to give the Indians some tangible evidence of the government's intention to fulfil its promises, as well as to ascertain the variety of garden vegetables and cereals that could be produced on the Klamath reservation, as far as possible, considering the limited amount of funds provided for colonization purposes, in obedience to your instructions, I commenced making arrangements towards the close of April last to proceed to the reservation and put in a crop there, calculating that early in May it would be possible to cross the Cascade imountains with a wagon.

Having made necessary purchases and having employed a person to assist in driving the team and also in ploughing and planting, I left Ashland on May 1, and followed the old emigrant road without difficulty, except from fallen timber, as far as the emigrant crossing on the Klamath river, where I changed my course from almost due east and pursued as far as Sink river, in a northeasterly direction, a route sometimes followed by wagons on their way to the gold region of the Columbia. At Sink river I changed my course a little west of north through the mountains bordering Upper Klamath lake on the east, and after travelling through a pass in the mountains never before traversed by wagons, but decidedly practicable, on May 12 I arrived at the head of navigation on the lake, about eight miles south of Fort Klamath, four miles north of Williamson river, and twenty-five from Ashland, and at the point I decided to commence operations.

From this place, which is called Ko-was ta by the Indians, level, fertile plains extend off towards Fort Klamath, bordered on the east by splendid groves of timber and crossed by beautiful streams of water, clear as crystal. This location for an agency, in my estimation, could scarcely be excelled. Fine timber, stone and wild meadow lands abound; the climate is far milder than that of Fort Klamath, but a few miles above, and it is near enough to that post and to the Indian village on Williamson river for any required purpose. Three miles above on Ko-was-ta or Crooked river there is as fine a mill site as I have ever seen, and from the rivulet just mentioned all the tillable land below could be easily irrigated if it should require it.

Ploughing was commenced soon after arriving at Ko-was-ta, and by the 31st of May sixteen acres were put in, seven in wheat, oats, bearded and bald barley, seven in corn and beans, and two in turnips, carrots, peas, potatoes, artichokes and onions. By the assistance of the Indians, there was also built a good substantial log house, and the Indians en

closed the field, and altogether about a thousand acres of land, with a good brush and log fence. I made necessary arrangement and had put in at Williamson river, about the 1st of May, in a small enclosure, a number of varieties of garden vegetables, as also some wheat and oats.

The Klamaths and Gahooskins, when they saw operations actually commenced, became reassured of the good intentions of the government, and I far exceeded my most sanguine expectations in regard to employing them in labor. They were ready and willing to assist as I should direct, and during the whole time of laboring on the reservation I kept a fatigue party of from ten to thirty-six at work, all they received in return being some shorts I issued to them while laboring and the prospect of better times in future. The season being far advanced, operations ceased for a time with the close of May.

On the 18th of July I appointed, at a moderate salary for the time being, a person to reside on the agency farm to attend to the cultivation of the crop, to provide hay sufficient to subsist the department animals through the winter, and to transact such other duties there as may be calculated to promote the good being of the service. Through the representations of the farmer, I am able to state, that at present most of the crop is flourishing; a part, however, put in on dry land is not doing very well. At Kowasta most of the corn, turnips, potatoes, barley, oats and wheat look well and promise an abundant yield, and at Williamson river the wheat and oats are waist-high and are heading out, but most of the vegetables at the latter place were put in rather too early and are not flourishing. I am very well satisfied that the climate and soil of Kowasta and of the bottoms on Williamson river are suited to the production of wheat, oats, barley, rye, carrots, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, artichokes and Indian corn, and from the appearance of things thus far, would give it as my opinion that all those things may be cultivated there with advantage.

There are sufficient colonization funds or more than a sufficiency on hand to meet the expenses that would necessarily be incurred in putting in a respectable crop of grain on the reservation this fall, and I am of opinion that the interests of the service would be much promoted by employing so much of them as would be necessary for that purpose.

There are at present no Snakes proper on the reservation, unless we except some prisoners in the custody of the military at Fort Klamath. Pauline left the reservation with his people some time in April last, and I am led to believe that he went away with hostile designs, and that there is now a union of all the Snakes proper for a more determined war.

I hoped for a long time that Pauline was only absent in pursuance of a promise to use his influence to persuade Howlock and other hostile chieftains to forsake the war-path, but it seems suffi ciently evident that he nor his people now harbor any feelings of amity towards the United States. The universal belief among the Klamaths and Yahooskins is that the Snakes are all for war. Their vigilance lest the Snakes invade their country to rob and plunder, the withdrawal of Pauline and his people from the reservation in a clandestine manner, the lurking of straggling bands of Snakes around its limits and the increase in number of the depreda tions in the Columbian regions, would seem sufficient to justify the military in capturing all the stragglers possible around the reservation, and Major W. V. Rinehart, commanding Fort Klamath, with the assistance of Klamaths and Yahooskins, has taken captive a number of Snakes. "The Klamaths and Yahooskins," Major Rinehart says, 66 are eager to vindicate their loyalty, and would willingly become our allies in au invasion of the Snake domain." The Moadoc Indians who withdrew from their country last year, through the influence, as I believe, of certain white persons, more intent on promoting their own pecuniary interests than the good-being of the Indians or the welfare of the country, have sent messengers to me at different times, to represent their readiness to do as I may desire them, and their wil lingness to come on to the reservation in the event of the ratification of the treaty made with them, the Klamaths and Yahooskins conjointly. They have returned to their country in and around Clear Lake valley, and are collecting roots and seeds for winter use.

Of straggling Indians there are a few in southern Oregon. Thirteen Molalles are at Flounce Rock, on the head-waters of Rogue river; a little band of the same tribe are on the Cascade range further north; and I have just learned that there is a little band, I know not of what tribe on south Umpqua river. If provision is made for the maintenance of these stragglers on the Klamath reservation, I apprehend no difficulty in removing them there. The Klamaths are anxious to assist in bringing stragglers on to the reservation, and I have already given some of them permission to bring some of their own people from Oregon City and the Dalles.

Here let me represent the necessity of purchasing, if the funds provided for such purposes in this department are adequate, a considerable amount of shorts or flour, to issue to Indians while laboring on the Klamath reservation, and also to supply the destitute and the sick through the coming winter. I hope the treaty of October 15 will be ratified at an early day, so that more extensive measures may be adopted to improve the condition of the tribes included in that compact. By proper management they would very soon become an agricultu ral people, and under due and proper regulations, with their advancement in agricultural knowledge, their barbarous customs would fast disappear, and civilized habits take their place.

I would here state that kindness and courtesy have characterized Major Rinehart, Captain