No. 126. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, June 7, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 31st ultimo, transmitting the following resolution of inquiry by the Committee on Public Lands of the House of Representatives, of which you are chairman, viz: Resolved, That the Commissioner of Indian Affairs be requested to furnish this committee with such information as may be in his possession in reference to the history and standing of the Ottawa Indian University of Kansas." In reply I have to state that, by the sixth article of the treaty with the Ottawas of Kansas, made June 24, 1862, provisions are made for the education of the Indians by the setting apart of twenty thousand acres of land, and the details in regard to the sale of such lands, and the investment, care, and use of the funds arising therefrom fully set forth. To that treaty, as published in volume 12 Statutes at Large, pp. 1238 and 1239, I beg leave to refer you. Under the provisions of the article above cited, 19,997-7 acres of land were selected by the trustees therein named, such selections having been approved by the Interior Department March 9, 1864. Land included in the above amount, to the extent of five thousand acres, having been authorized to be sold, and the proceeds directed towards "the erection of proper buildings and improvements" upon the section set apart for the purpose, there has been sold and patented to the purchasers 4,9867 acres, realizing for the fund the sum of $6,233 48. One section of the land is set apart especially for the location of the school and farm attached thereto, and upon this a building is in process of erection, three stories high, with attic rooms, forty feet by sixty-five feet, designed for the use of the institution, which is chartered under the general laws of Kansas as the Ottawa University. This building is expected to cost about thirty thousand dollars, and, with the exception of the amount above mentioned, ($6,233 48,) all the funds for its completion are derived from contributions of persons interested in the welfare of the Indians. It is designed to have the building completed and to commence the especial operations of the university by next winter, although there are already schools in operation. The institution now referred to is designed, in connection with a farm, to furnish what may be more properly termed a manual labor boarding school, but with an endowment sufficient to make it free for the more advanced pupils from any of the Indian tribes. For this en dowment, in addition to such contributions as may be obtained from abroad, the trustees depend upon the sale of fifteen thousand acres of land remaining. As to the value of that land, some idea may perhaps be obtained from the fact that the average amount per acre which has been realized from the sale of certain Ottawa lands is $2 30; but the trustees expect to realize much more than that average from the university lands, since their value is enhanced by the progress of settlement around them, and they are all adding greatly to their value by planting large numbers of trees upon them, under the direction of Mr. S. T. Kelsey, an experienced practical man, who has been engaged by the trustees to attend to this business, and to open the farm upon the section attached to the university building. The treasurer of the board of trustees is under bond, filed in this office, to the amount of forty thousand dollars. Such, so far as officially known, is the history of the institution referred to. As to its "standing" among the educational institutions of the country, your committee will have perceived that it is only in its preliminary or preparatory state. The schools now in opera tion, under the care of the board, appear to give good satisfaction, and there is every reason to believe that, by continued exertion and good management on the part of the board, their design of establishing an institution of the highest grade usual in this country, for the thorough education of Indian youth, will be successful. They have the hearty sympathy of this office, and I do not hesitate to commend their enterprise to the attention of your committee. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. GEO. W. JULIAN, D. N. COOLEY, Commissioner. Chairman Committee on Public Lands, House of Representatives. No. 127. WASHINGTON, D. C., April 18, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to enclose to you, herewith, a letter from the Ottawa Indians concerning various matters of importance to the service. I will communicate to you by separate letters certain facts bearing upon the several points alluded to in their communication, but in order to do so in the manner most satisfactory to you, I shall be glad to reply to any interrogations which may seem to you most fitting to be made. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. D. N. COOLEY, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Present. C. C. HUTCHINSON, OTTAWA, April 2, 1866. SIR: There are many matters concerning our tribe which we desire to have examined and arranged as shall seem right. Several sales have taken place from one Indian to another, and we ask that they may be approved by the Secretary of the Interior. Since the treaty was ratified heavy losses have occurred to our tribe, and we send you, by our agent, a list of them, and ask you to assist us to procure pay from the government for them. Our agent has sold nearly all of the "trust lands," and we now wish him to go east to secure funds to build our college with, and to ask from you permission for a delegation of our tribe to visit Washington and attend to the matters set forth in this letter. The "trust lands'' are nearly all sold, and as the college trustees have been selling their "timber land" to accompany the prairie trust land, we, as council and tribe, request permission to sell, and desire that there shall be sold to the Ottawa University, the remaining amount of trust lands at one dollar and fifty cents per acre, in such manner as shall seem wise and proper to you. We want our college built that our children may have the benefit of the school while they are growing up. We wish to become citizens as soon as practicable, and have authority to sell any and all of our lands. We hope you will give a favorable reply to this letter, and send word at once for our delegation to visit Washington. his JOHN WILSON, mark. JAMES WAID, his DAVID BARNETT, mark. THOMAS MUNROE, mark. JOHN W. EARLEY, his SOC-MA-NE-BA, mark. I. T. JONES, his NON-GE-SUS, mark. SQUARE GEORGE, mark. HENRY CLAY, mark. WM. HURR. Attest: WM. HURR, United States Interpreter. I certify that the above communication was drawn up by request of the Ottawa Indians, the points enumerated having been determined upon after several special councils held by the Indians for that purpose. I further certify that the above names were signed in my presence and in full council. C. C. HUTCHINSON, No. 128. POTTAWATOMIE AGENCY, September 17, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual report of Indian affairs in this agency for the current year. On the second day of June last the census of the Pottawatomies, taken with a view to their usual per capita payment of annuities, shows the whole number of Indians at that time to have been 1,992, viz: 512 men, 501 women, and 979 children, or an increase of 118 since June, 1865, the whole number of the tribe being at that time 1,874. Only a small part of this increase is accounted for by the return of persons, comprising part of the number of about 400, who went away in the summer of 1864. I am sure the number of Pottawatomies is increasing independent of immigration. The healthy and prosperous condition of the tribe is shown by such increase. I may say that the Pottawatomies all have the necessaries and most of them the comforts and conveniences of life. With us the past two seasons may be regarded as seasons of plenty. This year, as last, the season has been unusually favorable for the raising of crops of most kinds Unlike last year, we have had no hail storms or insects this year to interfere with the growth or yield of small grain. Everything attempted in the way of farming, and followed up with the requisite care and labor, has been abundantly successful. From a careful estimate I submit the following as the result of the farming operations of the tribe for the present year. Number of acres in cultivation by members of the tribe, 1,900. 104 acres of wheat, at 25 bushels per acre, are 2,600 bushels, at $1 75 per bushel 1,610 acres of corn, at 40 bushels per acre, are 64,400 bushels, at 25 cents per bushel 70 acres of oats, at 40 bushels per acre, are 2,800 bushels, at 25 cents per bushel 50 acres of potatoes, at 125 bushels per acre, are 6,250 bushels, at 40 cents per busuel $4,550 16, 100 700 400 bushels of turnips, at 30 cents per bushel... 1,400 tons of hay, at $4 per ton..... 50 bushels of beans, at $1 50 per bushel.... 110 bushels of onions, at $1 per bushel............ Value of garden vegetables not mentioned above..... Other property belonging to individual members of the tribe is estimated as follows: 2,500 1,200 5,600 75 110 4,000 78, 225 25,500 1,950 1,000 12,000 15,000 10,000 178, 510 But little benefit has resulted to the Pottawatomies from their usual summer and fall hunts, in the way of supplying them with meat. The buffalo were too far off; but few were found, and such as were taken were found to be thin in flesh. The amount of furs sold by our Indians during the year past has been less by several hundred dollars than the amount sold last year and years before. Our Indians have not the same need to depend upon the chase for a subsistence as they had formerly, quite a large proportion of them having adopted, to a considerable extent, the customs and habits of civilized life, depend upon their industry in the cultivation of their farms, which yield all the necessary breadstuffs, while the beef, pork and poultry of their own raising furnish the requisite supply of meat. In speaking of the improved condition of the Pottawatomies I am obliged with regret to acknowledge that there are many, including a portion of those who hold land in severalty, as well as those who hold in common, who are not so well advanced, and who are doing nothing whatever to improve their condition. It seems quite an easy matter for Indians to adopt the vices, without being able to see any beauty in the virtues, of civilized society. Whiskey, the great hindrance to the material, moral and social advancement of the Indian, has operated its most baneful effects upon a small portion of the members of this tribe. I see but little hope for such ones except in their being placed in a situation where it will be impossible, or at least much more difficult, for them to obtain it. We are situated here upon a territory thirty miles square. The country is well settled on every side, and on every side are resorts where whiskey may be had by any one who has money with which to buy, and teamsters passing over the reserve in every direction, upon the public highways, have whiskey in their wagons and sell to Indians. We succeed in indicting and punishing numbers of them every year, but still there are always some left who are unprincipled and sufficiently avaricious to be willing to take the chances for what they are sure they can make in the traffic. I have asked for a marshal and United States commissioner to reside near the agency with a view to greater certainty in the arrest and punishment of offenders. Another source of annoyance and detriment to the interests of this tribe is the determination and perseverance with which outsiders depredate upon the timber of the reserve; and what is particularly discouraging in the matter is that, although the courts for the last few years have been burdened with the trial of prosecutions for such depredation, no convictions are ever procured, and at this time it has become exceedingly difficult to procure an indictment. These offenders sometimes succeed, by the use of a little shrewdness, in getting summoned upon the grand jury. They seem to steal timber from an Indian with as little compunction as they manifest in receiving pay for investigating cases of theft and refusing to indict. Under such circumstances it is easy to perceive that justice to the Indian in a contest with whites is difficult to obtain. The Indian is the weaker party, and must suffer, therefore, the consequence of his inferiority. It is expected that the surplus land of the Pottawatomies, under the treaty of 1861, will soon be turned over to the railroad company, and that it will be put upon the market and sold to white settlers. Then, when the Indians and whites are compelled to live in close neighborhood, it may be presumed that additional difficulties may arise. There will be diversities of habit and customs, and perhaps to some extent conflicting jurisdiction. If, as at present, with the whole reservation to themselves, the Indians suffer continually from depredations committed by persons living outside of the reserve line, it is not difficult to believe that their troubles and annoyances will be increased when every Indian has his white neighbors immediately adjoining to his own residence. It is my opinion, if a treaty could be negotiated with the Pottawatomies, similar in its provisions to the late Delaware treaty, providing a home for such of our Indians as would emigrate, where they could easily be protected by the government in the enjoyment of all their rights, and where they would be free from the debasing effects of intoxicating liquors, they would be far better off, and happier than they are here; remove such only as would be willing to go, including as well those who have received land in severalty, and wish to join in the movement, as that part of the tribe called the Prairie band, who occupy their diminished reserve in common. It would be but a short time before such of the balance of the tribe as might find it difficult to manage their affairs and sustain themselves in contact with the whites would gladly throw up their allotments and follow their friends to their new homes. But a limited number of allottees, under the treaty of 1861, heads of families, have been through the process of naturalization and received patents for their land. Some few more will make application this fall. There are still several members of the tribe-heads of families-that have not applied for naturalization, who are entirely competent to manage their own affairs, and who would succeed in any community. I have advised and encouraged but few to apply for their patents, and to take upon themselves the duties and responsibili ties of citizens. Improvidence is the peculiar characteristic of the real Indian. No sooner does he become possessed of money, or property that he can dispose of, than he proceeds at once to make it available, as far as possible, for present enjoyment, never seeming to reflect that his means may become exhausted until his last dollar is gone. Thus many of our Indians would gladly apply for and receive patents to their land, (without realizing at all the changed relation they assume in the community by becoming citizens of the United States,) solely with a view to a sale, and spending the proceeds thereof, as also their interest in the credits of the tribe held in trust by the government for them. I have conceived it to be my duty to restrain such persons, as far as possible, from taking any of the steps necessary for becoming citizens. Many of them will doubtless find it to their advantage, at no distant day, to throw up their present allotments and follow their friends who may have gone before them to a new home. Then it would be better that they should not have squandered their share of the national wealth, and been left paupers upon the government or their Indian friends for support. Pottawatomies have looked anxiously for the announcement that their treaty amendment of last winter had been ratified, so that adult persons, other than heads of families, might be admitted to the rights of citizenship. Many of the most competent persons of the tribe are of this class of adults, male and female, but not heads of families.. The Saint Mary's Mission School is still in successful operation. The teachers of this institution seem ready at all times to astonish visitors by exhibiting the little Pottawatomies, showing their advancement in the studies taught in school, and the facility with which Indian children are made to comprehend the difficult problems which stand in the way of the advancement of all children in the study of the natural sciences and the higher mathematics. The efforts of teachers in this school have been directed mainly to the instruction of Indian children, first, in the knowledge of their obligations to their Creator as accountable beings; then in such necessary branches of common school education as it is thought will be found most useful to them in after life, and conducive to their success in the world; but in teaching the more common branches, there has been an aptness shown by Indian children which augurs so well of success in the higher branches, that they have been encouraged at this mission to prosecute their studies while they are permitted to remain in school, so far as their time and opportunities will allow. If the Pottawatomies to-day are in the enjoyment of any advantages of civilization or material prosperity beyond what is enjoyed by some other tribes in Kansas, they are indebted in a great measure for such advantages to the unceasing devotion and labors in their interest of the Saint Mary's Catholic Mission, and the devoted religious who accompanied the Pottawatomies in their emigration to this reserve. The Mission School has been kept in operation, it may be said through war, pestilence, and famine, never having been discontinued for a day on account of any of the discouraging circumstances which have at times rendered the carrying on of such an institution an exceedingly laborious and difficult matter. The Baptist Mission School, which has been in operation a part of the time, with varied success, since 1848, it is understood, is about to be reopened under the auspices of the Baptist Missionary Board, after having been closed for the last six years. Rev. Mr. Raymond, who has been employed to superintend the establishment, has shown sufficient energy in making necessary preparations, repairing the mission buildings, &c., and now awaits the action of the board to enable him to open his school. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. THOMAS MURPHY, L. R. PALMER, United States Indian Agent. Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Atchison, Kansas, No. 129. ST. MARY'S MISSION, September 17, 1866. DEAR SIR: At your request I submit, with pleasure, this brief report. Both the male and female branches of the Pottawattomie manual labor school at St. Mary's have been, since my last report, in constant successful operation. The number of the pupils is ever on the increase, and their application and orderly conduct keep pace with their increased numbers. As a natural result, they have made great proficiency in every branch of their education. They not only spell and read and write and cypher, but they study with success the various other branches of geography, history, and book-keeping, grammar, algebra, geometry, logic, philosophy, and astronomy. We have Indian children here at our school who succeed in mathematics, and who will analyze correctly any sentence indiscriminately taken out of any book that is placed in their hands, and will quote the rules and give the reasons to substantiate their parsing. Besides, they are so docile, so willing to improve, that, between their school hours, they employ themselves, with pleasure, in learning whatever handy work may be assigned them. The boys' manual labor is com monly of a nature to teach them to become good farmers, and to draw from the riches of their now sectionized lands the means of living comfortably without having to depend too much on a certain class of men who might take advantage of the experience and good faith of our honest Indians. The girls, besides the ordinary branches of good English education, learn to milk the cows, see to the dairy, lend their hand at culinary work, wash and iron, knit, sew, and embroider, learn to make their own dresses; in a word, are trained to acquire whatever may be deemed useful to good housekeepers and accomplished mothers of families. The number of Indian children whom we tutor and board and clothe at the mission averages some 200 children. Upwards of twenty-five persons are assiduously engaged in taking care of them and providing for their wants; these contribute their gratuitous labor in the good cause of ameliorating the condition of their red brethren. They labor hard, and live economically to realize what is necessary for the support of so many. What they regret is that their means have not allowed them to procure sufficiently commodious buildings for their pupils. Some of the very best and most enlightened men, holding high positions in the Senate and the Cabinet, have, at different times, in their official capacity, honored our schools with their presence. They have spoken with the highest admiration of our institution; they have expressed their wonder how, during the difficult struggles of the war, we kept up the schools in an ever-flourishing condition; they have remarked the want of proper accommodations; they have spoke encouragingly; and yet, strange as it may seem, through some or other mishap or forgetfulness, nothing has been done to remedy this great want, while appropriations are being made for similar purposes in favor |
