ernment without oppressiveness to keep the Indians on their reservation. For, with reasonable aid in the way of supplying articles they cannot produce, it would insure them not only the meat they crave for food, but also that agreeable exercise in the handling of cattle and horses, so like the pleasures of the chase. With the aid of enough bayonets, or possibly by stripping them wholly of their ponies and guns, as some have proposed, they could be kept on their reservation without any of the incidental allurements to which I have here referred. But how utterly dull and dreary the life to which such a policy would consign the average Indian of the present generation, who all his life has enjoyed the full freedom of forest and plain. A policy like that would be abrupt and arbitrary to the very verge of cruelty. Humanity protests against it. The transition should be made gradual. That Indians assigned to a reservation in order that the country adjacent may be settled and improved by white men should not be permitted to roam over the territory outside of that reservation is a proposition that admits of no argument. The fact that they are friendly does not alter the case. For how is the isolated and practically defenseless settler to know whether a band of red men darting across his cattle-range or up to his ranch, are friendly or not? He cannot afford to be kept constantly on the rack in this way. Thus far almost nothing has been done towards giving the children of these Indians the advantage of school instruction, though I learn from the agent that a teacher for the Arapahoes has been provided, and that measures are on foot that will insure the early building and furnishing of a school-building. In my judgment, schools for Indian youth in general should be industrial schools, where instruction in the rudiments of learning is combined with instruction in the cultivation of the soil, the care of animals, and in various simple handicrafts; where, likewise, the pupils would acquire the ideas and habits of civilized life. Such a school would cost more money than an ordinary school, but it would yield much larger results. I respectfully commend this suggestion to the attention of the department. I will not assume to speak for other Indians than those who properly belong to Wyoming. It is possible that certain warlike and irreconcilable tribes could be better managed if wholly under the strong arm of military authority; but as for the Shoshones and Arapahoes now on the reservation here, the conviction in my mind is strong and clear that their advancement will be more surely promoted by a control based on their civilizability and exercised through agents chosen with reference not only to their honesty and business capacity but also to an earnestness of desire for such advancement and special aptitudes for the peculiar and difficult duties assigned them. What appears now to be especially needed is more money for certain auxiliaries in aid of industrial development and general enlightenment-means for the material appointments required and for the just compensation of those who, as agents and their subordinates, are charged with the responsibilities of immediate manage ment. The foregoing is based, of course, on the assumption that the Indians in question are to remain where they are, though the principles involved are in no way dependent on locality. Believing in the sacredness of treaty obligations, whether wisely or unwisely entered into by the gov ernment, I could not for a moment entertain the suggestion of coercive measures for their removal. But if, in harmony with some new policy touching Indian affairs, and in accord with the wishes and interests of the Indians to be affected, the Shoshone and Bannock Reservation, so called, could be vacated, it is certain that such a result would be hailed with satisfaction by the people of this Territory. With the further view to an increase of security for life and property in the Territory, measures are now under consideration for a thorough and effective militia organization. The scattered condition of the population, except at a few centers, renders this much more difficult than in the older communities, but it will, nevertheless, be possible to secure the formation of a number of well-equipped companies at different points; so that in case of invasion by Indians-an event not now regarded as probable-or by bands of desperadoes, such as have infested some portions of the Territory during the past season, we shall have a force, independent of the small detachments of regular troops at the military posts, for prompt and vigorous action. If, this being done, the Secretary of War were authorized to cause a detail to be made of officers of the Regular Army to assist the Territorial executive in directing the movements of the militia, so that there might be harmony and full co-operation between the regular and volunteer forces, the Territory would be quite well protected. In concluding this report I am painfully conscious of its many imperfections. The labor of investigation was continued to so late a date that insufficient time remained for arranging and presenting results. Of this I am confident, however, namely, that as a statement of facts it is worthy of acceptance; for great pains have been taken to insure accuracy, and where there was room for doubt I have been extremely careful to underestimate rather than to overstate. So far as mere impressions and inferences are concerned, they should be received with such degree. of allowance as properly attaches to the conclusions of an inquirer who, although anxious to make a faithful representation, has been without the advantage of so much as one whole year's residence in the Territory over which he presides. With these explanations, and in the hope that it may prove both acceptable and useful, the report is respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Hon. CARL SCHURZ, Secretary of the Interior. JOHN W. HOYT, 75 I INDEX. A. Page. Abandoned military reservations .140, 144, 203 all action for sale of several of, suspended for want of means. 203 203 203 Abundant yield of Insane Hospital orchard. &c., of Pacific Railroad companies... will put large sums in Treasury Abbott, J. B., Los Pinos Agency, Colorado, Annual Report of. Indians return to agency after small-pox epidemic in May. Absentee Shawnees of Sac and Fox Agency, Indian Territory, number and status of, &c. Abundance of all kinds of fruits in New Mexico. vineyard Academy of Science, paper in Proceedings of California, respecting inaccuracies of 8th census Accommodations of Insane Hospital not equal to the number of patients Accounts, Auditor of Bureau of Railroad, Annual Report of. (See Annual Report, &c.) of surveyors-general, &c., examining, adjusting, and reporting. Acquittal of surgeon in charge of Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum Acres of land in Montana under cultivation of land, millions of, lost to government by neglect to provide for the speedy settlement of public lands entered during year under the laws for the disposal thereof. 203 203 510 606 602 602 565 143, 144 276 1107 1074 1074 854 1072 906 113 1054 814, 832 1113 203 of March 3, 1875, granting railroads right of way through public lands. 58 of March 9, 1878, new pension claims under 813 to provide for the sale of desert lands, &c., an important step towards the improvement of 1178 Acts of April 30 and June 3 and 20, 1878, for the sale, &c., of timber lands... XIII-XV, 117-121, 133, 135 Additional buildings needed for Columbia Hospital for Women, &c Address of Indian agents, post-office and telegraphic of Indian inspectors, post-office of members of Board of Indian Commissioners, post-office of secretaries of religious bodies in charge of Indian agencies, post-office Adjudication, board of equitable, confirmation by, of suspended cases of public lands. rejection by, of cases of public lands of private land-claims, &c.. Adjustment of foreign land-grant claims within railroad grants 841 841 1092 1058 809-811 811 808 808 186 200 .XVI, 125, 203 56 1178 Advantage, &c., of making grants of land to the Territories for railroad and canal improve- ments Advantages of a home in Montana of manufacturing in Wyoming. the first present need of Wyoming is an advertisement of its great natural. changes among upper and lower," situation of Fort Berthold effected promptly and without confusion Agencies, pension, consolidation of, table showing number paid during pay-month of each quar. list of ter since. no branch of public service more efficiently administered than order by President in relation to two of Agency, Indian, abandonment of Malheur, on account of Indian outbreak. Abiquiu, located 50 miles from reservation, in a Mexican town.. affairs at Mescalero, in very disturbed state Agent Hamilton resigns charge of Sisseton. building of Moquis Pueblos liable to be destroyed by floods. buildings at Colorado River Agency very dilapidated for want of material to at Red Lake Agency, number and condition of. at Round Valley Agency, California, very dilapidated. new, at Fort Peck Agency, Montana. new, much needed at Navajo Agency. at Winnebago Agency, number, condition, &c new, at Mescalero Agency, imperatively needed only one on Ponca Reservation, Indian Territory. clerk at Santee Agency an Indian for Moquis Pueblos discontinued October 1, 1876 great inconvenience arising from distance of Fort Berthold Indians from lower. of La Pointe of new Ponca of new Red Cloud of Shoshone and Bannock. of Sisseton. locations occupied by Fort Peck discouragements and difficulties in the administration of Uintah Valley. outbreak at Malheur Agency, Oregon state of anarchy in country about Mescalero system of administration adopted by Agent Wilbur at Yakama temporary subdivision of San Carlos of Shoshone and Bannock unfortunate location of Navajo White River, to be removed to Powell's Valley, twenty miles from present Agent (Acting), Indian, Lieut. J. M. Lee, Ninth Infantry, U. S. A., relieved from charge of at Fort Berthold, Dakota, resignation of Boone relieved of charge of Poncas, July 3, 1878. Ely assumes charge of Pawnee Agency on 13th of June for Kiowas and Comanches, resignation of J. M. Haworth, late for Pueblos of New Mexico placed in charge of Abiquiu Agency in August for Southern Utes requests to be relieved from charge of agency Gasmann resigns his charge of Yankton Agency, Dakota.. Special, M. A. Carter, courageous in the performance of duties death of, from yellow fever. efficient energetic. faithful is a serious loss. loss of, deplored. seriously felt Stowe resigns charge of White Earth Agency in March. Agents, Indian, should be allowed large discretion in carrying out department orders post office and telegraphic address salaries of, should be in proportion to the amount of responsibility. special. (See Special agents.) Page. 819 831 820 817, 831 817 615, 616 602 603 536 505 498 575 507 596, 597 585 603 605 560 512 596 504 528 546 574 640 560 533 646 536 585 624 615 603 637 502 604 646, 648 515 534 529 560 558 554 602 514 542 124 124 124 124 124 124 124 124 575 651 809-811 590 pension. (See Pension agents, &c.) Agreement, tariff, between Union Pacific and Colorado Central and Kansas Pacific Railroads.1023-1026 |