without reference to him, although he was subsequently present, by request of the company, upon the occasion of the payment of the consideration-money to the Indians, per capita. It appears from the papers returned with your letter of the 1st instant that, in conformity with department instructions of the 20th March, 1880, the Republican Valley Railroad Company, on the 18th May following, filed in this department the original and amended articles of incorporation of the company; also a map (copy herewith) of the road as surveyed through the Otoe and Missouria Reservation, in respect of which the right of way was granted by the Indians on the 28th December, 1880, with an affidavit of Tobias Castor, right-of-way agent for the company, sworn May 9, 1881, verifying the payment of the $1,600 considerationmoney to the Indians, and their voluntary acceptance thereof, after a full explanatory statement made to them in the presence of the agent. In view of this state of facts, and considering that the road in question has been constructed and is now in operation, that the Indians have all been removed to the Indian Territory, and that the entire reservation is now about to be offered for sale, pursuant to act of Congress, it seems but just and equitable that the said railroad company should be protected in the rights which it has acquired in the lands, and I have accordingly prepared an amendment to Senate bill No. 930, excepting from the provisions of the act of March 3, 1881, so much of the lands thereby directed to be sold as is embraced in said right of way, which I herewith submit, with copies of the map and such papers as are material, for your approval and transmission to Congress. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The Hon. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. H. PRICE, Amendment proposed to the bill (S. 930) to amend "An act to provide for the sale of the remainder of the reservation of the confederated Otoe and Missouria tribes of Indians, in the States of Nebraska and Kansas, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1881. SEC. 8. That so much of the lands authorized to be sold by the said act of March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, as is embraced within the right of way heretofore granted by the said Indians, in accordance with the terms of their treaty with the United States, to the Republican Valley Railroad Company, said right of way being one hundred feet in width (unless a greater width is required to build and construct said road), and extending across said reservation in a northwesterly direction for a distance of eight and one-half miles, or thereabouts, as shown upon a plat thereof filed by said company in the office of the Secretary of the Interior on the eighteenth day of May, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, be, and the same hereby is, excepted from the provisions of said act in regard to appraisement and sale of said lands; and said right of way is hereby confirmed to said company, its successors and assigns. UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, SIR: In conformity with instructions of your department of March 20, 1880, I have the honor to transmit here with additional papers touching the matter of right of way purchased by the Republican Valley Railroad Company of the Otoe Indians through their reservation, in Gage County, Nebraska, and to ask your consideration of the same at as early day as possible. The papers already filed bearing on the subject are (1) the deed from the Indians; (2) the affidavit of J. W. Pearman setting forth the whole transaction, together with a brief statement by him, as agent of the company to treat with the Indians for said right of way. I now file with you the map called for, showing the road as surveyed, together with the original and amended articles of incorporation of the Republican Valley Railroad Company, and a letter to the Hon. Hiram Price from the general manager of the company, referring to the same. In this connection I beg to state that the company, in paying the Indians the money as they did, followed the precedent established by your predecessor, wherein he (the Hon. Carl Schurz, Secretary of the Interior) directed that the money paid by the Omaha and Republican Valley Railroad Company for right of way through said reservation be distributed pro rata among the Indians. I beg further to state that the company has a force of inen and teams at work on said line of road, and by direction of the Hon. Commissioner of Indian Affairs work must cease until the title to said right of way is confirmed by the Interior Department, and most respectfully ask that said instructions to cease work on the line before mentioned be rescinded while the matter is now under consideration, to the end that the company may be put to no more additional expense and waste of time than is actually necessary. Respectfully, Hon. S. J. KIRKWOOD, Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. J. W. PEARMAN, Know all men by these presents, that Harregarrow, Wahounarysa, Munchaheuncha, Chadonnaryea, Muskagaka, Nochpewarra, Shungaski, Thingabuska, and Kagretha, head chiefs of the Otoe and Missouri confederate tribe of Indians, occupying their reservation in Gage County, Nebraska, and Marshall County, Kansas, for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand six hundred dollars to ourselves and our tribe in hand paid, the receipts of which is hereby acknowledged, do hereby grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto the Republican Valley Railroad Company, its successors and assigns, the following-described real estate, situated in Gage County, State of Nebraska, to wit: The right of way one hundred feet (unless a greater width is required to build and construct said road), it being fifty feet on each side of the centre of the railroad of said company, as located upon northwest quarter, southwest quarter, northeast quarter, and southeast quarter section twenty-seven (27), southwest of southwest section 26, north half of section thirty-five, northeast of southeast of section thirty-five (35), southwest quarter section thirty-six, all in township two, range 7 east; north half of section one, town one, range seven east; northwest quarter section six, town one N., range 8 east; south half and northeast quarter section thirty-one, west half and southeast quarter section (32) thirty-two, township two, range eight east; northeast quarter section five (5), north half and southeast quarter section four, and south half of section (3) three, town one north, range eight east, Gage County, Nebraska. Providing further that there shall not be sold on said right of way any intoxicating liquors, arms, or ammunition of any kind or description whatever. În witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 28th day of December, A. D. 1880. HARREGARROW, his x mark. WAHOUNARYSA, his x mark. Signed in presence of— BATTIST DERVIN, Interpreter. JOHN W. PEARMAN. STATE OF NEBRASKA, County of Gage: MUNCHAHEUNCHA, his x mark. CHADONNARYEA, his x mark. MUSKAGAKA, his x mark. NOCHPEWARRA, his x mark. SHUNGASKI, his x mark. Be it known that on the 28th day of December, A. D. 1880, before the undersigned, C. M. Murdock, a notary public in and for said county, personally came Harregarrow, Wahounarysa, Muskagaka, Chadonnaryea, Munchaheuncha, Nochpewarra. Shungaski, Thingabuska, and Kagretha, head chiefs of the Otoe and Missouria confederate tribe of Indians, to me known to be the identical persons described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged the said instrument to be their voluntary act and deed. Witness my hand and notarial seal this 28th day of December, A. D. 1880. UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER, SIR: The Republican Valley Railroad Company, a corporation organized in accordance with the laws of the State of Nebraska, having purchased the right of way from the Otoe Indians through their reservation in Gage County, Nebraska, built the road, and trains now passing over the same; and having filed all the papers required by your department setting forth the facts as to how it became possessed of said right of way, respectfully ask what steps are necessary, if any, to have its rights recognized. This question is asked for the reason, under an act of Congress now being passed, the entire reservation is to be sold, and when the sale takes place the necessary instruction should be given to the local land-office to reserve that portion of land now occupied for road-bed, side-tracks, &c., as set forth in the deed of transfer by said Indians to the railroad company. Very respectfully, Hon. SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. C. H. VAN WYCK, STATE OF NEBRASKA, County of Saline: Tobias Castor, of said county and State, being first duly sworn by me, says he is now and was on the 28th of December, 1880, the duly appointed and lawful right of way agent for the Republican Valley Railroad Company, and on the 28th of December aforesaid paid the Otoe Indians $1,600 for the right of way for said company, as then surveyed and mapped; and said payment was made in the presence of their agent, L. E. Woodin, who counted the money and handed it to each Indian as his or her name was called by the agency clerk, Mr. Pickering. That before payment was tendered or the deed signed and witnessed, Mr. J. W. Pearman, whom the company had employed to negotiate with the Indians for said right of way in Gage County, Nebraska, had the Indians assembled together at the agency building, and in the presence of their agent, Mr. Woodin, made the following statement, or words to that effect: "My friends, four or five days ago I came here for the purpose of making you an offer for the right of way through your lands to the Republican Valley Railroad Company. On my arrival your agent left for Maryville, Kans., and at your own suggestion we met at the store of Mr. F. M. Barnes, your post-trader, where we talked the matter over, and you agreed to take $1,600, the amount I was instructed to offer you. That meeting and understanding was of an informal character, as your agent, Mr. Woodin, was not present. I now make you the same offer in presence of your agent, L. E. Woodin; your post trader, F. M. Barnes; the agency clerk, Mr. Pickering; and ask you will you accept the offer and sign the necessary papers transferring the same; and when you go to Washington, which I understand will be in a few days, tell your Great Father of the sale thus made and ask him to confirm the same?" To this offer of Mr. Pearman the Indians assented, and the money was paid, deed executed and witnessed in the presence of the officials of the agency and at least two or three hundred Indians. TOBIAS CASTOR. Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this 9th day of May, A. D. 1881. STATE OF NEBRASKA, County of Gage, 88: C. M. Murdock, of said county and State, being first duly sworn, says: I was present when the Indians were paid, and took their acknowledgment of the same; that I have read the affidavit of Tobias Castor, and the facts set forth therein are substantially true in every respect. C. M. MURDOCK. Subscribed and sworn to by C. M. Murdock, in my presence and before me, this 10th day of May, A. D. 1881. E. O. KRETZINGER, Notary Public. [SEAL.] H. Ex. 171—2 1st Session. No. 172. INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF EXCHANGES. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING A communication from the Secretary of State relative to the establishment of an International Bureau of Exchanges. APRIL 14, 1882.-Referred to the Committee on the Library and ordered to be printed. To the House of Representatives: I transmit herewith, with commendation to the attention of Congress, a report of the Secretary of State and its accompanying papers concerning the proposed establishment of an International Bureau of Exchanges. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, April 14, 1882. To the PRESIDENT: The Secretary of State has the honor to lay before the President, with a view to its transmission to Congress, a letter from the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution concerning the working of the present system of exchanges carried on by that Institution, and the practicability of the suggestion which has been made, that the scope of the Smithsonian Institution's bureau be enlarged so as to form an international bureau of governmental and scientific exchanges, under the supervision of the Department of State. The Secretary of State has little to add to the very clear exposition made by Professor Baird of the rapid growth of the operations of the exchange bureau of the. Smithsonian, and to his statements of the utility of still further extending them. He has been for some time convinced that an arrangement like that proposed would not only bring the system of diplomatic and literary exchanges of this country into harmonious relations with the like international exchange bureaus in other countries, but would greatly enlarge the beneficial results obtained under the present system of private enterprise, besides relieving the several executive departments of the labor and expense of effecting their |