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5. Only three leases executed, results good.

6. In my opinion the benefits of the allotment policy, so far as the Grande Ronde Indians are concerned, has been very great. Each Indian knows just what he owns; he also knows that it is his for all time and that no one can take it from him. All are satisfied, with the exception of some of the younger Indians, who would like to have more tillable land.

Very respectfully,

E. WHITTLESEY,

ANDREW KERSHAW, Superintendent.

PONCA, ETC., AGENCY, Whiteagle, Okla., April 27, 1898.

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter, dated April 5, 1898, asking for certain information from me regarding the Indians of this agency. In reply to question No. 1, as to how many allotments have been made to the Indians of this agency, I have to say that to the Poncas, 628; Pawnees, 823; Otoes, 190, and Tonkawas, 73.

In answer to question No. 2, as to how many patents have been issued, I have to say that to the Poncas, 627; to the Pawnees, 823, and Tonkawas, 73. In this connection I will state that one allotment made on the Ponca Reservation was not approved by the Secretary of the Interior; hence a patent was not issued for same. While the foregoing patents have been issued by the Department, only about half of those issued to the Ponca Indians have been delivered, as about one-half of this tribe were assigned allotments, and have not acknowledged same to this date; consequently they are in the agency office awaiting a time when the Indians will become pacified to the situation and accept same. The Otoes were allotted in 1893 and the schedule submitted for approval, but for some reasons never received the same. Helen P. Clarke, special allotting agent, is now at work among these Indians readjusting the allotments, and informs me that up to the present date 190 members of the tribe have accepted lands in severalty, which I am glad to say far exceeds the number who accepted their allotments as scheduled in 1893.

3. There are 98 Indians or heads of families living upon their allotted lands on the Pawnee Reservation and about 90 on the Ponca, which is nearly an entire tribe; and 8 or 10 on the Tonkawa, the balance of the tribe living in houses built near the agency reservation.

4. The Indians on the Ponca Reservation are cultivating about 1.500 acres themselves; on the Pawnee Reservation 1,443 acres; Tonkawa about 75 acres; on the Otoe about 2,171, the majority of this being done by contract labor, white farmers being employed.

5. About 30,000 acres are under lease on the Ponca Reservation, at an annual rental of $12,255.59; Pawnee Reservation 36,784 acres, at an annual rental of $13,776.11; Tonkawa 11,200 acres, at an annual rental of about $8,500.

In reply to inquiry No. 6, as to what in my opinion are the benefits or evils of the allotment policy, I have to say that the benefits are numerous and the evils few, providing reservation lines are preserved until the Indians shall become accustomed and are thoroughly ready to be made citizens in every respect of the United States. Allotting their lands in severalty gives them homes of their own and something to look after individually, while the privilege of leasing same gives them a permanent income and one upon which they can depend for the support of themselves and families.

Very respectfully,

ASA C. SHARP, United States Indian Agent.

SISSETON AGENCY, S. DAK., April 25, 1898.

E. WHITTLESEY,

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: In reply to circular letter of the 5th instant I have the honor to submit the following:

1,971 persons were allotted 160 acres each..

9 persons were allotted 40 acres each

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315, 360

360

200

160

17

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I am informed that about 1,980 patents have been issued. There are about 400 families living on their allotted lands. The Indians are cultivating about 98,000 acres of their lands. The Indians leased not less than 30,000 acres of land, most of which is used for grazing purposes.

In my opinion, the Indians are benefited by the allotment policy. They endeavor to farm and raise stock, and on this reservation they would succeed if they could be furnished with sufficient means to start right; the soil is very rich.

I am, sir, very respectfully, yours,

E. WHITTLESEY,

Washington, D. C.

NATHAN P. JOHNSON,
United States Indian Agent.

LOWER BRULE AGENCY, S. DAK., April 23, 1898.

SIR: In reply to your communication of the 5th instant would say

1. That I am unable to inform you how many allotments have been made upon this reservation, as there is no schedule of allotments on file in this office. I would refer you to the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs for this information.

2. No patents have been issued up to the present time.

3. About 150 families are living on their allotments.

4. To a very limited extent, as this country is a very poor farming country.

5. No Indian lands are leased at this agency.

6. In my opinion it is a great benefit to the Indians to allot them land in severalty, as it has a tendency to scatter them out from their camps and make them individually responsible for their own property.

Very respectfully,

Hon. E. W. WHITTLESEY,

B. C. ASH,

United States Indian Agent.

SILETZ INDIAN AGENCY,
Siletz, Öreg., April 22, 1898.

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: I will now attempt to answer your favor of April 5 to the best of my ability: 1. Five hundred and fifty-one.

2. Five hundred and forty-one.

3. About 100 families.

4. All raise fairly good gardens; most of them raise a little hay, about forty raise oats, and at least thirty have a surplus to sell each year; this year it will reach 10,000 bushels.

5. Only seven of them have leased their lands, and as a rule they get more out of the land than if they worked it themselves, besides the land is kept in better condition, fences in better repair; in fact, the leasing so far has been a benefit to the Indian, for the parties that lease generally have more than one place and would attain little or no benefit if it was not rented.

6. I believe the allotment of sufficient land to each Indian for a home was the proper thing to do and was about the first step in the right direction, yet the classifying of all Indians as Indians, and the withholding of the patent in fee simple from all alike, irrespective of their ability to manage their own affairs, is a serious mistake and a wrong; it leaves no hope or encouragement to those that are progressive and trying to advance; it is not so much the fact that they are not to come into possession of their land as the humiliating knowledge that the Government still holds a string to them. To distrust a child causes it to lose confidence in itself. How much more with these people that know something of the practical side of life. Many of the Indians on this reservation are far advanced in civilization; some indeed are much more capable to manage their own affairs than many of their white neighbors, and yet the raw Polander or Scandinavian is able to say to them, "You are an Indian and the Government won't trust you with your land, and I have only been in the country three years, can't talk English half as well as you do, yet the Government has given me 160 acres of good land."

We now have some sixteen families of Polanders settled here since this reservation was thrown open, and excepting about three they are far inferior in civilization and Americanism to the average Indian. Under such conditions is there any wonder that the Indian is dissatisfied? Has he not a right to complain of injustice? While I believe in the full honesty of purpose in the present allotment law, and have no doubt of its wisdom as applied to many of the Indians, yet it is altogether too rigid, and in my judgment would conserve the best interest of the Indians if made more pliable, leaving a discretionary power with the honorable Commissioner to at least grant patents in fee simple to such Indians as had shown a proper advancement. Still another evil of the system is the large amount of land coming into the hands of the few by the death of relatives, yet I am not prepared to say how this might be remedied to best advantage.

Very respectfully,

Mr. E. WHITTLESEY,

T. JAY BUFORD,
United States Indian Agent.

LA POINTE INDIAN AGENCY,
Ashland, Wis., April 22, 1898.

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: I am in receipt of your communication of the 5th instant, asking to be informed as to the results of the policy of allotting lands in severalty to the Indians of this agency.

The following are my replies to the questions asked in your letter:

1. Two thousand seven hundred and thirty-two.

2. Two thousand four hundred and twenty-six.

3. About 500 families.

The lands on the reservations belonging to this agency are selected by the Indians for the pine upon it, and not taken by them for agricultural purposes. Some, however, have cleared up a part of their allotments and farm them to a very limited extent. After the pine is all cut and the proceeds used up, I think many of them will do better.

5. There is practically no leasing of their lands, owing to the fact that the timber is what they derive their revenue from, and the land is unfit for grazing purposes and not cleared for farming.

6. The system of allotting lands in severalty meets my approval. It is the only way the Indians can be taken from under tribal government, which is the greatest drawback to civilization the Government has to contend with. It is only through ignorance and superstition that the chiefs are able to hold their people together and exact obedience to their mandates as supreme rulers. Such influence can not be otherwise than pernicious, and anything tending to change this condition is a step in the right direction. The allotment of land in severalty, I believe, will in time wholly eradicate this influence. Pagan rites and ceremonies will gradually die out and the "medicine men" will only exist in memory. G. L. SCOTT, Captain, Sixth Cavalry, Acting Indian Agent.

Very respectfully,

WARM SPRING AGENCY,
Warmspring, Oreg., April 22, 1898.

D

Hon. E. WHITTLESEY,

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: In reply to your letter of April 5, 1898, I have to report as follows:

1. Nine hundred and seventy-nine allotments.

2. Nine hundred and forty-eight patents issued.

3. The greater part of the Indians are residing on their allotments.

4. They are cultivating almost all lands susceptible to cultivation.

5. No leases upon this reservation.

2.

6. It is my opinion that the allotting system will prove of the greatest advantage to all Indians, from the fact that the individual holding prompts them to greater industry, and to constructing and maintaining better improvements. In fact, I think it adds energy and self-reliance, and also prevents active leading men from dictating the possessions of individual Indians.

I find great objection among the Indians to accepting and receipting for their allotment patents. They seem to entertain the false impression that when they receive their patents the reservation will be opened to white settlement, and they will then be subjected to taxes, and all laws governing the whites.

Respectfully,

JAMES L. CORRAŃ,
United States Indian Agent.

Hon. E. WHITTLESEY,

YAKIMA AGENCY, Fort Simcoe, Wash., April 19, 1898.

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: As requested in your letter of April 5, asking me to report the results of the policy of allotting lands in severalty to Indians, and to answer questions from No. 1 to 6

1. There has been 1,851 allotments made on this reservation, and there will be about 250 more made during this summer.

2. This office has received 1,812 what are termed patents. They are being delivered as fast as called for.

3, 4, 5, and 6 I will answer in a general way, as to answer direct without some explanation would be misleading. The number of Indians living on allotted lands, I will say practically all, but not on the land that has been allotted to them each individually, as it should be borne in mind, of the 1,851 allotments there are only about 500 men or heads of families, and a family of five or six may be living on one allotment where they have a house and some improved land.

This home for the family may be allotted to either mother or father of a family of five or six, but is used as a farm to support the family, while the mother and five children may have wild unimproved sagebrush land allotted to them in another part of the reservation or it may be adjoining the home place. So I will state there are about 500 families on the reservation, practically all living on lands allotted to some one of their family. They are farming and improving the home place, while the balance of the land allotted to them is not being improved or cultivated.

There are, of course, some exceptions, but as a rule this is the case. Nearly all of the heads of families have fenced and have some kind of a house on their farms, and are cultivating from 10 to 80 acres of land. Wheat and hay are the principaĺ products. Nearly all raise a fairly good garden, where water for irrigation can be obtained. But little leasing has been done here, in fact none to speak of until this spring the Indians have leased some wild sagebrush land.

A great deal might be said in favor of the allotment policy; many good results follow, and also much trouble and difficult problems. No one can realize it so much as the agent on whose shoulders the load and responsibility rests, who is brought face to face with the difficult problems every day, as the Indians have no one to go to for advice, protection, or assistance of any kind, except the agent, and only a strong constitution can long stand the work of an agent that tries to do his duty. Especially here he has to look after the wants of the school, but I am wandering from the subject, and will refer to some of the difficulties facing us here.

Of the 1,851 allotments made on this reservation, of those there has at least 350 died since land was allotted to them. No correct record has been kept of deaths or births. Not a single estate has been settled according to the laws of the State or any other law. As the land can not be sold I do not see how the local courts can have any jurisdiction under the State law settling estates of deceased Indians.

It is a great expense to probate estates of white people, and even the most intelligent business men employ lawyers to see that their estates are properly probated, and after all costs are paid what is remaining after all to be divided up among the legal heirs. Indians can not do this even if they were educated to it. I do not believe the State courts have jurisdiction or can settle these matters unless they have power to order sale.

Under the allotment laws land can not be sold for twenty-five years. If the death rate continues at the rate of 125 per year, think what will be the condition of things at the end of ten years.

By what means will one be able to tell who is the rightful owners of the lands that have been allotted? I am now giving out the patents to the Indians; at least onehalf of them do not know or have forgotten their names they gave to the allotting agent.

When they ask for their patents they give an entirely different name from that designated in their papers or in the schedule of allotments.

They may want the patents for some deceased relative but do not know the name of the person, and the agent has to hunt it up. It often takes not only hours but days to ascertain for certainty by what name they were allotted.

I find the giving out of these patents and placing them in the hands of parties entitled to them is the hardest work I ever undertook to do. I am continually asking myself what will it be in twenty-five years when the final patents are issued? I am of the opinion that unimproved land belonging to minors and Indians that are not financially or physically able to improve their lands should be leased. I quote from my report to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, July 28, 1893. I have not materially changed my views on the subject:

"The Indians have exercised in the most part great discretion in the selection of their land, the major portion being very desirable, arable lands, easily watered and

prepared for cultivation, and now the question arises, how best and most speedily to make these lands contribute to their support? To clear, fence, plow, and get water on the land will require some money, to say nothing about houses, barns, farming implements, fruit and shade trees. The larger portion of the Indians are very poor, having neither money or other requisites for improving or developing a farm.

"It would seem that some plan could be adopted, which, if properly executed, would enable them to have their lands self-supporting and profitable; that is, a portion of their land should be made as capital for the immediate development and improvement of the remainder. It seems there are only two ways to accomplish this-that is, either to sell a portion or lease.

"Under the existing circumstances upon this reservation, I should favor leasing upon a plan that would enable them to lease a portion of their allotted lands for a term of from eight to ten years, for the improvement and development of the whole, or, in other words, the leasing for a term of years of 40 acres for the clearing, fencing, plowing, and irrigating of the 80 acres, and the 80 to revert and belong to the Indian exclusively at the expiration of the lease.

"I am satisfied leases could be made to responsible white men upon these terms, provided the leases could be made for a term of from seven to ten years. A three-years' lease upon this reservation is practically a prohibition upon leasing unimproved lands upon any terms that would be of any benefit to the Indians. It is certain that in leasing unimproved land, covered as it is with sagebrush, and without water for irrigation or for house use, that the longer time for which the lease is granted the greater the compensation for the use of the land, and a more enterprising and desirable class of people could be induced to avail themselves of the opportunity of leasing lands upon a lease of from seven to ten years than upon a term of three years, as under the present laws.

"I am so thoroughly imbued with the importance of this matter that if, under the existing laws, leases can be made for a longer period than three years, I would most earnestly recommend that the necessary legislation be obtained permitting Indians to lease their allotted lands, or at least a portion of them, for a term of not less than seven years, under such rules and restrictions as may be prescribed by the honorable Secretary of the Interior.

"Records. Some provision should be made whereby the estate of a deceased Indian could be probated, without going through the forms prescribed by the State law, as it will be a long time before the Indians can be educated to the importance of having clear titles to their lands; and if some steps are not taken in this direction at once, within a few years there will be an endless amount of trouble in the adjustment of estates of deceased Indians, as the Indians themselves will pay no attention to this matter until a dispute arises among the heirs as to the rightful ownership of the land.

"There is already too much devolving upon the agent to perform the duties now required of him to be burdened with this additional and important work. In fact, with the present limited force of employees allowed at this agency, it is utterly impossible for the agent to give this matter the attention its great importance demands. It seems there should be some person appointed and laws enacted regulating the administration of Indian estates, without expense to the heirs. Without some such provision is made and executed it is my opinion that the expected benefits which these people are to derive from the allotting of lands in severalty will, to a great extent, prove a failure."

It should be borne in mind that I do not consider the conditions on all reservations the same as here. The lands on this reservation, with the exceptions of timber land in the mountains, can be classed as desert land, and must be irrigated to produce crops.

To build ditches and place the land in condition, clearing, leveling, etc., entails an expense and an outlay of money and labor that is not required upon some other reservations.

Respectfully submitted.

E. WHITTLESEY,

JAY LYNCH, United States Indian Agent.

PUEBLO AND JICARILLA AGENCY,
Santa Fe, N. Mex., April 18, 1898.

Secretary Board of Indian Commissioners, Washington, D. C.

SIR: In compliance with your letter of the 5th instant, I have the honor to inclose report of result of policy of allotting lands in severalty to Indians, so far as the Jicarilla Apache Indians at Dulce, N. Mex., are concerned, which evidently covers the grounds of your inquiry.

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