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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIES. XLVII certify, under seal, such copies of records, books, and papers on file in this office as may be applied for, to be used in evidence in courts of jue-tice and for other purposes (see seventh section of the act of July 4, 1S36,5 Shts., p. 111, and the twelfth and fiftyseventh sections of the act of July 8: 1870,16 Stats., pp. 200, 207), and to authorize the nse of a,seal by this office, and to provide that papers authenticated therewith shall have the same validity as in case of the use of a seal by other bn-reaus (see fifth section of act of 1812,2 Stats., p. 717). LOGGING BY INDIANS. La Pointe agency, Wisconnin.-During the season 1886'87, under De-partment authority of September 28,1882 (full particulars whereof will be found in the annual report of this office for 1884), 294 contracts for the cutting, sale, and delivery of pine timber were made by individual patentees of the Lac Court dlOreilles, La Pointe or Bad River, Lac du' Plambeau, and Fond du Lac reservations, severally attached to the La Poiute agency, Wisconsin. Under these contracts the Indians cut and banked 128,766,357 feet of timber, which was sold at prices vari-ously ranging from $4.50 to $6.50 per 1,000 feet, according to quality. The net gain to the Indians, after paying all expenses of cutting and banking, was $273,461.42 (over double the amount realized last season), of which sum $1@2,285.03. was taken out in merchandise and supplies ft~rnishedb y the contractors, and the balance, $171,176.39, was paid in cash to the individual Indian owners of the timber. Of these net g~ins- Lao Court a;Oreillks Indians (as having a, meorits of the aontrectsj re-ceived .............................................................. $177,944.95 LLI Pointe (or Bad River) Indians received ............................. 42,931.76 Fond do Lac Indiana received ......................................... 37,355.94 Lac du Flambean Indians received .................................... -15,2-25.77 Total ........................................................... 273,461.42 The amount disbursed among the Indians for labor in cutt,iug and banking was $462,953.15. All who desire it have an opportunity to work, and as a consequence find themselves better fed, clothed, and housed than ever before. A majority of the Indians save their money and accumulate property, whilst some squander it ; but the agent states that their general cou-ditiou is greatly improved, and he 6nticipates still more beneficial results in the future from the force of example sec by the more provi-dent.. The work has steadily increased from the commencement. Through it Indians have learned to labor who otherwise would prob-ably have bee11 idle, and the personal acquisition of money and prop-erty- the result of their own labor-can not fail to stimulate them to a higher degree of industry. Meeno??~oneIen dians.-The cutting by Ind?aus of green timber for sale, and their firing of woods, to the great injury of standing timber, neces- |