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Show I r XLVIII EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIOKER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. sitated the issuance of a.Department order prohibiting the marketing of timber by Indians. On this account but little logging was done by the Menomonees until late last season, when, on the earnest solicitation . of the Indians, and'the positive assurance of their agent that suchpre-cautious would be taken as would effectually prevent any of the abuses named, the prohibitory Department order was so modified as to allow the Menomonees at Green Eay agency again to cut dead and down timber for market. Although but a small quantity could then be handled, their operations, so far as they went, were perfectly satis-factory both to the Indians apd to this office. No green timber was cut except such as was necessary to clear Ian? for cultivation, and no 6res were started in the woods; and as a better system of keeping their ac-counts was followed thad formerly, no annoging complications arose be. tween the Indians and their agent or the merchants in the final settle-ment. They succeeded in marketing, of all kinds of t,imber, about 4,000,000 feet, which realized'them nearly $21,000 in cash. TheseIndiai~asr e to a great extent dependent on this business for al i r - ing, as their lands are not well suited for farming, nor are they goodfarm-ers. They hare a hospital for their sick, supported from the stumpage fund, which is doing a good work, and their aged, sick, and helpless are fed from this fund. They feel much encouraged at being allowed tore- 1 sumelogging, and their agent reports that he is satisfied that it will be the means of accomplishing much good amongst them. They are be-coming accustomed to work, learning habits of industry and foresight, gradually establishing themselves in comfortable homes, and their gen-eral conditiou is nndoubtedly being great,ly improved. White labor, except such as is indispensably necessary, is rigorously excluded from the reservation, and the Indian is encouraged to work and enjoy the fruits of his toil. With the experience obtained in the past year, and with previous ob-stacles removed, there ie every reason to anticipate that next season's operations will exceed in maguitude any entered into heretofore, and the result ensuing therefrom will be commensurably beneficial to the In-dians. DEPREDATION CLAIMS. lJqder the act of Xaroh 3,1885 (23 Stats., S'iG), as amended by act of May 15,188G, the work of investigating such Iudian depredation claims as are therein provided for has been prosecuted with such force, both in the office and in the field, 8s the appropriation would justify. Three examinerrs, with sufficient clerical force, have conducted the work in the office, whilst from four to six special agents have been engaged in the service in the field. But few of these claims ire soprepared as to admit of fair and satisfactory determinations in the office without the aid of further inquiry through special agents or otherwise, for the recordsare generally expartc, brief, and present conolusions rather than facts, and |