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Show REPORTS CONCERNING INDIANS IN WASHINGTON. REPORTOFAGENTFORCOLVILLEAGENCY. COLVILLEA ~ENOY, Miles, Wash., SEptGmber SO, 1900. SIR: In complianue with instructions contained in circular dated June 1,1900, I have the honor to submit the following report for the fiscal year ending June 30,1900: Contrasting the resent condition of the Indians connected with this agency with former years.? ca? state without the slightest hesitation that there has been a decided improvement m agriculture and all branches of industry in which they are engaged. The past year has been quite favorable in the region occupied by these Indians, which has added a stimulus to agriculture and stock raising. The past winter was an exceptionally mild one, and cattle and horses subsisted on the ranges without being fed or sheltered. Very few of them died, and a large amount of fodder has been carried over for another year. Large tracts of land on benches of higher elevation have been inclosed by the iudians during the year by substan-tial fences and sown in wheat and oats. From the lower lands they raise and cut an abundance of wild hay for feed during the winter months. A few of them grow a small amount of timothy, for which they find ready sale in the different mining camps throughout the reservation, and they are generally paid a better rice for their produce than that obtainable in the more open market. Those mar-gets are a great benefit to the Indians and are a souroe of revenue throughout the year, and finding ready sale for their produce has stimulated them to enlarge their areas of cultivation and pay more attention tot he care of their farms and gardens. During the past winter smallpox broke out among the Indians residing on the south half of the Colville Reservation. On November 25.1899, the agency physi-cian reported that the d~seasee xisted among the Columbia tribe, residing in the vicinity of Nespelim subagency. Upon a careful investigation it was found that the disease existed in a pronounoed form and of a most virulent type. It was also learned that the disease had beencontracted from Indians arriving on their annual pilgrimage from other reservations. Immediately steps were taken to oonfine the contagion within narrow limits, and stringent measures adopted to isolate the premises and if possible prevent ita spread. On December 1, 1899, i t was found , that the diaense existed in other sections, and a general epidemic was threatened. Owing to the general disregard paid by Indians to contagious diseases, many had been exposed before the gravity of the situation could be realized, and difficulty was experienced in determining to what extent the disease had been communicated to the Indians on other parts of the reservation. In order to contend with so grave an emergency, it was considered advisable and essential to establish and main ain a general quarantine, which went into effect on December 5. Indians were forbidden to leave their homes and instructed to forego their journeys until some future time. Dancing and other sports and pleasures socommon among Indians during the winter months were strictly pro-hibited, business of all kinds between them wassuspended, and they were directed to remain within the limits of their own homes. All Government work was stopped! the traders' stores closed, and all issues to Indians, with the exception of subsistence, discontinued. As soon as vaccine points conld he procured the subject of vaccination was immediately taken up, and Indians who previously entertained superstitious prejudices against inoculation submitted to the operation without the slightest protest. In a11 about 300 Indians were vaccinated, and while the result in many cases was severe none resulted fahlly. The infected district comprised a territory about 15 miles long and abont 6 miles wide, and covered a very rough and abrupt country. Much difficulty was expe-rienced in supplying the Indians with food, owing to the inaccessibility of the country which they occupied, and partially to overcome thia obstaclethe employees |