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Show 44 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. -quiries as to this party, reports them as doing no harm, and creating no bad feeling among the settlers, hut the earliest possible means will he adopted to return them to their proper places. The shiftless conduct of this portion of the 'trihe, known as the I' Prairie band," is very prejudicial to the interma of the remainder, the majority, who have taken allotments and settled down to farm-ing; while the others refused to do so, and had a tract set apart for their use in common. This, however, as is mentioned above, they haveahandoned; and it may, perhaps, be well to remove them entirely, and settle them further south, when the way is opened for that purpose. Agent Palmer represents the settled portion of the trihe in very favorable terms, and, as the result of their farming operations, that they are "asindepend-ent as their white neighbors," having raised 64,000 bushels corn, besides other large crops, and owning 2,200 horses, 1,600 cattle, &c. As they become as-sured of the permanent ownership of their lands, they have become more settled and indnst,rions. This trihe has furnished seventy-one soldiers for the United States army, and the agent states that a large percentage of them have died in the service. The school (St. Mary's mission) appears to he admirably oondncted, and a very efficient help in educating the Indians, not only in the branches usually taught in schools, hut in agriculture and the arts of housewifery, and habits of industrv eenerallv. The teachers are desirous to accommodate more nunils. L L , who ark anxious io receive the benefits of their care and labor, and measures will he taken to make the civilization fund provided by Oonaress available for this purpose. - ? The treaty with this trihr provides that, on application to the department by Indians who have taken out certificates of naturalization in the Kansas courts, they shall receive patents for their lands, and theirpro rata share of the funds of the tribe, and become citizens of the United States. Under this provision about 150 applications for patents, kc., have been made to this o5ce; hut on careful inquiry it was found that gross carelessness (or worse) had occurred in furnishing the certificates of good conduct, sobriety, and ability to conduct their own affairs, which certificates were a necessary preliminary to naturalization. The whole matter has undergone a careful examination, and, with your con-currence, a policy has been adopted which will, it is hoped, secure the real in-terests of the trihe. I t has heen decided to issue patents to such only as are certified by both the agent and a business committee, (appointed by the tribe to conduct its aeairs, and oomposed of its best men,) to he thoroughly fitted for citizenship and the control of their own affairs, and patents are now in pre-paration for about fifty who come up to this standard; others will he furnished with patents as soon as they come up to the standard. In regard to the capitilization of their annuities and other funds, it is found that an appropria-tion by Congress for that purpose, of such amount of the tribal funds as is ne-cessary, should he made before it can he paid to the persons entitled to it. A special report will he prepared and laid before you, showing the numher of persons entitled to their p ~ mo t a share of the funds, and the amount necessary to he appropriated for the purpose. Sacs and Foxes of the Dfi~sis8ippi, and Ch@pwasand Munsees,or Christiam Indians.-Agent Martinreports the Sacs and Foxes under his charge as exhibiting a decided improvement morally, being more quiet and peaceable, more industri-ous, and willing to contribute something for education, their treaty laying aside nothing for the purpose. They number 805, being a decrease of 86 since last year, a fact for which the agent is unable to account. They have personal property estimated at $71,900, and raised this year 7,500 bushels of corn, he-sides other produce. considering the means a~ailahle,t heir school has been reasonably successful. |