OCR Text |
Show having it3 I~a d~e ; i r~att. rOarn ullit, Nebrarkn Temirory, 11n11erI ?. B. Taylor, esq., eomprirrn the ti>llowiap tribe^ and a^oeueil.s, all in Ncbrrtska, to wic: Okahas, Agent Furias. at Omaha agency, estimated population 1,000. Winnebagoes, Agent Matthewson, at Omadi, occu-py.i n-g a -p art of the Omaha reservation,kstimated population 1,900. Ottoes and Mi~sourias,A gent Daily, at Dennison, population 708. Sacs and Foxes of Missouri and Iowas, (or Great Nemaha agency,) John A. Burbank agent, population 389. Pawnees, Ageut Wheeler, at Genoa, population 2,800. ' Sioux, Arapahoes, and Cheyennes, of the Upper Platte, at Fort Laramie, Agent Vital Janot, population estimated as follows: Sioux, (BtulBs and Ogal-lalas,) 7,865; Arapahoes, 1,800; Cheyennes, 720-total, 10,385. The total Indian popnlation in the superintendency is thus estimated from the latest sources at 17.182. I oroceed to notice such matters in reeard to each of the above tribes and agencies' as are deemed worthy of special &ark. OmahaeFrom the annual report of Apent Furnas, as well as from a special reDort made at anearlier date bvthe suoerhtendent. we obtain the most saiisfm-tory information in regard to tiis tribe: Located upou an ample reservation of good laud, and well disposed to the pursuits of agriculture, the Indians have cultivated nearly one thousand acres during the present year, with such successas to raise enough for their own use, with a surplus for sale. Their school, under the charge of missionaries of the Presbyterian Board of Missions, appears to be doing gleat good, though receiving a much less number of pupils than the joint contributions of the tribe and the mission board would seem to provide for. The tribe appears to be satisfied with the terms of the treaty made last spring, by which they cede to the United States a portion of their reservation for the use of the Winnebagoes, and are impatient to realize the purchase-money, in order that a portion of it may be used for their permanent benefit. They haye so far advanced in civilization as to begin to desire separate allotments of land, so that thev may feel that the ~roductso f their iudustrv are their own. Sundrv complaints"made by the chief; to the superintendent i t the time of his visit t*o them have been made the subject of examination by this office, and explanations made and such grievances redressed as were in thepower ofthe office b redress. $t wes found that the mill bad not been run, nor certain employis kept in ser-vice, for the full time provided in the treaty, and the agent has been directed to contiuue them in service. The Indians have a just cause for complaint in cer-tain depredations upon them by the hostile Sioux, and the government having failed to protect them, they ask compensation from Congress. A special report upou this subject has been called for from the agent, and when received will be laid before you. Winne6agoe8.-I regret that I am unable to report much improvement in the condition of this unfortunate tribe since the last annual report. Full details as to their condition, wants, and suggestions for their benefit, are furnished in the accompanying reports, and your attention is particularly invited to the special reportof Superiatendent Taylor. The urgent request of the chiefs for a change of agent has been granted, and such measures have been taken as will, it is hoped, render the people more comfortable than hitherto, and enable them still to sup-port, with the commendable patience which has thus far characterized them, the necessary privations and troubles incident to their unsettled condition, until Congress can ratify the treaty providing for their permanent settlement upon the Omaha reservation. This I earuestly hope will be done at an early day, so that preparations can be made at the first opening of spring for the necessary work towards establishing them in comfortable quarters, and enabling them to support themselves by agriculture as soon as possible. 1 doubt whether there is another tribe of Indians in the country-indeed I doubt whether there is an equal number of white men-who would have sub- |