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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 53 I Last winter, Congress provided, by a sec!ion of the Indian appropriation bill, that any of these Indians might select 160 acres of the public lands as a home-stead; hut, the subject haviug been brought to their attention by the agent, they have, as a tribe, declined to avail themselves of the privilege, alleging that they have not the means to remove upon and work such new farms. Many of them are desirous that their lands in Viscousin, which are valuable for their pine timber, may be sold, and a new home provided for them in the southwest. I t is probablethat sncli an arrangement can be made to advantage as soon as treaties are completed with the tribes occupying the country south of Ibnsas. In such case, doubtless, many of the tribe would decide to take the partion of the lands offered to them in Wisconsin, and with their proportion of the funds of the tribe open new farms and become citizens.. The loyalty and good con-duct of this tribe deserve the favorable consideration of the government. AGENCY POR THE WINNERAGOES, POTTAWATOMIES, ETC., IX U'ISCONSIN. No report has been received from this agency. The Indians comprised with-in it are wandering bands, having no settled homes; and who, having refused to remove west with their tribes, obtain a precarious subsistence by hnnling, fishing, gathering berries in tbeir season, and by begging, in the northwestern I counties of Wisconsin. Congress in 1864 pkovided a special agcut to take charge of them, and made an appropriation for their relief. They number some 1,500, their aggregate haviug, it is supposed, b e ~ nin creased this year by the addition of some 350 Pottawatomies, who have wandered thither from Kansas and Iowa. 1 CHIPPEWAS OF THE MISSISSIPPI. At this agency, at Crow Wing, Minnesota, Agent Clark has in charge the various bands of Chippewa Indians of that State, comprised under the following classifications : Chippewas of &lississippi, numbering about 2,050 ; Chippewas ~ ! of Red Lake and Pembina, about 2,000; Pillager and Lake Winnebagoshish bauds of Chippewas, population last year 1,966-total, 6,016. No report has been received from the agent-for what reason does not appear ; I and we are unable to present any statistics as to the condition and progress of these tribes, many of whom are industrious, thriving farmers. Last year they made and harvested a lalge quantity of maple sugar and wild rice, besides sell-ing furs to a considerable amount. By recent treaties with two of the classes of tribes above mentioned, provision was made for the expenditure of a large amount of money in tbeir behalf, in addition to the sum previously due to the Chippewas generally ; and the removal of the agency e~tablishment o a point further north aud more central has been determined upon. Agent Clark some time since submitted a report with plans for the proposed buildings, npon a des-ignated location near Leech lake; but action in the matter awaits the report of a special agent, who bas been directed to make more particnlar inquiry as to the site and plans proposed. The large amount disbursed at tbis agency makes it one of the most important in the service, and I very much regret that, by the neglect of the agent to forward his report, I'have no means of presenting a full statement of its condition. . . CHIPPEWAS OF LAKE SUPERIOR. Tois year, as well as last, the annual statement of Agent Webb fails to reach us in time to he made available for the annual report of this office. The Indians of this agency are all Chippewas, residing on and about reservations in northern Wisconsin, and number about 4,500. They have their farms and schools, re- 1 ceive annually a considerable sum of money, besides having the benefit of the - labors of sundry employ6s of the gwernment, and ougl~to he in a comforta-ble condition, but we have no data to show it.* . 'For Agent Webb's annual report, aes nppnar |