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Show REPmT OF THE COM?dISSIONER OF INDIAN APFAIRS. 39 knowledge that that treaty had not been ratified, until towns of considerable extent have grown up even within the limits of the proposed resen,ation, Lewiston, the first capital of Idaho, being one of these towns; and their country has been "prospected" in every direction by the enterprising miners. Meantime the Indian chiefs who were opposed to the treaty, seeing the promised payments withheld, have gained influence, and caused some trnuble in the tribe; and but for the efforts of "Lawyer," the head chief, who has been thoroughly faithful to thegovernment, thedifficulty would have beenserious. Dor-ing the late session of Cougress,the Senate, on afull cons~derationof Indian matters in that region, advised the ratification of the treaty of 186.1, and Congress made the necessary appropriations under it. These are large, and contemplate expend-itures for houses, mills, schools, and various improvements, and helps to civili-zation, which, if judiciously made, will, in some measure, atone to this peaceable . and well-disposed tribe for much neglect. Theee people listened with attention to the appeals of the first missionaries who visited their coi~ntry,a nd have always since paid great attention to religious worship; but the influence of the nomerous whiskey shops in every direction around them seriously opposes their progress. I t will be impossible to control this evil so long as the reservation of the trihe is so extensive as at present, ,and the earliest possible measures should be taken to red!~ce it for their good. The annual report of their agent,. Mr. O'Neill, Indicates some progress in agricultural pumuits, on the part of a few. He mentions one chief as owning 500 head of cattle. The people are stated to have had last year under cultivation 2,650 acres of land, upon which they raised ahont 24,000 bushelsof grain, and 18,000 buslrels of vegetables ; and their stock is returned at about 12,000 head. With all this, the "wealth.of the tribe in individual property' is returned at only $15,000, which is evidently far too small a figure, and not doing justice to the Indiaus. The work of improvements at the agency has gone on slowly during the past year, on account of the want of funds, and the schools, for that and other reasons, have been closed. Under the treaty, as now ratified, ample provisions are made for educational purposes. Among the accompanying documents relating to Montana, is inserted a letter from Agent Chapman, of the Flathead Agency in that Territory, referring to a visit made to him by "Gary," a Spokane chief from the borders of Washington Territory, and the desire expressed by him fora treaty by which his people, who were being crowded and imposed upon by the whites, could beunited with the Flatheads and confederated tribes upon their large reservation in Montana. Upon this, letters were addressed tothe superinterrdentsof Montana, I&ho, and Washington, directing them to cause the ~lecessaryin quiries to be made, and, after correspondence with each other, to advise with this office. From Montana, acting Governor Meagher has, some time since, reported against the proposed movement; for no reason, however, except his opinion that Agent Chapman has enough aceupation without adding to the number of his Indians. Governor Ballard sends information that Superintendent Waterman, of Waehington, has required of the special agent in immediate charge of the Spokanes a report upon the subject. From the information now rveived it would appear that a satisfactory arrangement with the various tribes in eastern Washingtoll and northern Idaho, including the Spokanes, Colvilles, Coeur d'Alene~, nud a por tion of the Kootenays, can probably be accomplished by setting off for them a reasonable reservation in the country now occupied by the Cmnr d'Alenes. Late in the last summer Seth Einman, of California, who had been highly recommended by the department as specially qualified for an Indian agency, was sent overland to report to Governor Ballard as a special agent, to be assigned to duty by the latter. His arrival has not yet been announced. Special Agent Hough, who pa~sedo ver the new road from San Francisco to Bois6 City in the spring, reports constant hostilities from the bands of Pi-Utes |
