OCR Text |
Show The superintendent of Indian aEairs in immediate charge, in his report for this year, says the Miamies remaining in Eansas are greatly demoralized, their school has been abandoned, and their youth left destitute of educational ahvantages. Considerable trouble has been for years cansed by whit,e settlers locat-ing aggressively on lands belonging to these Indians, no effort for their extrusion having been thus far successful. A bill was introduced into Congress at its last session which provided for t,he final settlement of the aftairs of this tribe, for the members thereof becoming citizens, and for the capitalization and payment of the tribal funds. This bill met the full approval of this Office, aud it is confidently believed that bad it become law the asairs of the tribe would have been adjusted in a manlier which would have been advantageous to the Indians, an? which would also have relieved this Department of a source of constant aunoyancc. The bill referred to, or one similar in its provisions, should receive the sanction of Congress at an early day. The good of the service, so far as these Indians are concerned, abso-lutely requires it. Under the provisions of the treaties made with these Indians October 6,1818, October 23,1834, and June 5,1854, they have a limited auuuit,y (seven installments still due) in money, of $7,500; the interest on $50,000, amounting to $2,500 annually for educational purposes, and a pornla-nent provision for blacksmith and assistant, iron and steel, and for miller, amounting allnually to $1,540. Eansas or Eaws.-These Indians are native to the oonntry they occupy. They number at present 593; in 1860 they numbered 803. Although they haw a reservation of 80,640 aores .of good land in the eastern part of the State, they are poor and improvident, and have, in late years, suffered much for want of the actual necessaries of life. They never were much disposed to labor, depending upon the chase for a living, in connection with the annuities due from Government. They bare been growing steadily poorer, and even now, in their straitened circumstances, aud under the pressure of want, they show but little iuclirtation to e.ngqge in agricultural pursuits, all attempts to induce the111 to work having measurably proved failures. Until quite recently they could not even be prevailed upon to have their children educated. One school is now in operation, with an attendance of about 45 scholars. By the act of Mag 8,1872, provision was made for the sale of all the lands owned by these Ind~ansi n Kansas, and for their reujo\.:~lt o the 111dian' J'erritoG. I'mvisiou n.as itlso 111adi1b y th~!i1 1.r ofJ I I I I P ,;, IS;?, for their sertlcine~w~ti tliii~tl lr l i~~i iotfr a trwt 01 I:IIII~ t l~r l r i r,,~n ,\.ide<lt o be set aPai.1 tor tltr Osages. Their 1:inds ill ICurlsns are nowAbeing appraised by commissioners~ppointed for the purpose, preparator;). to their sale. Fifty per centuru of the net proceeds of such sale is to be placed to the credit of the Indians on the books of the Treasury, interest thereon at the rate of 5 per centum to be paid to then1 semi.annually, and the remaining 50 per centum is to be used in providing md improving new homes for them. Under the treaty made with them January 14,1846,;a permanent annuity of $10,000 is secured to them, the same being the luterest on a principal sun1 of $200,000, the price agreed to be paid by the United States for the cession of certa~n lands. Thev have also United States and State stocks to the amount of $27,485.41, 6eld in trust for them by the Secretary of the Interior, the interest on which, amounting to 51,538.57 annually, is applied to ednoa-tional purposes. |