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Show LXYI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. souri River. They also claimed that they had never participated in any of the treaties or negotiations in regard to lands on the west side of the Nissonri River. The treaty of April 29,1868, however, purports to be signed by ttwenty-four chiefs and headmen of the Yanktonnais. The Santee Sioux have thus far refused to sigd theoriginal agreement on the ground that the Northern Indians had signed a modified agree-ment. The agent at Sa,ntee Agency has recently been iustrncted to endearor to obtain the signatures ofthe Santee Sioux to the agreement executed by the Rosebud Indians in case they still refnse to sign the original. The total Indian population of the Great Sioux and Santee Reserra-tions (including Crow Creek) is estimated at 23,081. Allowing one-fifth of the population to be adult males, it would require the signatures of 3,462 Indians to comply with the reqnirements of the twelfth article of the treaty of April 29,1868. A sufficient number, therefore, hare signed the agreeinent giving 160 acres to each head of a family, aud 80 acres to each single adult, if it be held that the agreement to gire the greater quantity includes the lesser. This matter will form the subject of a special report in time for action at the beginning of the next session of Uougress. BLACKFEET INDIANS IN XONTANA. Some months ago the agent of the Blaakfeet Indians, who is, I he-lieve, a good man,, and a faithful agent, made arequest that his Indians be allowed to cut some of the pine timber in the mountainous part of the reservation, mannfacture it into lumber, aud trade the lumber for provisions to prevent starratiou; bnt under t.he law, as it now exists, this could not be allowed. Then the agent asked permission, which was granted, to solicit contributions among his friends in the East, to prevent snffering among his Indians; and now, while I write, word comes that tl~eseI ndians are nearly destitute of food, and that there is danger that thecattle herd, which belongs to the government, and which it is desirable should be kept for stock purposes, will be killed by them for food. The appropriation for these Indians for the year gives to each one less than an ounce of beef and less than one ounce and one-half oiince of flour each day. In view of these facts I think I risk nothing in saying that any law that prohibits Indians under suchcircumstances from uaing the timber on the reservation, to prevent starvation, is ab-surd to the last degree. There is appropriated each year for the In-dians on the Sau CarlosReservation about $300,000, and yet thereis on this reservation coal that if utilized would make an appropriation nu-necessary; but under the present laws this cannot be done. Is it not plaiu thr~tth ese laws should be changed9 CROW CESSION AND ALLOTMENTS. Attention was caIIe11 in the annual report of last Sear to the agree-n~ eumt ade with the Cr.om 111diansil l 1880, and its ratification by Con- |
