The sale of intoxicants to the Indians is still carried on, but in a less degree than formerly. The prosecution of the most notorious of the white men engaged in this dishonorable business has had a very good effect in stopping the sale of liquor to the Indians. The police force of this agency consists of six privates, and in all cases they have rendered good and efficient services, being always prompt in the discharge of their duties and careful in the obedience of all orders. The missionary work upon this reservation has been carried on by the Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Catholic churches, and the result of their good work can be seen on all sides. For detailed accounts of their work I respectfully refer to the following reports of Rev. G. Sumner Baskerville, superintendent of the Good Will Industrial School, and Rev. John Robinson, pastor of the Episcopalian Church: The following is a report of Good Will Industrial School, located 2 miles north of Sisseton Agency, boarding and day school, sustained by ladies of the Presbyterian Church: Teachers (male 1. females 3). Number of months school maintained. Employees (males 5, females 7) Bushels of wheat raised Bushels of potatoes raised. Horses belonging to school Cattle belonging to school. Hogs belonging to school Buildings, exclusive of barns. Communicants in the seven Presbyterian churches on the reservation Total contributions of the seven churches.. Respectfully submitted. G. SUMNER BASKERVILLE, ST. MARYS RECTORY, Sisseton Agency, S. Dak. SIR: I have the honor to report that this mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States has three church buildings and two dwellings. About 600 persons (160 families) are connected with it. During the year past 42 persons, infants and adults, were baptized; 14 persons were confirmed. Marriages, 1; burials, 30. Yours, respectfully, JOHN ROBINSON. In conclusion, I will state that with a liberal appropriation for repairs of our school buildings, so as conveniently and comfortably to accommodate our full quota of pupils, I have every reason to believe that we will have a year of successful advancement in all lines of work. The payment to the Indians from their capital fund this fall will undoubtedly enable them to meet nearly all their past obligations and put them in a condition to improve and seed their own farms during the coming year. I take pleasure in acknowledging the faithful and efficient cooperation of all employees under my charge. Thanking your office for the many courtesies extended during the past year, I am, sir, very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. NATHAN P. JOHNSON, United States Indian Agent. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SISSETON SCHOOL. SISSETON INDIAN INDUSTRIAL BOARDING SCHOOL, SIR: I have the honor, in compliance with instructions, to submit this my fourth annual report of this school for the year ending June 30, 1898, Although experiencing some drawbacks, the school has had a prosperous year. The Indians were slow in bringing in their children at the beginning of the school year, but when once estab lished in the school they became happy and content in the duties and home life of the institution. In April 22 of the pupils were transferred to the nonreservation school at Chamberlain, S. Dak. This was quite a loss to our school, both in class-room work and in the various industrial' departments; but as most of those transferred were among the older pupils, I felt that the period of Fears required for attendance at Chamberlain would secure them from the vices and evils of a home life on the reservation longer than we could hope to keep them at this school. Many children of school age upon this reservation did not attend any school during the past year, and hope that more stringent measures will be adopted the coming year to compel the attendance of such. Literary work. This school has a corps of teachers who have been untiring in their efforts for the literary advancement of their pupils, the children, with but few exceptions, responding to the efforts of the teachers by earnest application and ready obedience. English speaking was the rule of the school not only in the class room but upon the school grounds. The rapidity with which even the youngest children have acquired the English vocabulary sufficient for ordinary conversation has seemed astonishing. A reading circle was maintained by the employees of the school, in which very good work was accomplished. One beneficial result of the interchange of ideas in these meetings was a greater unity of labor between the literary and industrial departments for the general education of the children of the school. Industries. In the carpenter shop, as no building material has been furnished the school, very little work could be done. There has not been one foot of lumber furnished this school for a bout three years, and every building is in need of repair. The harness shop has also been hampered by an insufficient amount of material, although much good work was done in the shop. The work of the laundry, under the management of a good laundress, has been carried on as well as possible under the difficulties of falling plastering and other hindrances incident to a very leaky building. We have been particularly fortunate in the service of a very good cook. She is faithful and efficient, and her meals are prompt and well prepared. Good work and a large amount have been accomplished in the sewing room. The girls' dresses and aprons are well fitted and neatly made, and considerable fancy work has been done. Farm and garden. The farm is small, only 40 The estimate yield is: Wheat. acres, but is yielding splendid results this year. The school table will be amply provided with vegetables, and the grain will materially lessen the expense of the school. A general plan of farm extension has been inaugurated this year. Thirty-three acres of sod has been broken, leaving 27 acres to break next spring, making alto gether a farm of 100 acres under cultivation. Two and one-half miles of new fence has been built and some old fence repaired. Next year half a mile of new fence will be needed, and a considerable portion of the old fence rebuilt. This arrangement will provide ample and convenient pasturage, and the products of the farm should materially lessen the expenses of the school This increased capacity seemed especially advisable, too, for educational purposes. This is a farming country, and the boys must inevitably rely on farming for support in after years, and a well-equipped farm is essential. Live stock. The school stock is in good condition, so far as care and keeping applies, but some of the animals are old and many are of inferior grade. The school has been supplied with 7 horses, but of this number 2 are kept by the agent, 2 more are very old and unfit for use much of the time, leaving but 3 able-bodied horses for school use. The dairy herd consists of 11 cows. Some of these are inferior milkers and the supply of milk has been limited. And then several of them have developed disease, and great care has been necessary to protect the health of the school. The danger from this source has seemed so great that the matter has been taken up in a special report. The school now has 20 head of hogs and pigs in good condition. These will furnish all the pork the children should use and a considerable portion of the lard. These hogs have cost the Government but very little and the product obtained will be almost clear profit. Buildings. The buildings are in very bad repair. Many of the roofs are so old that the shingles are dropping out from decay, and leakage has existed so long and is so universal throughout that there are very few rooms that have not loose plastering caused thereby, and in many places it has fallen away, leaving the bare lath. All has been done for their preservation that is possible without material for repair. A carpenter has been kept on the school pay rolls for more than three years, but no material has been provided for repairs, and he has been employed on the farm and wherever work could be found, while the buildings are going to ruin. I recommend that a complete estimate of necessary repairs be called for and the material furnished without delay. There is now before the Indian Office an estimate for repairing and improvements for the laundry, and it is hoped that this will be accomplished yet before winter. Sanitary. The general health of the children was good, although in February the school suffered from a severe epidemic of measles, 69 children being in bed at one time with the disease. One fatality occurred. Hoping that the necessary repairs of the school buildings, etc., will receive immediate attention, J. L. BAKER, Superintendent. I am, very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. (Through Nathan P. Johnson, Agent.) REPORT OF YANKTON AGENCY. YANKTON INDIAN AGENCY, SIR: In compliance with instructions, I have the honor to transmit herewith my annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898: Water supply.-The Missouri River still supplies a large share of the drinking water used at this agency, as the artesian water has a strong mineral taste, but at the schools the artesian water is used for drinking purposes. The artesian well at the agency, which was finished some time before my taking charge, unhappily began to give way in the early winter, the water forcing itself up between the pipe and packing, which threw out the dirt. For a time the agency seemed threatened with a miniature flood. For a number of months it required a force of five men, working quite constantly, to keep dirt filled in around the pipe and check the escaping water. At last, I succeeded in checking this flow, and since January the agency and school have been supplied with water constantly. At present, about one-fourth of the flow of this well passes off by waste pipes into the Missouri River, through a well-worn channel of its own. In regard to the two artesian wells which were sunk at the Lake Andes, I would say that they have been a great success, filling that once dry lake, thereby increasing the value of the land about it. I believe the volume of water in this lake is increasing. I would extend thanks to the United States Fish Commission for the kind interest they have taken in stocking Lake Andes with 7,000 fish. Farming. The four indian farmers have been faithful in the discharge of their duties on this reservation, and report that more grain is being raised this year than ever before. One thousand five hundred bushels of seed wheat were issued to them this spring, all of which did well; also, garden seed, and many have good gardens. The yield of wheat would have been even greater but for the destructive hail storms in the latter part of July, which swept over a portion of the reservation. I believe the more progressive element is turning attention to farming more and more each year. Citizenship. There is some progress in their ideas of true citizenship, and most of them take a great pride in being able to vote. Shops and shopwork.-The shops consist of a carpenter's, blacksmith's, wheelwright's, tinsmith's, shoe and harness, and paint shop, and these constitute a very important factor in the agency economy, not only in the amount of material manufactured and repairing done, but for the training of the Indians therein employed. All the force employed in these shops are Indians except the superintendent, who has immediate charge over all of them. The amount of work done, especially in the way of repair, is immense and increasing every year. Education. There are two schools at this agency. The reservation boarding school, supported entirely by the Government, and St. Paul's Episcopal Mission School, maintained by the church; both were well attended last year. The Government school farm consists of 600 acres, of which 70 acres are in cultivation. They raise corn, oats, millet, and garden truck. A portion of the farm is given up to pasturage of the school herd. There were enrolled during the year 137. The St. Paul's school consists also of a farm several acres of which are in cultivation, and crops of all kinds are raised, special attention being given to gardening. Their live stock consists of horses, cattle, swine, and domestic fowl. The buildings of this school are pleasantly located. Their school has been managed by Mrs. Jane H. Johnston for many years very successfully. The attendance during the year has been 46. I am not in favor of sending children under 18 to nonreservation schools. I believe it is better for them to remain near their parents until then. Indian court. The court continues to hold sessions semimonthly, and all cases of assault, action for damages, disorder, etc., coming before it for trial. The judges keep their own records, and unless appeal is taken their mandates are obeyed and sentences executed. The present Indian judges are particularly well adapted to the responsible position they hold and exercise justice with perfect impartiality. Road working. When I first took charge, I found the main street of this agency in a deplorable condition, being extremely rough and cut up by the winter's traffic and hollowed in the middle so that water failed to run off. As soon as the frost left the ground, I commenced operations by crowning this street, digging gutters, and building culverts to carry off water, so that the entire roadway has been reconstructed. I can not too strongly urge the need of a wooden sidewalk for this street. The whole of winter and spring the school children and employees are forced to wade through this gumbo mud in going from the school to church or the agency. They wet their feet, which causes sickness among them, and they track large quantities of mud onto clean floors. I believe, therefore, that a plank sidewalk would do away with this great inconvenience. Sanitary. The general health of this people has been fairly good since I took charge. No epidemic of a serious nature has prevailed among them. 5976-19 Visitors. We had a very pleasant visit from Inspector McLaughlin, and School Supervisor Anderson made us a short visit. In closing I wish to thank you and your assistants for the kindly treatment my recommendations have received and the help you have given me in conducting this agency, and I shall truly appreciate a continuance of the same. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. JOHN W. HARDING. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF YANKTON SCHOOL. GREENWOOD, S. DAK., August 23, 183. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report for fiscal year 1898: The Yankton Industrial School is located on the bank of the Missouri River, at the Yankton Agency. It is 30 miles south of Armour, S. Dak., and the same distance east of Springfield. Both towns are on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. We receive a daily mail from Armour and triweekly from Springfield. Average attendance for the year was 118: total enrolment, 137. The children came in more promptly than usual; the health of the school better than preceding years. Schoolroom work was satisfactory. Industrial and farm work was crippled from the fact that only one male employee is here to oversee and perform all the work in these departments. We need a white farmer to take charge of the farm and care for the stock. The amount of stock require more attention than the industrial teacher can possibly give them to make stock raising a success. The sanitary provisions fail the purpose for which they were constructed. A part of the necessary apparatus has been supplied, but more is needed. The mechanical work and plumb ing is not satisfactory, and observance of sanitary laws neglected. Fire protection is unsatisfactory, as we would have to go nearly one-half mile to put on pressure in case fire should break out, and hydrants are not centrally located. However, these matters are receiving the attention of the agent, and the whole system will be renovated. Indications promise better provisions and a more wholesome and healthier atmosphere. It is gratifying that we can look to the future with assurance of improvements in several lines, especially sanitation, general repairs, and an increased attendance of healthier and a more uniform lot of children. With high appreciation of the work of school employees, and thanks to the Department for its generous consideration of our wants, and to Agent Harding, whose kind approbation of the recommendations I have made, as well as the deep interest he is manifesting in ferreting out all available chi ren of school age and requiring them to obtain the advantages which the school offers, and wich we hope will have its reward in creating a more progressive and higher standard of citizenship amongst the Yanktons, I remain, Yours, respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. (Through John W. Harding, United States Indian agent.) EDWARD E. REARDON, Superintendent. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL, YANKTON RESERVATION. ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL. August 23, 1898. I take pleasure in submitting my report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1898. The average attendance for the year was 45. One of our boys was called home before the close of the year by the illness of his mother. Forty-six was our number enrolled. The health of the boys during the past year has been excellent. Imp.ovement in schoolroom was most satisfactory: boys took interest and pleasure in their studies. The older ones enjoyed reading the newspapers in the evening and were very much interested in the war items. The New York Times, illustrated, and Washington papers were sent us by kind friends in the East. A ready and willing spirit on the part of the children made the school year both pleasant and profitable. The school building was made more comfortable and convenient by being attached to the main building by means of a covered corridor, so teachers and pupils are not exposed to cold or dampness in going to and from the schoolroom. We are no longer obliged to draw water from the river, as we have an unlimited supply for house purposes and irrigation from a small artesian well which was put in last year. The garden furnished abundance of vegetables for all the family. Indian children years ago did not care for vegetables, but now they enjoy all kinds, and milk also, which is a taste acquired of late years. Boys prepared the ground for the crops this year and assisted in all the planting. We hope to have 200 bushels of potatoes, 15 or 20 of turnips, several of beets, and 300 heads of cabbage to house for winter use. Owing to some misunderstanding, our boys did not receive outside suits of clothing from the Government at the annual issue. However, by care and economy, we were able to keep them comfortable and respectable. I most earnestly hope we may fare better the coming year. I am indebted to you for assistance cheerfully given and encouraging words of comment. Very respectfully, J. W. HARDING, United States Indian Agent. JANE H. JOHNSTON. REPORT OF MISSIONARY, YANKTON RESERVATION. YANKTON AGENCY, S. DAK., August 22, 1898. SIR: Please find herewith an abstract of the work of the board of missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church among the Yanktons under my care-for my twenty-eighth year and the twenty-ninth of its existence: The same evils and hindrances to Christian work and to the progress of the people which have in successive years for a long time been noted still continue. It seems useless to further descant upon them, though in justice to all parties it must be said that there has been less drunkenTess noted the past year than for many previous ones. And I am again constrained to lift up a pleading voice, in hopes that it may be heard somewhere, with reference to illegal marriage relations, by which so many of this people endanger the future of their children as to the tenure of lands. Many, I fear, will, at the close of the allotment period, through the plea of illegitimacy, become lack lands and vagabonds; and it seems to me the evil is one which may be very easily prevented by the plan suggested in my last report. There has been nothing very marked in our work for the past year. Work at our three regular stations and a fourth incipient one has gone on regularly and quietly, with an ordinary measure of success. Indian dances, principally cultivated and encouraged by the older Indians, partly as an amusement, largely as a source of gain without work, a species of gambling, have had more or less effect in drawing within their influence many members of churches, to their demoralization and hurt. We have been abundantly blessed with rain this year, and the Yanktons are rejoicing in one of the best crops which they have ever had, and are accordingly encouraged in that respect. The following statistics are for the twelve months from June 1, 1897, to May 31 of the current year: Aid received from the board of missions.. JOSEPH W. COOK, Missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church. $1,578.00 596.50 JOHN W. HARDING, United States Indian Agent. REPORT OF MISSIONARY, YANKTON AGENCY. YANKTON AGENCY, S. DAK., August 29, 1898. SIR: I take pleasure in handing you this, my thirtieth annual report as missionary of the Presbyterian Church among the Yankton Indians. In that time there has been a great change wrought upon them, and as I look on it, largely for the better. Then the tribe, with the exception of less than half a dozen mixed bloods, were wild blanket Indians, and not a Christian among them. Their heads were decked with feathers, their faces smeared with paint, a buffalo robe or blanket thrown over their shoulders, their arms, breasts, and legs very generally bare, and their feet tipped with moccasins. Every man carried his arms, ready for war, perchance a quiver of arrows on his back, or a spear or tomahawk in his hand, or a gun on his shoulder. Then as to manual labor, that was done by the Women-everything except war and the chase. War parties were coming and going all summer, and the scalps of the Rees, Crows, Gros Ventres, Pawnees, and Blackfeet were the great attraction of their dances, and bred the spirit of revenge and ferocity. To the credit of the Yanktons, however, be it said, that they ever maintained peace with the whites, even when their allied tribes all took to the warpath to stop, as they said, the encroachments of the palefaces. At that time the ration system was unknown. They had annuities of blankets, calico, and trinkets, and some provisions which, like the annuities, were issued in bulk once or twice a year. The rest of the time the body of the tribe were on the trail of the buffalo, who were fast disappearing over the plains toward the setting sun. The young philosopher, as he now comes among the Indians, is ready to explode with a tirade against the ration system. But its adop tion was a necessity of the times in a humane civilized Government. The wild buffalo and |