SIR: In compliance with Department regulations and instructions, I have the honor to submit the following as my twelfth annual report of this agency.
    The condition of the Indians at this agency has not materially changed since my last annual report. I may safely say, however, that they are constantly improving in morality, and establishing upon a firmer basis the truths of religion, and gradually advancing in the social and industrial habits of life, and a majority of them are caраble of becoming citizens.
    In the agricultural sense of the word, the past year has been one of general reverses; and notwithstanding the fact that the acreage is greater this than in any preceding year, the Indians will not thresh one-third the quantity of grain that they did last year. Last fall they seeded down large tracts in fall grain, which was all killed by the exceeding hard frosts of the winter. By their own endeavors and the assistance of the Department they were, however, enabled to resow their fields this spring; but, owing to the summer droughts, quite a portion will never be cut, while other fields will have to be cut for hay on account of the meadows being destroyed by the inclemency of the past winter. And unless we have a liberal fall of rain here early this fall to start the grass, which is now perishing for want of moisture, the Indian cattle will be in but poor condition to withstand the rigors of winter.
    A general cause of complaint with the Indians of this agency for some months back is that the whites are intruding upon their lands and allowing their cattle to run across the supposed line on the agency. In order to put an end to such actions I deem it advisable that the east boundary line of the reservation be resurveyed. The Indians are also desirous of having deeds made to them for their lands in severalty. Upon examination I find it impossible to do this without the aid of a surveyor, and I hope the Department will allow the estimate forwarded, that I may be able to fulfill their wishes in that regard. Many improvements are retarded by them not knowing definitely where their boundary line will be by the new allotment, and this work cannot be completed any too soon for the advantage of the Indians.
    According to Department instructions, I nominated three of the most intelligent and impartial Indians of this agency to act as judges of the Indian court, with one additional to act as sheriff for the court. As we have no Indian police at this agency now or at any other time, and there is no necessity for such officers at this agency to preserve law and order, I deem it but just that the judges of the Indian court be allowed the salary of policemen; otherwise there will be difficulty in securing anyone to act in the capacity of judges, as the officers of the previous court here established have been paid without expense to the Department.
    I have to report the continued prosperity of the schools under the able and efficient supervision of the Benedictine Sisters. The average attendance at the boarding school at this agency for the past fiscal year has been fair, and the moral tendency of the instructions has proven very beneficial, and the progress of the pupils in their studies and industrial habits has been to a high degree satisfactory.
    The missionary labor on this agency, under the supervision of the Rev. A. J. Croquet, is in a flourishing condition, a new church 33 by 82 feet having been erected by the Indians, with assistance from Catholic Church, at a cost of $3,000. Divine service is held every Sunday morning and evening. Judging from the attendance, much interest is manifested in the services and teachings of the missionaries. Father Croquet has been resident priest here for twenty-two years, and during twenty-two years he visited Siletz Agency frequently every year as missionary, but never received any compensation from the government. Father Croquet labors with great zeal, and now, after twenty-two years' service, sees the fruits of his labors in the fact that every adult Indian and child belong to the church and comply with its requirements in their daily lives.
    The sanitary condition of this people is good, and, now that a physician is allowed this agency, I feel confident that they will increase in population.
    I would respectfully call the attention of the Department to the verified petition of the Indians located at the mouth of Salmon River, forwarded to the honorable Secretary of the Interior February 19, 1879. Also the petitions verified and forwarded to the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs under date of August 11, 1876, asking that they be attached to and form part of the Grand Ronde Reservation. When these Indians were moved to Salmon River from Nestucca by Commissioner Simpson, as an incentive to their removal he promised them the benefit of the school at this agency; that they were to have the same privileges of the saw and grist mills as the Indians located here; that they were to have their troubles settled here by the same laws that govern the Indians of this agency; and that efforts would be made to have the Salmon River country attached to and form part of the Grand Ronde Reservation. These promises were made to them before their consent was obtained to their removal to their present location. The reasons calling forth these petitions are: 1st, their location at the mouth of Salmon River is but six or eight hours journey from Grand Ronde over a good wagon road, while to reach the Siletz agency they have no road or trail, but two days' journey, the greater part of which they have to cross Siletz Bay and up the Siletz River, and during winter is very perilous in an open canoe. 2nd, they have, since the establishment of this agency, been accustomed to visit here, are acquainted and intermarried with the Indians of Grand Ronde, and have to come here to obtain supplies and find a market for their products. The only road leading in and out to Salmon River is through Grand Ronde Agency, where the Nestuccas, Salmon River, and Tillamook Indians are located. Under the circumstances their wishes are reasonable, and I see no reason why the promises made them by the government should not be fulfilled.
    The Indians belonging to Grand Ronde Agency, when first moved from the Willamette Valley, were moved and located at the mouth of Salmon River, in 1855 and 1856, between Siletz and Salmon rivers. They were afterwards moved to Grand Ronde, their present location, with the privilege of hunting, fishing, and pasturing stock at all times in Salmon River country. This country was under the jurisdiction of Grand Ronde Agency, but lately the Indians of this agency are forbidden to visit Salmon River, by order of F. M. Wadsworth, United States Indian agent, Siletz Agency.    *    *    *
    During the year the agency has been visited by Inspector Gardner, Archbishop Seghers, and other personages of note, and all, I believe, express themselves as satisfied with the progress made by these Indians in the religious, social, and industrial habits of life.
    During the months of May and June we erected a substantial bridge over the Yamhill River, between the agency and mills, with a span of 125 feet. Nearly all the work was performed by the Indians, with but little cost to the Department except material. The statistical report called for is also enclosed.
    Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
    SIR: I have the honor to herewith submit my fifth annual report of Indian affairs at this agency.
    The past year has been marked with no striking events, but with general peace and prosperity. The summer has been unusually warm and dry. In consequence of this the hay crop is not as large as usual. Grasshoppers and crickets have swarmed upon the eastern portion of the reservation, doing considerable damage both to pastures and meadows. The "black leg" has again appeared among the Indian cattle, and has destroyed a considerable number of this year's increase.
    The killing of an Indian doctor by one of the tribe, who claimed to have had grievances sufficient to justify the act, his capture while fleeing northward, his subsequent trial by a jury of his own people, his conviction by that jury, and his execиtion by tribal authority, forms the most important event of the year, and has left a lasting impression upon the minds of the people in favor of law and order.
    The opening of a new boarding school, located at Yainax, 40 miles distant from the agency, was an event of great interest among the Indians in that locality; so great that it has been found that the building, though 72 by 34 feet and two full stories high, could only accommodate about one-half the number of pupils who applied for admission.
    It was also found that the school building at the agency was much too small to meet the demands of the people. Permission and funds were obtained from the Interior Department to erect new buildings at the agency to accommodate from 80 to 100 pupils. This building is finished upon the outside and about one-half completed upon the inside. It is also two full stories high, and on an average 40 feet wide and 90 feet long. It is an imposing building, and one of the finest of its kind in Southern Oregon. It is hoped that it will be ready for occupancy and use during the early part of the winter.
    Our boarding schools have been quite prosperous during the year, and have been crowded to their utmost capacity. During the forenoon of the day the children are in the schoolroom, where they are successfully taught the usual branches pursued in primary schools. The afternoon is devoted wholly to industrial pursuits, mechanical and otherwise. In these pursuits the children manifest much interest and are making commendable progress. With the enlarged and improved building and other accommodations now in progress of completion, we hope to be able another year to report an attendance of 150 pupils.
    So far as frostiness of climate is concerned the present summer has been favorable for the raising of grain and vegetables. Last year an effort was made to raise potatoes for the agency school at a sheltered place upon the southern part of the reservation called "Modoc Point." One-half of an acre was planted upon the shore of Klamath Lake, and the result was a decided success. This year we have planted nearly an acre, and the prospect is fully as good as last year. There is a probability that there will be a yield of from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. There is in this piece of land that I have selected for a school garden about 4 acres of good soil. Considerable work will need to be done in fencing the land and in removing the encumbering rocks. This place is 13 miles distant from the agency school, and yet it is the nearest place where vegetables can be successfully grown nearly every year. There is, adjoining this school garden, a tract of good agricultural land of about 2,000 acres, lying between the lake and the high range of mountains on the east, that is too dry for grain raising, &c. Could this land be irrigated it would be productive and of vast benefit to the Indians. It is thought by some persons that a portion of the water of Sprague River, about 4 miles distant, can be turned out of its channel, and by an irrigating canal made to fertilize and make productive this body of land. It is my purpose to investigate the feasibility of this plan, and may report upon it at some future day. Year after year these Indians have made efforts at grain raising. Occasional success has inspired them with new hopes. I have no doubt that they would succeed as agriculturists had they suitable lands for cultivation.
    At Yainax, 40 miles east of the agency, our school, under the control of Mr. William T. Leeke, the teacher, has made a fair beginning in cultivating a school garden. About 3 acres of oats were sown, which have produced a good crop of grain-hay, which would, no doubt, have yielded, had it been threshed, about 100 bushels of oats. They have also put in about one acre of newly broken land to the hardy kinds of vegetables with fair success. Should the season be favorable, another year will doubtless produce much better results.
    The order which required that but one ration should be issued to a policeman has driven from the force some of our best men. Others remain through the solicitations of the agent. The wonder to me has been that any remain. How men who are poor and have families to support can be induced to give their time to the service for $5 per month, two or three suits of clothes per year, and one ration per week, is more than I can tell. And yet such is their interest in the welfare and good order of the people that some of them continue to do so. With all these difficulties they are doing good service for the government.
    The sawmill has cut about 750,000 feet of lumber during the year. One-half of this amount has been expended for government purposes. The remainder has gone to the Indians, and been largely used in improvements upon their ranches.
    The Indian apprentices are making good progress in their trades, and will, in time, make fair mechanics. They lack, however, one essential to success, viz, a good common-school education.
    The Indians under the control of the agent are about 1,000 in number. They are comprised mainly of Klamaths, Modocs, and Snakes, with a few Pit Rivers and others. The Klamaths and Modocs number about 800; the Snakes about 150. The remainder are Pit River, Rogue River, and Molalla Indians. The Klamaths and Modocs were originally one people, and speak the same language. They are, by intermarriage, rapidly becoming one people again.
    The health of these Indians is generally good, and they are, I believe, slightly on the increase as to numbers. The number of deaths has, this year, been unusually large, and has been mostly either children or people past middle life. A large percentage of these deaths occurred during the winter months, and was the result of chronic cases.
    Fully two-thirds of these Indians subsist by raising cattle or by working for outside parties at cutting wood and rails, making hay, and general farming. They earned last year over $3,000 by transporting supplies for the military at Fort Klamath and for private parties. The balance subsist largely upon the natural products of the soil and the waters of the reservation.
    To say that they are mainly industrious and good workers, that they are frugal and judicious in the expenditure of their money, that they are nearly all free from the vice of intemperance, or liquor drinking, that they have all adopted the costumes, and most of them the modes of living, of the whites, is only saying what is known by those acquainted with them to be strictly true. Their progress in civilization is uniform and general, embracing nearly all the persons and families belonging to the tribe.
    Occasionally there are family difficulties, and difficulties between different members of these tribes, but these are yearly becoming less frequent. I know of but one Indian among them who has more than one wife, and no case of the purchase of a wife has been known during the last three years. They are longing to understand and appreciate the marriage relation, and most of them desire to be legally married.
    Years ago many of them were intemperate, but have entirely reformed. Many of them were formerly engaged in horse-racing and gambling, but a case of this kind very seldom now occurs. A few years ago they were all under the influence of and afraid of their medicine men. But few of them now apply to these doctors for treatment, and many do not fear them. They have not for several years practiced any of their Indian dances known as the sun dance, the war dance, &c. Still they have many of their Indian ways, traits, and superstitions, which can only be overcome by years of civilizing influences and by the teachings of the schoolroom. Give them the years of protection and fostering care which many other tribes have had, and they, in my judgment, will be second to none in all that is required for citizenship.
    Yours, very respectfully,
The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
    SIR: In compliance with instructions I have the honor to submit my first annual report of affairs at this agency. The time that I have been here is so short that I cannot make a report as complete as I would like. Many things will have to be estimated that, had the report been due at a later date, could have been given from actual count.
    The great liberality of the government in providing these Indians with the necessary farming implements has resulted in great good. I find a strong desire among them to make homes. The young men desire to take land. The old lines and corners are so nearly obliterated that it is hard to get the matter of allotments as it should be to prevent trouble among them. The old maps on file in the office are of a poor quality, and so incomplete that they cannot be relied upon. Some work in the line of surveying and making maps is greatly needed in order to establish permanently the lines, so that each one may know where to do permanent work. With the proper encouragement these Indians will soon all, or nearly all, be established in homes of their own and be cultivating the soil.
    The crop of hay is housed housed in as good condition as could be desired, but is not as large as that of last year, for two reasons: 1st, their fields have been run too long in hay and need breaking up and re-seeding, having become foul and run down; 2nd, this has been a very dry season, no rain having fallen since the middle of May.
    Good wheat can be grown here if properly put in, and that in the fall. Oats are more certain. Some of the finest fields of oats are now being harvested that I have ever seen. Some lots will yield from 50 to 60 bushels per acre. Many fields are light, owing to the slack manner of putting in.
    Number of acres under fence, 2,500; under cultivation, 1,440; acres of new land broken, 18; new fence and old repaired, 1,513 rods.
    The amount of grain now being harvested I have estimated as follows, viz: Oats I placed at 30 bushels per acre, 850 acres giving 25,500 bushels; wheat will not be over 15 bushels per acre--1,700 bushels; potatoes will be very light owing to the continued dry weather--20,000 bushels; turnips, turnips, 1,000 bushels; hay, 500 tons. There are a great many small gardens, but poorly cultivated. We hope to overcome much of this. We also have a garden of from 3 to 4 acres connected with the boardinghouse, cultivated by the schoolboys, under the direction of our efficient farmer, F. M. Stanton. I have carefully read the last annual report of my predecessor, and have carefully studied the situation, and I really cannot give so flattering a report as his. It is true the season has been against us, and many fields now sown in grain are very foul and need to be summer-fallowed. There is an abundance of good land here, and when rotation in crops is taught them we will be able to enlarge the figures.
    Our old threshing machine has been repaired, and is now doing very fair work. Our new machine has just arrived and will be in running order in a few days.
    The greatest portion of our supplies come by schooner to Toledo, 8 miles from the agency, from which point they are transported in wagons by by Indians and the government teams. During the fiscal year ending June 30 the Indians transported with their own teams 105,829 pounds, and earned by such freighting the sum of $351.64. To say that the work has been well done is but just to those doing the work. I would join with Mr. Swan in urging that the supplies be forwarded at an earlier date, if it can be done, so as to reach us before the fall rains set in, for the reason that when these commence it about doubles the work and expense.
    On the first of July I reorganized the police force; some of the old ones I dropped from the force, adding new ones. I retained the old captain as a private, and promoted the acting sergeant. He was soon convicted of giving whiskey to another Indian, and was removed from the force and also punished by confinement and hard labor. I then again promoted the sergeant. The force is now doing good service with a very few exceptions. I am satisfied that a course may be pursued here that will give us a good police force. Of course some changes will have to be made to effect it, but it will come in time. The greater portion of complaints brought are for wife-whipping.
    The sanitary condition of the Indians will compare favorably with the whites on this coast, with one exception, and that is the one great curse of venereal diseases, which does fearful work among them. Our resident physician, Dr. F. M. Carter, however, speaks hopefully in regard to the matter, and thinks he sees a slight change for the better. I can truly say that our physician is is doing his duty and is endeavoring to help me in my efforts to bring this people up to a fair standard of health and cleanliness.
    Number of births, 41; deaths, 29; number of Indians who have received medical treatment during the year, 500.
    We have a good sawmill and flouring mill, but cannot run them for want of money. The great need just now is lumber; many, very many, wish to build. In fact, there is a constant demand for building material, and we cannot give it. In my opinion a great mistake was made here in making these mills steam power instead of water power. If they had been provided with water power the Indians could have used them without assistance. As it is, the sawmill cannot be run without an engineer and head sawyer, and we must ask the Department for funds to work with. Now, we need much in this direction.
    The government buildings are in a sad condition. We need lumber to rebuild, to make and repair fences. The much-talked-of "Alsea houses" are not completed, and there is no lumber to complete them. Out of fifteen that were promised the Alsea Indians, only ten have been completed. A great many of our young men would take land and go to work making homes for themselves if they could get lumber to build with. I have allowed the agency trader to use the mill to cut a few thousand feet of lumber for the erection of a store building. I have notified him that I will have to use the government building now occupied by him for a commissary, as the shed now used for that purpose is not fit to store anything in.
    The Indians' chief industry is farming, and I am agreeably surprised to find a very strong desire to know how to do better farming. Willing to learn, they quickly take to the trades needed here, but do not become first-class mechanics, for the want of the necessary facilities to make them so.
    Of white employees, we have a clerk, physician, farmer, teacher, assistant teacher, matron, and a cook. Of Indian employees, an interpreter, a teamster, carpenter, ferryman, mail-carrier, seamstress, and laundress--and, up to July 1st, we had also a shoemaker. Our police force consists of one captain, one sergeant, and ten privates. I am happy to say that at this writing all of these employees are working together in unison and hearty cooperation, and giving me as good service as I could ask.
    Upon this hangs the destiny of this people. Without earnest and patient work in this direction, we can accomplish but little for the upbuilding of the Indians. The old are dying off, the middle-aged are set in their habits and ways. The young are susceptible of development under careful training. About the 1st of November, 1882, the school buildings connected with this agency were destroyed by fire, and, to the great sorrow of all concerned, the children were left without a place to pursue their studies, and many of them without a decent home to go to. After a short time an old and deserted mill was fixed up for a boarding house, in which about 42 children were crowded. With a great deal of patience and care they were managed. A part of the old agency house was converted into a schoolroom; and in these very narrow quarters the educational work is going on. At the present our scholars are taking their much-needed vacation. We shall take up school again the 1st of September. We were for a time much elated to think we should have new buildings, in which we could place some 90 or 100 children, but there seems to be some doubt now as to having them for the present. We earnestly hope that every difficulty may be overcome, and that we will be granted the privilege of putting up new buildings.
    I believe we can accomplish much good in this direction, as in this part of the work special attention is given to teaching the girls to sew, to cook, and to do everything pertaining to good housekeeping, and, as proof of the efficiency of the work, quite a number of the girls have been sought after to go out and do the cooking for the hands during harvest. The boys are taught the care and management of horses and cattle, also the planting and raising of all kinds of garden, as well as farm work in general. The Department has kindly given me funds to put an apprentice in one of the shops, which I shall do shortly.
    The teacher, Rev. T. B. White, has charge of this branch of the work, holding religious services on each Sabbath morning and evening. The attendance at church is good; in fact, with our limited room, I may say all come who can get a seat. There is quite a lively interest manifested. The church record was lost in the fire last fall, so that it is impossible to report the exact number of members, and it is only as we can find them out by actual contact that we can tell who are church members. But I am happy to say that since I have been here the church work is taking on an encouraging look.
    There are some beach gold mines on this reserve, and much feeling and speculation is had in regard to them. Parties have applied to me with propositions which I could not consent to. I have told them that I had no authority to allow them to work them, and have referred them to the Hon. Secretary of the Interior.
    We are happy in the fact that we have a good square Christian man as trader to these Indians, keeping such goods as are needed, and with fair prices.
    Some of the cows purchased by the government and distributed to the Indians by Agent Swan have been sold by those to whom they were given. I have forbidden any further sale of such cows. Several were sold and butchered before I was informed of the manner in which they came in possession of them. In such cases I have required the Indian to buy another one in the place of the one sold or butchered. I have also forbidden them to sell their stock cattle, as there is plenty of room here for many more cattle than they have now, and, if managed well, in a few years they will have plenty of cattle to sell. There is a general disposition to get horses, and not being able to get first-class ones, they take up with cheap and inferior stock. The horses here belonging to the government are getting old and worked down, as are many of the work oxen. There are at present, by actual count, 637 Indians on the reserve. The census of 1880 shows 998 belonging here; of that number, about 360, composed principally of the Siuslaws, Coos, and Umpquas, are scattered along down the coast all the way between here and the California line. Many of them desire to return to the reservation, but have not the money necessary to make the trip, and I am not provided with funds to send for them. I think steps should be taken looking toward their return to the reservation.
    Very respectfully,
The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, USGPO 1883, pages 126-132

Last revised July 18, 2025