Re-enforcements were sent to Camp Apache and troops were stationed at the agency, and preparations made for an attack at either point. The White Mountain Indians, however, were not long in discovering the folly of their action, and came into the agency and subagency in small parties, where they were required to surrender to military officers unconditionally, except that they asked and were promised a fair trial for their individual crimes. Six days' notice was given throughout the reserve that a "peace line" would be declared on the reserve September 21st, outside of whose limits all Indians found would be considered hostile, with the exception of Pedro's band near Camp Apache. On the 20th of September the five chiefs who had been leaders in the affair surrendered, and during the ensuing week 60 of their principal men followed their example. Several of the mutinous scouts had been arrested and brought in by the agency Indian police force and delivered up to the military, and by the close of the month nearly all were in or accounted for, and little remained to be done but to proceed with the trials. It appears, however, that chiefs George and Bonito, who had come in to the subagency, and had gone with Issue Clerk Hoag to Camp Thomas, and there surrendered to Gen. Wilcox, September 25, had been paroled by that officer and allowed to return to the subagency. September 30, Colonel Biddle, with some troops, was sent to the subagency to take them and their bands back to Thomas. Unfortunately this was issue day, and a large number of Indians were assembled. They agreed to go as soon as the issue of beef (which was then in progress) had been made, but later in the afternoon sent word that the troops need not wait for them as they would follow soon with Issue Clerk Hoag. Colonel Biddle replied that they must go at once, and started his command towards George's camp, whereupon he and Bonito fled to the Chiricahuas and so alarmed them that during the night 74 Chiricahuas, including women and children, fled from the reserve, leaving much of their stock behind. The troops followed and are reported to have overtaken and attacked them. In their flight the Indians have captured 8 teams and killed 6 teamsters. Bonito went with them. These are some of the very Indians who under chief "Juh" were induced by Captain Haskell, to come in from Old Mexico in January last. The following, from Agent Tiffany, shows that these Indians were not concerned in the White Mountain troubles, and that their flight was occasioned by fear, not hostility: These bands have been perfectly quiet during the whole White Mountain trouble. They have been reported out on the war-path in New Mexico and committing depredations all over the country, but every time inquiry has been made the chiefs and men have always been found in their camps, and on two occasions they were in the agency office talking to me when telegrams arrived as to their whereabouts; and on one of these occasions, R. S. Gardner, Indian inspector, was present. Ten days or thereabouts before the present outbreak they came to me to hear what was going on, and what so many troops meant about the agencies. I explained it to them and told them to have no fear, that none of the Indians who had been peaceable would be molested in any way. They said they had been out on the war-path and had come in in good faith and were contented, that they did not want war or to fight. The only place they would fight was if the White Mountains would come to the agency or subagency they would fight them there. They inquired if the movements of troops had anything to do with what they had done in Mexico. I assured them it had not. They shook hands, much delighted and went back. Then the military move was made on the subagency to arrest Chiefs George and Bonito, of White Mountain Indians, and Issue Clerk Hoag at subagency, who has been very efficient and judicious in all this trouble, tells me that they were literally scared away by this movement of troops. I desire to call attention to the loyalty shown by five-sixths of the Indians on the San Carlos reserve. They have rendered invaluable and hazardous service as police and scouts, in finding, arresting, and guarding the guilty ones, and as messengers for both agent and military when communication was interrupted by the cutting of the telegraph wires. GENERAL STATISTICS. The following tables show: First. The distribution of population. Second. The objects and purposes of the expenditures from appropriations for the fiscal year 1880 and the present year. Third. The work accomplished and the gain made during the year by the Indians of the country in the way of farming, stock-raising, house-building, &c. Population. According to the last annual report, the number of Indians in the United States, exclusive of Alaska, was 255,958; the present number is 261,851, an increase of nearly six thousand, which is probably largely accounted for by the more accurate census taken dur ing this year, and by the surrender and return to their agencies of the Sioux who, under Sitting Bull, have been living in Canada since 1877. These are distributed among 68 agencies established in the following States and Territories: Those Indians not under the control of the agents of the government, numbering 15,434, are principally in the Territories of Arizona, Idaho, and Utah, and in the States of California, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Expenditures. Objects and purposes for which the appropriations have been expended. Purchase and inspection of annuity goods and supplies. Medicines and medical supplies.. Annuity goods Subsistence supplies Agricultural and miscellaneous supplies. Expenses of transportion and storage Advertising expenses and telegraphing Payment of annuities in money.. Payment of regular employés at agencies. Payment of temporary employés at agencies Support of schools. Traveling expenses of Indian agents.. Traveling expenses of special agents.. Incidental expenses of agencies Pay of Indian police, scouts, and equipments Survey of Indian reservations.. Pay and expenses of Indian inspectors... To promote civilization among Indians generally, including Indian labor.. Presents to Indians Expenses of Indian commissioners.. Agricultural improvements..... Miscellaneous. In bands of agents at date of this report Total amount expended from all appropriations.... Balance unexpended at date of this report......... A comparison of the expenditures of the two years shows that during the current year particular effort has been made to push forward the educational interests of the service, and to advance the process of civilizing the Indian by inducing him to labor, paying him therefor. A large part of the items of "expenses of transportation, &c.," $284,680.73, and "to promote civilization, &c.," $117,574.44, has been paid to Indians for services which formerly were performed by white contractors. The willingness exhibited by the Indians to engage in industrial pursuits is constantly increasing, and is one of the most gratifying features connected with the service. Again, a comparison shows clearly that a more careful supervision of the funds appropriated is had from year to year, the amount of funds in the hands of agents at the date of this report being only $16,489.58, against $134,716.01 at a corresponding date last year; and a balance remaining on the books of this office of only $184,507.44 against $335,585.70 the previous year. The decrease in quantities raised by the civilized tribes in the Indian Territory is largely attributable to the long-continued season of drought. APPROPRIATIONS. The appropriations made by Congress for the fiscal year ending Juue 30, 1882, for the support of the Indians under treaty stipulations and otherwise, are entirely insufficient, and unless an additional amount is appropriated this winter, this office will be greatly embarrassed in the work of civilization, and want of funds may lead to serious difficulties. Owing to the severe weather of last winter the price paid for beef for the fiscal year 1882 is 30 per cent. higher than that paid last year, which, taking into consideration that this office purchases nearly 40,000,000 pounds gross, makes a difference of $400,000 for that article alone. In some instances the treaty with the Indians provides a specific amount of clothing or subsistence to be furnished them, yet Congress in almost every instance fails to provide sufficient funds to carry out these provisions. The agreement made with the Sioux, dated February 28, 1877, provides in article 5 as follows: In consideration of the foregoing cession of territory and rights, and upon full compliance with each and every obligation assumed by the said Indians, the United States does agree to provide all necessary aid to assist the said Indians in the work of civilization, to furnish to them schools and instruction in mechanical and agricultural arts, as provided for by the treaty of 1868; also to provide the said Indians with subsistence consisting of a ration for each individual of a pound and a half of beef (or in lieu thereof one-half pound of bacon), one-half pound of flour, and one-half pound of corn; and for every 100 rations four pounds of coffee, eight pounds of sugar, and three pounds of beans, or in lieu of said articles the equivalent thereof, in the discretion of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. On a basis of 25,000 Indians (the reports of the agents give a popu lation of over 25,000, including 2,800 turned over recently by the War Department) these Indians are entitled, under the foregoing agreement, to 27,375,000 pounds gross beef, 4,562,000 pounds flour, 4,562,000 pounds corn, 365,000 pounds coffee, 730,000 pounds sugar, and 273,750 pounds beans, costing, at prices at which contracts were made for the fiscal year 1882, over $1,250,000; and this does not take into consideration the promise also made by Congress in the article above quoted “to provide all necessary aid to assist the said Indians in the work of civilization, to furnish them schools," &c. The amount appropriated by Congress for 1882, for both subsistence and civilization, under the above agreement, is only $1,000,000, leaving a deficiency of over $250,000 to be provided for, for subsistence alone, and an additional sum of at least $100,000 for aiding these Sioux in civilization and agricultural pursuits. There are other instances in which additional sums must be had for subsistence, and a deficiency estimate will be submitted to you at an early date for transmission to Congress. The amount appropriated for schools ($85,000) is entirely inadequate. At almost every agency day-schools, as well as a boarding-school, must be supported from this fund, since in but few instances does the treaty or agreement provide sufficient means for that purpose. It is confidently expected that Congress will be more liberal in the future than in the past in appropriating money for the education of the Indians. The amount appropriated for the support of the Blackfeet Indians in Montana ($35,000) is insufficient, and $50,000 at least should be granted by Congress for that purpose for the next fiscal year. In this connection I call your attention to the following letters from Col. Thomas H. Ruger, commanding district of Montana, in regard to the additional supplies required for the support of these Indians: HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MONTANA, SIR: I have the honor to request the attention of the department commander to the propriety of action with a view to procuring an increase of subsistence supplies for the Indians attached to the Blackfeet Agency. By letter of the 26th of May last, I urged the agent, Mr. John Young, to present the case in full to the department. He passed through here on the 29th instant before my return from Maginnis, and stated, as I learn, that he should go to Washington and endeavor to get more supplies for the Indians under his charge. If anything can be done to further such object, I think, action to that end very desirable. The facts pertinent are, that the supplies provided for these Indians are entirely inadequate for their subsistence the coming winter; the game obtainable on their reservation is not sufficient, if added to the issues by the agent, to prevent great suffering and even starvation. Should the Indians be permitted to leave the reservation, the nearest region where game could be had is the Musselshell country, to reach which would require, by their usual route by the Judith Valley, a journey of about twenty-five days through a country now practically destitute of game, but occupied by settlers and for cattle-ranges. The Indians would not start provided with food for such journey. Whether they committed depredations or not, their presence in the settlement would be taken as conclusive evidence that they were killing cattle from necessity. Should they move in a body and under escort to the Musselshell their presence there, so near the cattle-ranges east of the Judith and Snowy Mountains and the lower ranges of the Musselshell, would be a source of trouble. Last winter these and other Indians in that country were the prey of illicit-whisky traders, and consequently derived very little benefit from the robes and peltries procured, and no doubt that experience would be repeated. There has been for the past two years, as the settlements have spread and ranges for cattle have been occupied, embracing generally all the country to the south of the Marias River and the Missouri and west of the Musselshell, an increasing feeling of hostility on the part of cattle-owners and settlers concerned, to the presence of any Indians in the region mentioned, and recently several organizations of stock-owners have had meetings with apparent intent to prevent Indians from crossingthe ranges; and some, no doubt, would not hesitate, if opportunity offered, to act with a purpose of bringing matters to a crisis in expectation of a final settlement resulting, by which the Indians would be confined to their reservations; and this applies as well to the settlers on the Yellowstone with respect to the Crows, Flatheads, &c. The time has come when the Indians attached to the Blackfeet Agency at least should be supplied with sufficient food on their reservation. I have not the data from which to make an accurate estimate of the amount requisite for this winter in addition to the present appropriation, but not less than $15,000 is necessary, and which should be expended for food only. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. H. RUGER, Colonel Eighteenth Infantr 1, Commanding District. To the ADJUTANT GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, |