Page 193

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER          OF INDIAN    AFFAIRS.        193 
to stimulate them to present exertion in adapting themselves to new modes
of pro- 
cthrin subsistence. There is also an urgent need of additional legislation
to protect 
them from the encroachments of those of their own race, as well as occasional
depre- 
dations upon their timber and other property, by white settlers contiguous
to their res- 
ervation. The Omahas continue to maintain the most friendly relations with
the Gov- 
ernment, and are at peace with all the Indian tribes. 
As far as heard from they have not been molested by the Sioux or other depredating
bands of Indians while on the hunt, though the recent attack upon the Pawnees
has 
led to some apprehension on their account. 
The health of the Indians on the reservation is generally good. By a recent
census 
the population of this tribe is found to be 1,001; an increase of 32 over
last year. 
Very respectfully, thy friend, 
E. PAINTER, 
BAfICLAY WHITE,                                  United States Indian Agent.
Superintendent Indian Affairs, Omaha, Nebr. 
11. 
PAWNEE AGENCY, GENOA, NEBR., 
Ninthmonth 20, 1873. 
RESPECTED FRIEND: In presenting my first annual report of the condition of
this 
agency, I can only speak of my personal experience during the few months
I have been 
in charge, viz, since the 10th of first-month last. At that time the Pawnees
were just 
returning from their winter hunt. They had caught but few buffalo, and were
at- 
tacked by the Sioux, who killed one man and captured over one hundred of
their best 
horses. Being thus deprived f their accustomed and needful amount of subsistence,
on application, $3,000 was placed at my disposal to procure provisions, nearly
all of 
which was expended in the purchase of floar, beef; and other necessities
for their 
relief. 
In the spring, as soon as the state of the weather would permit, the new
mill-race 
was pushed toward completion, and the prospect seemed fair of soon having
our mill 
at work; but about the first of the Fifthmonth heavy rains and a very destructive
freshet 
s icceeded the great snow-storm which visited this region, and completely
destroyed 
the labors of the past year, leaving the water-power of the mill in a state
of hopeless 
ruin. A similar loss from the destructive elements was felt in a wide region
of country 
around us, and in the view of all competent observers it was beyond the power
of ha- 
man skill or foresight to prevent. Wind power has since been suggested, and
after 
considerable attention to the subject,, from the successful experiments and
tests of oth- 
ers, I feel quite favorable to its application. A safe, reliable, and inexpensive
motive 
power to keep in repair is a desideratum, and a good mill is one of the greatest
needs 
of the agency. 
The continued spring rains in this region retarded all planting-labor, and
some of 
the Indian fields and patches were too wet to be planted in season; but their
corn has 
yielded an average crop, and they have cultivated various other edible plants.
From 
the agency tarm. we have just threshed 1,100 hushels of oats, 312 bushels
of rye, and 
760 bushels of wheat. The oat crop was much injured by the grasshoppers,
and the 
potato crop will be very light owing to the ravages of the potato bug and
drought. 
Our heaviest crop is corn and the yield promises fair; and a stock of hay,
thought to 
be ample to last through the season, has been securely housed or stacked.
I trust by 
the end of the calendar year we can show that the manual-labor school depends.
as 
much upon the farm as the farm depends upon the school-fund, not excepting
the ex- 
pense of harvesting and threshinDg the crop. I see no good reason why the
farm should 
not be self-sustaining and at the same time aid the school and other departments
of 
the agency materially in the carting of supplies, provision, and fuel. Being
twenty- 
two miles from the railroad and nearly eight miles from the timber-tract,
much time 
and expense are necessarily involved in transportation. 
One new day-school has been erected near the Indian villages, and this, as
well as 
the other day-school, is now in successful operatien. The whole number of
scholars at 
these two schools is 70 ; and the average attendance during the past year
has been 55. 
The nianual-labor school, under the present corps of employs, is making atisfctr
progress. Twventy additional pupils have recently been added theeto  Th saifcoly
death in the school during the year is that of one boy, who recently died
of consump-. 
tion. The whole numnber of scholars is now 70, of whom 16 are girls. The'number
of 
children in all the school is 140. 
Yarions needful repairs have been made upon the agency buildings, within
our limi- 
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