Page 313

REPORT    OF COMMISSIONER        OF -INDIAN   AFFAIRS.        313 
67. 
OFFICE OF YAKAMA INDIAN AGENCY, 
Fort Simcoe, Wash., Aegust 26, 1873. 
SIR: In accordance with instructions of the Department I have the honor to
submit 
my annual report for the fiscal year 1873. 
Dnring the strife the Department had with the Modocs, the inhabitants east
of the 
Cascade Mountains, many of them believed we were to have serious trouble
with In- 
dians belhIging to this treaty. Reports were put in circulation that tw'o
thousand In- 
dians, armed and well fortified, had gathered at White Bluffs, on the Columbia
River, 
and were about to break out on the settlements. Quite a number of the white
families 
left the country ; others went into fortifications and applied to the Government
for arms 
to protect themselves during the approaching struggle. I took five Indians
from the 
agency and visited these places of reported danger, and found nothing that
indicated 
-stostility on the part of the Indians. I did find that a class of irresponsible
whites were 
quite anxious to have a war, that the treaty might be broken up and the land
of the 
reservation opened for white settlements. I am pleased to be able to report
that our 
Indians during the war with the Modocs evinced the most perfect agreement
with the 
Department. Such was their zeal for the right, I believe I could have raised
five hun- 
dred amen in a day that would have marched to the hottest part of the battle.
The difficulty said to exist on Snake River was reported to the Department
on my 
return. (See said report.) 
There has been no year since the making of the treaty with this nation of
Indians 
when they have been so universally well disposed toward the whites. Little
difficulties 
have arisen between the whites and Indians on the border of the reservation,
but I 
have been prompt to go to the place of difficulty and have the parties together,
and 
thus settle the matter. I have almost universally found the whites were first
in the 
transgression. 
FARMING. 
Our farming interest has increased, over last year, among the Indians in
inclosing and 
cultivating land at least one-fourth. 
MILLS. 
In my last report I asked the Department to permit me to purchase and erect
a steam 
saw-mill, without any additional appropriation of money for such purchase
and erec- 
tion, which permission was given. I have the pleasure to report that said
mill has 
been purchased, transported to the agency and erected, and is in good running
order, 
capable of making 10,000 feet of lumber in twelve hours, or as much in one
day as our 
water-mill would make in twelve. 
The Indians are much encouraged with the expectation of making improvements
in 
building houses, barns, and fencing their land with permanent fences. In
the trans- 
portation and erection of said mill the Indians have rendered valuable service
without 
pay. The cost of the mill in running order is a little over $4,000, and is
worth, at 
least, $7,000. The water and steam mills can be used to good advantage, being
sixteen 
miles apart, and accommodating different parts of the agency. 
The grist-mill has been repaired the past year at an expense of about $100,
and is 
now in good running condition. 
The schools at the agency have been in operation for ten months of the year
and 
have done well. (See report of superintendent of instruction.) 
Their sanitary condition was never as good as at this time. The skill and
untiring 
attention given to this department by Dr. Kuykendall is universally approved
by the 
Indians and employ6s of the agency. There has not been money enough appropriated
for the purchase of medicines. (See physician's report herewith remitted.)
The religious interests of the agency is not the least of any and all interests
here 
represented. There is a steady coming up in character and stability of right
action 
that meritis the approval of all who observe the change. 
In conclusion I wish to call the attention of the Department to that part
of my 
report of last year to the money due this agency from the late Superintendent
Waterman, 
$7,250. This money should have been paid in December, 1866. No good reason
can be 
assigned why this money should be withheld from this agency. Also, I observed
that 
there was appropriated $1,000 of school money over former years, which money
has 
not been received. Please call the attention of the Department to this money
matter, 
that with it we may enlarge our schools and increase the general interests
of the 
agency. 
I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 
JAMES H. WILLEN, 
United States Indian Agent, Washington Territory. 
General R. H. MILROY, 
Superintendent Indian Affairs, Washington Territory.