Page 320

320     REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 
The principal part of the instruction for boys at this school has been along
agricultural lines, general farm work being taught practically. About 120
acres of land were cultivated during the year. The season was unusually wet
and crops could not be given the cultivation necessary for the best results.
The entire school farm consists of 640 acres. The larger portion is rough
and 
rocky or overflow land unfit for cultivation. The land best suited for garden-
ing purposes is located at such a distance from the school that it is unavail-
able for this purpose. 
Under the conditions existing the boys do a great deal of work in the laundry,
sawing and splitting wood, hauling water, etc., the school buildings all
being 
heated by wood and coal stoves. All the work in the laundry is done by hand,
no power or laundry machinery having thus far been installed. It is necessary
to have some of the larger boys detailed to the laundry to turn washing ma-
chines. This is work which could be avoided and is of such character that
there is very little instruction to be gained by the boys. The laundry work
for 
the past year has been difficult--entirely too difficult for children of
the ages 
these children are. Notwithstanding this fact the work is done well. 
As near as I can find, last year was the first year that the school raised
enough forage and grain to feed the school stock, purchases having to be
made 
heretofore. 
Agency.-The agency buildings consist principally of employees' cottages.
A 
very poor three-room building, built years ago, serves for office purposes.
The 
blacksmith shop and commissary are old buildings. No water nor sewerage 
systems have been installed. 
The agency reservation consists of 160 acres of land, of which about 12 acres
are in cultivation; 50 acres serve as pasture for the agency horses; about
40 
acres is taken for building sites, and the balance is used by the Indians
for 
camping and grazing purposes when they are at the agency. 
The Indians live about 25 miles north and the same distance south of the
agency, making it necessary for them to camp over night when they come for
their payments or other purposes. 
Allotments.-About fifty Indian families live upon and cultivate at least
a 
part of their allotments. The average size of these farms is about 30 acres.
More Indians hav  been at work the past year than heretofore, which is prom-
ising in this direction at least. The number of able-bodied male Indians
who 
should cultivate at least a part of their allotments is about one hundred.
Many of the allotments are very poor and will never furnish the Indian and
his 
family a living, being fit for grazing purposes only. 
A great amount of leasing business is transacted at this agency each year.
The work connected with this takes up a great part of the time of the office
and 
the additional farmers. I have been using every effort to get all the Indians
to 
move upon their allotmeiits and to farm at least a few acres, and from appear-
ances at the present time I believe that a considerable number of them, in
addi- 
tion to those who already live upon their allotments, will move upon their
land 
and commence work next spring. 
Sales of inherited Indiant land.-Fifty-four tracts of inherited Indian land
were offered for sale during the year. Of this number 32 tracts were sold.
Bids on the other 22 were rejected for the following reasons: Bids on 15
tracts 
were below appraisement; on 2 tracts bids were rejected by the heirs; deed
to 1 
tract was disapproved; on 4 tracts no bids were received. Lands aggregating
4,425 acres were sold, and the amount received therefor was $51,546, being
an 
average of $11.65 per acre. 
There is on deposit to the credit of various heirs to inherited Indian land
over $50,000, which belongs to 74 different individuals, and which can be
drawn 
at the rate of $10 per month after checks have first been approved by this
office, 
and in sums in excess of this amount after authority has first been granted
by 
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Under this arrangement I will be able
to 
induce a number of Indians to move upon their allotments, since they can
not 
get the money to spend foolishly. A number of them have already asked to
be 
allowed to build good houses and to nmake other improvements upon their allot-
ments so they may live there. 
There are two villages, one north of the agency, known as the " Kansas
Sauk' 
village, and one south of the agency, located at the " dance grounds,"
which I 
am trying to break up. They are places where the Indians congregate and idle
away their time, and where a large number of thenA lose their money in 
gambling. These are also breeding places for vice. It is a hard matter to
break