Page 424

424     REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 
History.-This school was built in the spring of 1899, and opened its first
term of school the same spring. The school was built for the Chippewa 
living on Nett Lake Indian Reservation, 70 miles northwest of this point.
But 
on account of their great opposition to education, and as the school was
not 
built on their reservation, only eight or ten Indian pupils have been secured
from the Nett Lake band during the whole history of the school. The pupils
are secured from any points in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is a very difficult
matter to secure sufficient pupils to keep the school in active progress.
Enrollment.-During the first three years of the school its enrollment was
over 150; but since the degree of Indian blood entitling pupils to the privi-
leges of Indian schools was limited to one-eighth the enrollment of this
school 
has decreased. The enrollment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905, was
only 55. 
Health.-During this year the health of the pupils has been excellent. There
were no epidemics, no serious cases of illness, except one case of broncho-
pneumonia, that resulted in death of the pupil, and one case of incipient
tuber- 
culosis, that also resulted in death after the pupil was sent to his home.
The sanitary condition of the school is excellent. 
Class-room work.-The work in this department was excellent, although only
one teacher is allowed for this school, which made the programmes of both
mornings and afternoons very crowded. Also there were three changes of 
teachers during the year, which had a somewhat detrimental effect upon the
progress of the school. 
Industrial.-The girls in the kitchen, sewing room, and laundry made very
rapid progress, showing a degree of skill equal to that of many white children
of the same ages. 
As there are no trades taught at this school, the industrial work consisted
in doing the morning and evening chores. However, in the summer a large 
detail of the larger boys assist the industrial teacher in planting and caring
for the school garden, which consists of from 6 to 12 acres. Each year suffi-
cient vegetables are raised by the pupils to last them through the year.
There 
are 2 horses and 14 head of cows and calves to be cared for. 
Runaways.- -There were fewer runaways this year than during any previous
year. The pupils manifest a spirit of contentment and seem content to remain
at school, many preferring to remain even when their time has expired. 
Reading rooms.-There is a reading room maintained for the girls and one 
for the boys. They are supplied with plenty of reading matter by the em-
ployees giving their current magazines to the pupils after they have read
them. We are also greatly indebted to Rev. G. E. Renison, tbe Episcopal min-
ister at Tower, for donating two barrels of fine first-class magazines and
papers for the reading rooms. We also desire to thank a missionary society
at 
Duluth for a barrel of magazines. 
Religious instruction.-The Right Rev. Father Buh has held weekly services
for the Catholic children, and Revs. G. E. Renison and E. M. Smith, Episcopal
ministers at Tower, have held frequent services for the pupils and employees.
The employees furnished Sunday school literature, and a nice Sunday school
was conducted each Sunday morning for both pupils and employees. 
Employees.-There have been many changes of employees during the year. 
Only one employee is at the school now that was here this time last year.
With a few exceptions the employees have been very faithful, laboring hard
to build up their department. However, there are a few employees in the 
Indian service who seem to regard the service as a loafing place where the
least amount of labor done barely to secure their salary and retain their
posi- 
tions the better contented they are; and the sooner such employees are weeded
out of the service the better it will be for the Indian schools. 
LABAN C. SHERRY, 
Superintendent, Physician, and Special Disbursing Agent. 
REPORT OF SCHOOL AT FORT SHAW, MONT. 
FORT SHAW, MONT., September 15, 1905. 
The development in this State during the past year can not help but impress
upon one who is interested in the Indian, or connected with the Indian Service
in an official capacity, the importance of the Indian proposition to the
State