Page 517

REPORTS OF AGENTS IN V 
use or sold to their n ighbors. The wild berries 
and a ready market is prov Ided in the neighborir 
The Indians are not successful in the care of don 
require both forage and protection to enable them 
of this latitude, and the Indian is too indolent to 
for their comfort. The following statement show 
VISCONSIN. 
are found in great abundance 
rg cities and towns. 
aestic animals. These animals 
to survive the severe winters 
make the necessary provision 
7s the number of domestic ani- 
517 
7 
Ii 
0 
mals ownea by the Indians of this agency: 
Horses    -----------------------------------------------214 
Cattle    ------------------------------------------------594 
Hogs     -------------------------------------------------113 
Fowls        --------------------------------------------2840 
The progress made by the Indians in the field of agriculture during the past
year is very encouraging both to the Indians and to the Government farmers.
The Indians have manifested an unusual interest in the care and cultivation
of 
their little fields. All the ground that could be prepared by the teams has
been 
cultivated. Where the men are shiftless the women can always be relied on
to 
cultivate and harvest the crop. Farming has become a matter of necessity.
From the reserves in the State of Wisconsin the game has disappeared and
the 
Indian finds himself confronted with the alternative either to follow some
civi- 
lized occupation or to suffer the pangs of hunger. 
The conditions surrounding the reserves in Minnesota are quite different.
In 
the vast wilderness extending from the shore of Lake Superior to the Canadian
boundary, the moose, caribou, and black bear are still found. The lakes and
rivers of that region are still supplied with fish. On account of the abundance
of fish and game the Indians of that region, especially the Boise Fortes,
pay but 
little attention to the cultivation of the soil. While they can eke out a
meager 
subsistence by hunting and fishing, their progress in civilization will be
slow. 
Sanitary condition.-During the past year the Indians have not suffered from
the 
attack of any epidemic disease. A majority of the deaths occurring among
them 
are due to pulmonary consumption. 
The Government furnishes no medical attendance for the reserves of this 
agency except Lac Courte d'Oreilles. Dr. J. P. Cox, the agency physician,
re- 
sides on that reservation and devotes his time to the improvement of the
sani- 
tary condition of tht-n6juity. The reserves are so widely scattered that
it 
is not practicable for the doctany attention to the medical needs of 
th e   o th e r  reserv e s.  .... ..f                 t  s a n y  u 
Allotments.-No allotments have been made on th '0 serves of this agency dur-
ing the last five years. Arrangements have h    '            v allot lands
to the 
Chippewas of Minnesota, and allotments to these Indians wiv be co 
pleted within the next two years. 
The Wisconsin Chippewas are all anxious for their allotments, and they are
greatly disappointed at the failure of the Government to permit them to take
their lands in severalty either under the treaty of 1854, or under the provisions
of the general allotment act. 
By direction of the Indian Office schedules of allotment for a n mber of
Indi- 
ans on Bad River and Lac d u Flambeau were sent to the Department in October
of 1890. These selections have not yet been approved by the Department. 
These people claim that their selections hitherto made under the treaty of
1854 
have invariably been approved by the Department, and they are at a loss to
un- 
derstand why the policy of the Government has been changed. These people
are all willing and eager to take their lands in severalty. 
The condition of these Indians would be improved by the general allotment
of their lands and a final disposition of any surplus lands that might remain
after the allotments are completed. The sooner the tribal estate is settled
the 
sooner the influence of the so-called chiefs will be dissipated, the tribe
disbanded, 
and each individual be permitted to work out his own temporal salvation.
The 
presence of tribal property and tribal interests seem to perpetuate the influence
of the chiefs and medicine men, and to bring the individuals under their
contol 
The final disposition of the tribal property will emancipate the individual
and 
leave him free to pursue his chosen industry without interference on the
part 
of the self-styled chiefs. 
I The following table indicates the number of allotments made on each of
the 
reserves of this agency to date, the number of allottees, male and female,
and 
the number of acres allotted: