Saw-mill. This mill furnishes the much-needed lumber for building purposes, and many more Indians are asking for houses and repairs than I can supply with the present agency force.

Buildings.-The agent's house is a fair building and in a good state of repair, also three new dwellings, built of sawed logs and chinked, but lack plastering, as do all the others, rendering them both unsightly and uncomfortable.

School. These Indians by proper encouragement in the way of a school building would sustain a large and thriving school. Both agent and superintendent labor under great difficulties on account of the dilapidated condition of the present house. Thanks to the efforts of Commissioner Morgan there is a good prospect of a new building in the near future.

Whisky drinking and gambling.—These kindred vices are all too prevalent here, and the former it appears will be as long as it continues to be sold in the neighboring towns, and especially on a small strip of public land in the very heart of the two reservations. My best efforts have been and shall be directed to its entire suppression. One or two judicious examples of imprisonment have had the effect of keeping those who will drink away from the agency.

Religious teaching.--I am sorry to note that heretofore this agency has not attracted the attention of any religious society, sufficient at least to take any active steps towards supplying that great want. I have by letter to The Interior of Chicago laid this subject before the Presbyterian Board of the Northwest, and shall more definitely soon.

Grazing on reserve.-I gave my early attention to the matter of grazing cattle on the reservation, and sent my farmer, Mr. B. B. Leamans, up into what is known as the "Strawberry Valley," with instructions to collect grazing tax and remove trespassers. I have reason to be satisfed with his work, having brought back $1,050, and made arrangements with others for further collections, which up to date have amounted to $2,175.

Court of Indian offenses.-There has never been any organized here, nor have I thought it advisable to attempt to organize one as yet, as I have serious doubts of the efficiency of such a court among these Indians. I do not think they are far enough advanced in white man's ways. None of the chiefs speak good English, and each wears blankets occasionally.

Police. The police force of this agency consists of captain and six privates and are very efficient in scout and general police duty. Ten o'clock each Monday morning is the hour for drill.

I have adopted a system of bell calls by which each employé knows and answers his call. I have found this system to work well.

OURAY AGENCY.

This agency is located on the west bank of the Green River, at the junction of the Du Chesne, and about 35 miles south of Uintah Agency. The reservation (known as the Uncompahgre) joins the Uintah on the south and east, and contains nearly 2,000,000 acres of land, and is fitly described by the term desert.

Buildings.-The agency buildings stand on a barren plateau or bench, and with the exception of the agent's house and an office, are all built stockade fashion, and are in a most dilapidated condition, chiefly built by the soldiers when this was known as Fort Thornburgh, in 1880. I would not recommend their rebuilding on the present site.

Indians on reserve.-The Indians of this reservation number 988-males, 513; females, 475; children of school age, males, 285; females, 135. These Indians, known as Uncompahgre Utes, have had but little to encourage them to industry and self-support on their deserty reserve, the few scanty farms cultivated on the Du Chesne being more difficult and expensive to irrigate than on the Utah Reserve, to which latter, indeed, they properly belong, there being but little if any tillable land on the Ouray Reservation. I have to say to the credit of these Indians, however, that they are not behind their brother Utes of Uintah in civilization, in dress, industry, and intelligence. Schools.-They very greatly desire school privileges at their homes. I have strong hopes however of getting them to lay aside their prejudices and send their children to Unitah school when we shall have our new school building erected.

Minerals. Since the veto by the President of the bill known as the Teller bill, in June last, there have been no developments in regard to what is known as the Aspheltom belt. The bill referred to, as is well known, was to set off to the public domain a strip 12 miles wide on the east line of the Uncompahgre Reservation. It passed both Houses and was vetoed by President Harrison for reasons which I consider well taken.

Police. The police force of this agency consists of a captain and six privates, and are prompt and efficient in their duties.

Freighting.These Indians are good freighters, and like the business. This is right;

whatever will bring the Indian in a fair business way in contact with the white man I like to encourage. In issuing wagons I have the Indians to promise to do all the freighting they can.

Cattle. The rounding up of the cattle began about June 12 and was completed on August 21, when it was found that the herd, all told, numbered 1,200 head.

COLVILLE INDIAN AGENCY, WASH., August 11, 1890.

SIR: In compliance with the instructions of the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs, June 1, 1890, I have the honor to submit my second annual report pertaining to this agency for the past year.

There are nine different tribes of Indians residing on the Colville, Spokane, and Cœur d'Alêne Reservations, and under my charge, namely, Coeur d'Alêne, Lower Spokanes, Lakes, Colvilles, Okonagans, Moses's band of Columbias, Joseph's band of Nez Percés, San Puells, and Nespilems. The Upper band of Spokanes, living in and around the city of Spokane Falls, and the Calispels, living in the Calispel Valley, while they are not on any reservation, they are also under my care. They number about 350 men, women, and children. The following tabulated list gives the number by tribes:

The Coeur d'Alêne reservation consists of 598,500 acres of land. All the Indians of this reservation are engaged in farming and stock-raising, and nearly all of them have large and well-tilled farms. The prospects for a good crop this season are far better than last year owing to the late rains and the season being more mild.

There was a commission, consisting of Messrs. Simpson, Shupe, and Humphrey, appointed to treat with these Indians last summer for a portion of their reservation consisting principally of timber-land, and that portion of the reservation which it is supposed contains large mineral deposits. The Indians desired to know, before they would entertain a proposition to treat with the commission, when they were to be paid the amount due them from the Washington and Idaho Railroad Company for the right of way through their reservation. I informed them that I had just received instructions from the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs relative to the payment of the money, and as soon as the money was received it would be paid to them; and on August 19, 1889, accompanied by Mr. A. M. Anderson, the agency clerk, we proceeded to the Coeur d'Alêne

reservation. made a proper enrollment of the tribe, and on August 23, 1889, they were paid the sum of $6,362.32, the amount due them. They were much pleased on receiving their money and went to work with the commission well satisfied. It was the intention

of the commission in treating with the Indians to include as little farming land in the treaty as possible, and in this they were successful, for out of the 240,000 acres treated for but a small area of farming land was included. The treaty was made to the satisfaction of the Indians, and they are now anxiously awaiting the ratification of the same by Congress.

The Coeur d'Alêne Indians are further advanced in civilization and are in far better shape financially than any other tribe over which I have jurisdiction. There is but a small amount of whisky used by these Indians, and their mode of punishment is very severe. When one of their number is discovered under the influence of whisky, chief Saltise orders him tied and he is given a number of lashes across his back with a whip or blacksnake. The Government furnishes them a farmer and a physician.

Since the late treaty with these Indians for the cession of a portion of their reservation a number of white trespassers concluded that they had a right to go on the reservation and stake off claims or prospect for mineral, and in consequence thereof the farmer has been kept exceedingly busy of late removing them therefrom. It would not surprise me when that part of the reservation is throw open to settlement to see another Oklahoma rush, on a smaller scale however.

The Coeur d'Alêne Reservation is located about 100 miles from the agency at the nearest point, but to where the farmer and physician reside it is about 150 miles.

The Lower Spokane tribe of Indians are getting along fairly well in the absence of a farmer to visit and instruct them how to work. The most that I can do is to instruct and encourage them by all the means at my command while making my visits to their settlements or when they visit the agency. The reservation upon which they reside contains 153,600 acres, and there is but a small portion of this land which is agricultural land. It is principally timber land, and many acres covered with great bluffs of rocks. These Indians are poor in wealth and will never become self-supporting if they depend on farming for a living. I am endeavoring to get them to devote more time to stockraising, principally cattle, as the reservation is better adapted to stock-raising than agricultural products.

These Indians should, by all means, have a boarding-school erected for them. There would be no trouble in regard to filling the school. It is to be hoped that the much desired boarding-school which these Indians are ever talking about will soon materialize and not end in talk.

These Indians live near the agency and could, if they had a sufficient amount of farming land, supply forage for the Government stock, but as it is it keeps them busy in supplying a sufficient amount for their own stock.

The tribe of Lake Indians are located from 75 to 115 miles from the agency. The majority of these Indians have good farms and they will raise an abundance of grain this season. They are grasping the white man's idea very rapidly and, but for the intemperance of a few, are getting along first class.

The Colville tribe reside from 40 to 60 miles from the agency; they have good farms lying along the Columbia River bottom; they raise large crops of small grain and have excellent gardens. These Indians should be furnished with a sufficient amount of fruit trees, and it would be but a short time until they would raise an abundance of fruit for their own consumption and have a large surplus for sale, as the land upon which they live is well adapted to fruit-growing. The Colville Indians are making rapid strides towards civilization.

The Okanagan tribe of Indians devote more time to stock-raising than to farming and many of them have large bands of horses and cattle. These Indians are living from 100 to 150 miles from the agency.

Through a mistake my report of last year was made to read the Government had built a mill and school-house for the use of these Indians during the last year, when in reality the school building and mill were erected in the year 1886. I have talked with a number of these Indians relative to the opening of the Tovaskit boarding school, and nearly all of them appear to be well pleased. I do not anticipate any serious opposition by the Indians in the opening of the school.

Moses' band of Columbias are located in Nespilem Valley. These Indians do considerable farming and they raise a great deal of stock, principally horses. Moses keeps very good order among his Indians. The only fault I have to find with Moses is that he is particularly fond of whisky, and when off the reservation has a happy faculty of getting whisky in a town or village or wherever it is for sale.

Joseph's band of Nez Percés are more or less unsettled and of a restless character; they appear to be greatly dissatisfied at times with their location. In my opinion the causes of their dissatisfaction are just. Owing to many of their friends and relatives living on the Nez Percé reservation in the State of Idaho, an effort should be made to remove them from their present location at Nespilem to the Nez Percé Agency,

Idaho, where they claim land would be allotted to them, as is being done with their friends and relatives of that reservation. I have taken particular notice of the fact that when they receive letters from their relatives living on the Nez Percé reservation or a visit from their friends from that reservation they appear to have the "blues" and at once express a strong desire to return to their old home. I am thoroughly satisfied they will never be content to remain on this reservation, no matter how well they may be treated by the Government. They do not appear to think they should put forth an effort and thereby became self-supporting and independent of the help of the Government. My idea is, the more the Government will give them the more they will expect. They claim, if they were permitted to go on the Nez Percé reservation, their old home, and receive their allotments, they would be willing to try to do something.

The San Puell tribe of Indians are the poorest tribe of Indians under my charge residing on the reservation. They will not accept any help from the Government whatever. They do but very little farming and have but few implements to do it with. Since Sko-las-kin, their chief, was sent out of the country last fall they have been very peaceably inclined, but they still cling to some of their ancient customs, and it is a most difficult matter to convince them that they are wrong. I did everything possible to get their census, but they would not listen to anything of the kind; they number about 300. They catch a great number of salmon from their fishery located on the San Puell River and near where it flows in the Columbia River, which is a very great means of support to them.

The Upper band of Spokane Indians have been anxiously awaiting the ratification by Congress of the agreement made between them and the commission on behalf of the Government, March 26, 1887. These Indians are leading lives of shame and degradation in and around the city of Spokane Falls; but could any better results be expected of Indians treated as they have been? They were promised, when the commission were making the treaty, that they would be placed on the Cœur d' Alêne Reservation, and that the sum of $95,000 would be expended in civilizing and educating them and establishing comfortable homes for their use. I am satisfied if a like number of white people had been treated as these Indians have been that many of them would take to excessive drinking. Three years and a half is a long time to live on promises. Something should be done for these unfortunate Indians and the sooner the better. I have been importuned on many occasions by these Indians to be informed when Washington would tell them to go on the Cœur d'Alêne Reservation. They are very anxions to settle down and get in shape, so they will not be ordered here and there by the whites who own the land upon which they have their tepees.

The Calispel Indians are farming in a small way in the Calispel Valley, but the country is becoming settled very rapidly by the white people, and the Indians will soon be compelled to move on. They are not as degraded a class of Indians as the Upper Spokanes, owing to the fact that they are farther from civilization and are not surrounded by the bad element, by which the Upper Spokanes are. They ought by all means to be placed on a reservation where they could be cared for properly.

MISSIONARY WORK.

The Presbyterian Board of Home Missions have two churches on the Spokane Reservation under the auspices of Rev. A. B. Lawyer and Silas Whitman, two Indian ministers of the Nez Percé Reservation, Idaho. They are both hard workers and have certainly done much good for these Indians; both churches are well attended every Sunday.

The majority of the Coeur d' Alêne tribe, also Colvilles, Lakes, and Okonagans are members of the Catholic faith and the fathers visit them frequently and hold religious services for their benefit.

EDUCATION.

There are four boarding-schools in operation under the Colville Agency under contract with the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions. Two of these schools are located at De Smet Mission on the Cœur d'Alêne reservation and two at the Colville Mission. These schools have been well attended during the past year, and the fathers and sisters have done everything in their power for the elevation of the Indian children under their supervision.

The day school at Nespilem was operated from April 15, 1890, until June 30, 1890, with Miss Sabina Page as teacher. The Indians are located from 1 to 8 miles from the school building, and it is almost an impossibility to get Indian children poorly clad to walk that distance and remain in and around the school-room all day with nothing to eat. I am fully convinced that a day school will not be a success without changing it to a partial boarding-school. Chief Moses says when the treaty was made with the Columbias and Colvilles, July 7, 1883, the honorable Secretary of the Interior promised him and his people a boarding-school, and not a day school. I vis

ited the school during the month of June, and Moses had much to say regarding the inconveniences of the day school. I told him if he would put forth a strong effort and send his children to the day school, thereby showing the Department that they were willing and anxious for the education of their children, I thought the Department would see the necessity of having a boarding-school erected for them.

Chief Moses and some of his people moved near the school building and put up their tepees, in order to be handy to the school; but this would soon work a hardship on those Indians, as they would be compelled to neglect their work on their places for the purpose of allowing their children the privilege of attending the day school. Many of the Indians left the reservation during the month of May for the purpose of digging camas. Some of them were willing to leave their children during their absence, but no provision could be made for the proper care of them, as the dayschool building is not in shape to offer any accommodation whatever. So the children were taken to the camas fields. The highest number attending school at any one time was 9. If a boarding-school building was erected for these people I am satisfied there would be no trouble in getting the children to attend school. Mr. Campbell, the farmer at Nespilem, informs me that about 90 children of school age reside on that part of the reservation.

The Tonasket boarding school will be furnished and in operation, I trust, by October 1, 1890.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Twelve new buildings were erected at Nespilem during the year, viz: Three cottages, 24 by 24, 12 feet high, with four rooms, and kitchen attached 12 by 16, 9 feet high, at a cost of $590 each. These buildings are painted inside and outside, lined and papered, and are very convenient and comfortable houses in every respect. One warehouse has also been erected, 30 by 50 feet, at a cost of $301, for the storage of annuity goods for Joseph's band of Nez Percés and as a repository for the drugs to be used for the benefit of the Indians at that point. Eight Indian houses were erected for members of Joseph's band at a cost of $62.20 per house. The three cottages are for the occupancy of the sawyer and miller, farmer, aud physician.

On taking charge of this agency a litle over a year ago I found the agency buildings in very poor shape, having never been underpinned or painted. I inquired of my predecessor why this state of affairs existed and he informed me that the Department would not allow a sufficient amount to be expended to complete the buildings. This I found in part to be a mistaken idea, for I was granted authority to have the buildings properly underpinned before winter came on, and in accordance with the authority I had all of the work done and the buildings walled up with rock and cement. This was the first case I ever saw where a foundation to a building was built after the building was erected. The buildings have not as yet been painted, but I have great hopes that authority will be granted soon and the work completed as soon as possible. The painting of these buildings will add very materially to the looks of this agency.

By the aid of agency employés over one hundred shade trees have been planted in the agency yard and a magnificent garden is growing, all of which has taken the place of the very dense mass of weeds which had been allowed to grow unmolested ever since the establishment of the agency until last spring, when a strong effort was made to rid the yard of the weeds and plant something which would tend to beautify the agency and be of instruction to the Indians.

I was told by the outgoing agent that it would be impossible to raise anything here, and how he knew, when he had never put forth an effort to find out from practical experience, is more than I can tell. He would certainly have cause to change his mind were he to visit the agency at this time.

ALLOTMENTS.

No allotments have as yet been made on this reservation, but the Indians are fencing a larger acreage each year. Some of the Indians have much larger places than others, but this will be settled when they take their land in severalty. I have talked with a number of the Indians regarding the taking of land in severalty. Some few are favorable to it, while the majority do not appear to be disposed to avail themselves of its privileges.

SQUAW MEN.

White men who come on the reservation to live and who have Indian women for wives are, as a rule, of the lower class. Nine out of every ten are addicted to whiskydrinking or else they have some other pernicious habit and their presence on the reservation does the Indians harm instead of good. I would recommend that steps be taken by the Department prohibiting any more white men, or squaw men, as they are commonly known, to settle on this reservation and those who are on the reservation should be supplanted at once.