seven loads $8.90, and about four loads $8.50. The first two bunches averaged 1,350 pounds and the latter 1,327 pounds.

The Tongue River Indian Reservation is classed as the best cattle range in the Northwest. The reservation is rough, but much of it is a natural meadow, having numerous springs and small streams.

The fine grass, springs which never go dry or freeze up in winter, and the excellent natural protection from storms make this reservation ideal for stock raising.

There are 1,456 Northern Cheyenne Indians living on the reservation at this time. The nearest railroad station is 55 miles from the agency.

The needy condition of the Indians of this section of the country, where the natural resources appear to be so good, caused Hon. Cato Sells, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to visit the reservation in the fall of 1914. Mr. Sells made a complete personal inspection of every part of the reservation. The commissioner is not only deeply versed in law and the banking business but is also thoroughly informed upon stock-raising and farming activities.

In the narrow fertile valley and on some choice upland hay, winter wheat, oats, alfalfa, and certain garden vegetables produce excellent results. Under the conditions which Mr. Sells found on the reservation wheat could not be ground into flour nor the surplus farm products raised by the Indians marketed for the reason that many of the Indians lived on the reservation 60 or 70 miles from the nearest railroad.

As a result of Mr. Sells's visit to the Tongue River Reservation the industrial program was completely changed. He immediately authorized the erection of an excellent flour mill, which will enable the Indians to have their wheat ground into flour, from which they will secure their bread. In order to provide a market for their surplus hay and other surplus farm products which the Indians could not sell on account of being so far from a railroad these products were purchased and fed to a large number of weak cattle and 280 head of steers. The surplus was fed to these cattle at a large profit. The result of the experiment in feeding the steers on hay throughout the winter can best be determined by the following comparisons of the prices of steers fed, with the class, age, and grade of steers permitted to run on the range without feed: Average price received for steers fed hay during winter, $126; average price received for steers of the same age and grade that were not fed hay during winter, $108.

While the result of the cattle feeding has been gratifying and profitable to the Indian Department and the Indians, the providing of a market for the surplus farm products has resulted in much more good. The commissioner's plan has fully demonstrated that stock raising and agricultural pursuits go hand in hand.

The providing of a market for the Indians' surplus farm products and the erection of a flour mill have within the past six months induced the Indians to more than double their farm activities.

Encouraged by the market provided for the sale of their hay, the Indians have recently purchased 40 new mowing machines and 20 hayrakes and are putting forth unusual efforts to harvest a large hay crop.

It is believed by those who are acquainted with the Northern Cheyenne Indians and their country that if the present plan of increasing and feeding their stock is continued, and the Government continues to aid them in providing a market for their surplus farm products, their hard times are past, and the tribe will soon be rapidly traveling the road to civilization, self-support, and prosperity. The results speak for themselves.

8162°-INT 1915-VOL 2- -4

OSAGE.

Comparatively few of the Osage Indians live on their allotments or farm the land themselves, many residing in the villages set aside by act of Congress for their use. To remedy this condition three Government farmers have been assigned to this agency, and every effort possible is being made to get the Indians to live on their allotments. It is estimated that about 190,000 acres of agricultural land and 600,000 acres of grazing land, allotted to the Osage Indians, are leased, and it has been customary in the past for the allottees to lease their land for farming and grazing purposes without submitting the lease for approval. In some instances lease brokers have built up an extensive business in leasing allotted lands, without departmental approval; this practice will be discontinued, and persons now holding land without an approved lease are requested to submit their leases for approval at once or they will be subject to removal as trespassers. The total area leased for oil and gas purposes aggregates 714,673 acres. The total receipts from oil and gas during the year aggregated $560,155.62. The total amount of oil run during that period aggregated 7,476,209 barrels. We are making a strenuous effort to better conditions generally at Osage.

NEW YORK INDIANS.

During the latter part of the calendar year 1914 a specific investigation was made into the present condition of these Indians and the status of their title to the lands now occupied by them, with the view of evolving some suitable and effective plan for straightening out the tangled affairs of these people. The report of the investigating officer, an interesting and instructive paper, was submitted under date of December 26, 1914. His report, with other data relating to the Seneca and other Indians of the Five Nations of New York, was printed as House Document 1590, Sixty-third Congress, third session.

ROCKY BOY'S BAND OF CHIPPEWA.

For several years this band of Indians has presented a difficult problem to the Indian Office. A few of them were allotted on the most undesirable part of the Blackfeet Reservation, which they refused to accept, and have been in the habit of wandering about from place to place over the country thereabouts, sometimes in search of work, but generally subsisting upon charity.

Several months ago permission was granted for these Indians to locate temporarily upon the southern part of the Fort Assiniboine Reserve and to use the land for gardens and pasture for their stock. Implements have been purchased and a farmer appointed to assist

them, and from present indications they will produce a fair supply of vegetables.

Congress should make provision for land on which these Indians may establish permanent homes and give them an opportunity to become self-supporting.

GAMBLING.

Gambling is one of the most pernicious evils in which the Indians indulge. On some reservations the Indians have been persuaded to give up this vicious practice, and on others they have been required to do so. Substantial progress in the elimination of this practice is being made throughout the entire Indian country.

MARITAL RELATIONS.

The legislature of Arizona has passed an act empowering all bonded superintendents or agents of Indian schools or agencies to issue marriage licenses, under the direction of the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the school or agency is located, and to perform marriage ceremonies. A similar law in all States in which there are Indian reservations would help materially to break up the loose marital customs of many tribes and improve the moral standard of individuals, as well as be of assistance in the determination of heirs and the settlement of estates. It is proper to say in this connection that there is a general tendency to comply with the statutory marriage requirements in the States where Indians live, and the increase of lawful marriages is apparent. Unquestionably the heirship work now being carried on has been a material factor in impressing upon the minds of Indians the importance of lawful marriages and the certain relationship of parents and children.

DANCES.

A distinction is recognized between the barbarous dances of the Indian's wild days and those indulged in at the present time. The influence of the surrounding whites, of returned students, and a more enlightened spirit among the younger Indians has strongly tended to break up the ancient rites with their brutality and degrading features.

TWO CRIMINAL CASES OF IMPORTANCE.

Two cases of a criminal nature which were exploited largely in the public press were tried during the year.

John Ashley, a white man, murdered De Soto Tiger, a Seminole Indian, to obtain valuable otter hides. The murderer successfully eluded the State officers, but on April 27, 1914, he was captured by

Thomas E. Brents, a special officer of our service, whom I had detailed to assist in the search. On his first trial the jury disagreed. While again being tried in November, 1914, Ashley escaped from the custody of the deputy sheriff. He was retaken by the same special officer February 24, 1915, and on April 4 was found guilty of murder and sentenced to be hanged by a judge presiding over the State district court at Miami, Fla. In this trial, for the first time in the history of the Florida Seminoles a member of that tribe appeared as a witness in the white man's court. The Seminole Indians are now said to have more confidence in the friendship of the Government than ever before.

The other case was that of Juan Chacon, a Mexican herdsman, who on March 30, 1914, was found murdered on the Ute Mountain Reservation in Colorado. Everett Hatch, or Tse-ne-gat, was arrested on a United States warrant charged with the commission of the crime. Being supported by his father, Old Polk, and a number of other Indians, he declined to surrender and fled to Utah. Much excitement prevailed in that section of the country when, after arming themselves, they fled into a canyon and defied the authorities. During the conflict several white men and Indians were killed. Seeking to bring about a peaceful surrender, Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, United States Army, was requested to act as an intermediary. Gen. Scott arrived at Bluff, Colo., on March 11, and 10 days later Tse-ne-gat and his associates surrendered. The officers of the Federal court released all of the Indians except Tse-ne-gat, who was put upon trial for murder and acquitted.

HISTORICAL WORK.

The historical societies of Illinois and Wisconsin have in the past half year taken photostatic copies of over 14,000 papers from our old files, embracing the period from 1797 to 1841, inclusive. Later periods will be taken up during the winter. The valuable old files have also been consulted by historic investigators from the Central and South West States and from North Carolina and Louisiana.

UTE JUDGMENT FUND.

Systematic plans were formulated during the year for the expenditure of the interest and a part of the principal of the $3,000,000 "Ute judgment fund," as appropriated each year by Congress, for the benefit of the Indians under the three Ute jurisdictions, particularly at Uintah and Ouray, where the situation with respect to the water rights demanded immediate attention. This situation was brought about by the fact that the State laws have been made applicable to the operation of the irrigation project on that reserva