The timber growing on the reserves in the agency has been fully protected, and but a very small amount of stock belonging to the Indians has been lost through straying or theft. I have issued to the Pottawatomie and Kickapoo Indians all the agricultural implements and machines they actually required; such articles are purchased from funds established for the purpose by treaty stipulations. In gathering the statistical information herewith forwarded, I have found it necessary to visit every house and farm occupied by the Indians, which has afforded me the fullest opportunity to observe their mode of living, the manner in which they save their produce, the condition of their farms and stock, and their views as to future industries and conduct. There can be no doubt whatever but that their advancement is of a substantial character, and that if they are not disturbed by sensations of any kind they will in a few years become entirely self-sustaining, as they are now law-abiding and peaceful members of society. Very respectfully, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. H. C. LINN, United States Indian Agent. MACKINAC AGENCY, Ypsilanti, Mich., September 1, 1879. SIR: In accordance with the requirements of the Indian Department, I submit herewith my fourth annual report of affairs in this agency. The statistics which accompany this will give a more accurate view of the industrial and social condition of the several tribes and bands of Indians within the jurisdiction of this agency than I can do in the brief space I propose to occupy in my remarks. The jurisdiction of the agency embraces the Ottawas and Chippewas, who are mostly settled along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, the islands in the same, the north shore of said lake, both sides of the straits of Mackinac and the island of the same name, from which the agency takes its title, this having been in olden times the great depot of the American Fur Company and general rendezvous of the powerful tribes inhabiting the entire Northwest. Of these there are, as near as I can estimate from the most authentic information, about 6,000. Next in point of numbers are the Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River, who are located the entire length of the Saginaw Bay at various points, and the Saginaw River and its tributaries. About 1,000 of this tribe are on the reservation in Isabella County. These number in all, as near as I can ascertain, about 2,500. Next come the Chippewas of Lake Superior, who are principally located on either side of Keweenaw Bay, although there are a number of settlements of this tribe, amounting in the aggregate to several hundred, at other points, so that I think there are fully 1,200 or 1,500 of these, including half-breeds and mixed-bloods, who acknowledge themselves as Chippewas. Then there are the Chippewas of Sault Ste. Marie, who are indeed parts of the tribes heretofore named, but have been recognized in treaties by the name indicated. These reside along the south shore of the eastern extremity of Lake Superior, and the entire length of the Sault Ste. Marie River, to Detour, on Lake Huron, numbering at least 800. To these are to be added the Pottawatomies, who number, including those known as the Pottawatomies of Huron, three or four hundred. The entire extent of territory over which the various tribes are scattered embraces over thirty counties in this State, and the extremes by any traveled route cannot be reached in a single journey of less than 600 miles. From the foregoing statement it will be seen that this agency has a greater number of Indians, who are distributed over a greater extent of territory, than any other agency in the United States, as the aggregate is fully 10,000. I have been thus particular in the detail of these facts, because great ignorance exists in regard to them. It seems to be an almost settled conviction of even our own citizens that the Indian race is nearly extinct within our borders, and therefore the lands set apart for their use and occupancy might as well be diverted to other purposes and uses, as they have been in the past few years, much to the injury of the Indians, both present and prospective. Even at Washington, because they hear neither of "wars nor rumors of wars," it seems to be a matter of settled fact that there are but very few Indians in the State, or that they need any further care, since the extremely doubtful practice of annual payments of a few dollars per capita has been discontinued. Nearly all these Indians are the occupants of comfortable houses; a number of them are frame and painted, while others are made very comfortable from hewn logs, nicely "chinked" and plastered; others, less pretentious, are made of unhewn logs with bark roofs. The historical "wigwam" is now seldom if ever seen as a permanent abode. Many more, no doubt, would have built better houses and made larger improvements, but the uncertainty as to whether they would be allowed to retain the lands taken as homesteads has deterred them from making that effort to secure comfortable homes which they would have done under other circumstances. The Indian is not naturally inclined to close application to the hard, persistent labor necessary to make "the wilderness blossom like the rose;" and when the prospect is that his toil will not avail much, he cannot be expected to put forth great energies. The last year has shown much increase in the cultivation of the soil, and production of crops of all kinds, as the tabular statement herewith appended will show. The schools, eight in number, have been as well attended as the situation of affairs would warrant, and I am pleased to assure you that the progress has generally met my expectations. There have been instances of children who have not missed a day from school during the term. Their progress has fully equalled that which would have been expected from white children under similar circumstances. I think if if any doubts have heretofore existed as to the practicability of educating the Indian, the results in these schools must dissipate them, and that this, more than any other expedient heretofore tried, will prove the medium of trausformation from the roving, half savage gypsy life to that of the staid and peaceful citizen. The effect of the school upon the rising generation is very marked, indeed. In several instances I have had applications from boys and their parents for an opportunity to have them placed in other schools at government expense, that they might acquire a higher and better education than the schools we have can afford them; an education which would fit them for the higher or professional pursuits. I know of three or four girls whose only education has been obtained at these Indian schools, that are now employed as teachers in the public schools in their vicinity, and are said to be giving good satisfaction as instructors in the primary or fundamental branches. I rejoice that in this agency the old system has passed away of calling large bodies of a scattered tribe of Indians together for a "payment" of a few dollars to each Indian, which was generally spent with the "licensed trader," who was the unfailing attendant of these "paymen's," which ended in a scene of drunken orgies, the Indian returning to his home as poor as he left it, and sadly demoralized. This system, so long practiced by our government, was most pernicious in its results, and so long as adhered to was one of the most serious obstacles to progress ever placed in the way of the Indian. A tithe of the money thus frittered away, if used as I apprehend it is now intended to be, to advance the best interests of the red man, would long ere this have produced astonishing results in enlightening these poor people, and teaching them a better way. The habit of subsisting solely by hunting and fishing is being abandoned, and very many of the young aud able-bodied men find employment as sailors, as lumbermen, and wood-choppers, and in the various mills, and in different capacities, sometimes as farmers, although the steady routine of a farmer's life does not seem as congenial to their natures as the more exciting and changing scenes attending other occupations. The custom of requiring the women to cultivate the land is being discontinued, and woman is assigned her true sphere in the household. Thus, one by one, the old habits and ideas are yielding to the forms, manners, and customs of civilization. But the old and long established maxim, that the vices and evil practices of their white neighbors are more easily learned and practiced than their virtues, is as true in the present as in the past. The fondness for intoxicating drinks seems to be their natural and universal propensity. Although strictly prohibited by Loth State and United States statutes, the dealers are so crafty and cunning in their sales, to cover their transactions, that it is almost impossible to detect and punish them. The Indian who is caught drunk can very rarely be induced to testify of whom he bought his liquor. The sanitary condition of the Indians has been generally very good, yet in some localities there has been a prevalence of some of the ordinary epidemic or contagious diseases, as measles and scarlet fever, and much suffering and several deaths for the want of prompt and proper medical treatment. At Iroquois Point in particular the measles made their first appearance, and among the adults it was very severe, several deaths occurring. There is no physician within several miles. The scarlet fever has also been quite prevalent in both the upper and lower peninsula, from which a number of deaths have occurred. If something could be done to provide medical assistance in such cases, no doubt much suffering might be averted and many lives saved. There are several subjects which might properly be mentioned, but, as they have been discussed in former reports, I will not repeat them here. In the matter of putting to rest the question in regard to the Indian homesteads in cases where white men have tried to dispossess them, I think no injustice would ensue from an order to restore to all Indians their lands upon which they had made improvements prior to the attempt to dispossess them. The most aggravated cases of this kind are not persons who are seeking homes, but are endeavoring to obtain possession for speculative purposes, as they cannot obtain them in any other way, while the Indian becomes discouraged and disheartened at this want of protection, for which he looks to the government, supposing it to be his right to expect it. The religious and moral condition of the several tribes seems to fully keep pace with their progress in civilization. Those neighborhoods where the Roman Catholic Church first planted the "true faith" more than two centuries ago do not seem to have made much progress further than to hold the people firmly to their belief, while most of their church edifices seem to be going to decay, and the priests, becoming imbued with the love of mammon, seem in some instances to be coming into possession of large quautities of the Indian's lands, as some complain, by driving sharp bargains. The Methodist Church is doing much in various neighborhoods in the way of building up their belief, and wherever they gain a foothold it seems to be to the decided advantage of the people, as shown in their lives and conduct. There have been this year, at various points within the agency, eight camp-meetings of this denomination, and all, so far as I have heard, were in every respect peaceable and orderly, and no doubt seasons of much improvement to those attending this mode of worship, being one very congenial to the natural impulses of the Indian character. A very large percentage of the adult Indians at this agency are members of some church. I think about one-third of these are Catholics, and a large proportion of the rest Methodist, with a few Presbyterians in the vicinity where this church formerly had missions, of which there were many at one time, all of which I think are abandoned now, the Methodist Episcopal Church alone endeavoring to keep up churches among them, which probably accounts for their greater success. The industrial condition is shown by the following items from the accompanying statistical report of the several tribes of the agency. Nearly all are carefully compiled from the most authentic information I could obtain after diligent inquiry in the various localities. Yet many items are only estimates, as the exact amounts or numbers are extremely difficult to obtain, even where parties are seen. Number of acres under cultivation in all parts of the agency. Acres under fence Bushels of wheat produced Bushels of corn produced.. Bushels of oats produced Bushels of potatoes produced Tons of hay cut... Cords of wood cut. Horses owned.... Cattle owned. Swine owned. Feet of lumber sawed. Pounds of maple sugar manufactured Value of berries picked. Value of furs sold.. Log houses occupied. Frame houses occupied 7,900 9, 200 The houses are undoubtedly far below the number actually occupied by them, as they are in many instances so small and inferior that they do not think them of any account. The foregoing statistics are not intended to include the product of their labor when employed to work for wages for others, which embraces by far the greatest portion of their time, and of course would show a large addition to their production. I think there is every reason to take courage and hope that by fair and honorable dealings with them their condition will improve year by year, and that ere long they will become fully identified as a part of our citizenship and body politic. I think we have no cause to be discouraged or relax our endeavors to sustain and encourage the schools, and use every inducement to lead them to improve their lands and become more thoroughly self-supporting. I have some fears that considerable suffering may attend the winter with the Chippewas of Lake Superior, as on the night of the 15th of August last a severe frost destroyed all their corn and potatoes, which, I am told, has not happened before for nearly twenty years. The loss of these crops is very severe upon them, particularly the potatoes, on which they largely depend for their winter sustenance. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. GEO. W. LEE, United States Indian Agent. |