During the past year 1,500,012 acres have been filed upon by the homesteader, leaving 2,095,427 acres unoccupied. ALVA LAND DISTRICT. [W. H. Cofield, register. A. R. Museller, receiver.] This district, while not the largest, is composed of but one county, Woods. The vacant land is either broken, sandy, or mountainous. Total area Area reserved Area appropriated Area unappropriated.. Number of acres filed on during year ended June 30, 1904. Acres. 1, 732, 000 17, 093 1,676, 430 38,477 5, 439 EL RENO LAND DISTRICT. [James A. Sickles, register. Thomas R. Reid, receiver.] Area of district, 2,749,141 acres. During the year ending June 30, 1904, there were 51,418.17 acres filed on. Area of district, 4,211,630 square acres. This district is composed of nine thickly settled counties, in which there are but 90 acres of unoccupied land. KINGFISHER LAND DISTRICT. [E. E. Brownlee, register. J. V. Admire, receiver.] Area of district, 4,421,000 square acres. During the year ending June 30, 1904, there were 135,031.54 acres filed on. [H. D. McKnight, register. J. D. McGuire, receiver.] Area of district, 2,120,000 square acres. During the year ending June 30, 1904, there were 51,501.34 acres [John A. Oliphant, register. John A. Trotter, receiver.] Area of district, 2,133,575 square acres. Messrs. Healy and Wiggins, register and receiver, respectively, speak thus enthusiastically of this district: The class of settlers are above the average and full of hope and enterprise, just such people as it takes to build up a country, morally as well as financially. Only a few years ago a person could travel for many miles and the only life that could be seen were strings of cattle going to and from water. Now we see in their stead droves of nicely clad men, women, and children going to and from schools and churches, apparently satisfied with themselves and their surroundings. Climate. There is no doubt that we have one of the healthiest parts of the United States. In fact, the pure air almost brings the dead to life. INTERNAL REVENUE. [J. M. Simpson, collector.] There was collected in Oklahoma Territory for the year ending June 30, 1904, $74,397.63, as follows: From beer, at the rate of $1 per barrel_ From cigars, at the rate of $3 per 1,000__ From tobacco, at the rate of 6 cents per pound... From special taxes for sale of spirits, beer, and oleomargarine_ Total $12, 845.00 15,977.83 9,224.87 164.59 35, 227. 10 958. 24 74, 397. 63 INDIANS. The total number of Indians in the Territory as reported by the various agents and superintendents is now 11,945. In addition to the above are some 300 Apaches being held at Fort Sill as prisoners of war. PAWNEE AGENCY AND TRAINING SCHOOL. [George W. Nellis, superintendent and special disbursing agent.] Census. The census taken June 30, 1904, shows the Pawnee tribe to have decreased thirteen in number during the year. The population is as follows: Males Females Total Males 21 years of age and over. Children over 5 and under 18 years of age.. 303 330 633 154 180 206 Progress.-The Pawnees are progressing slowly. The fact that they are now receiving more than $125,000 annually from annuities, interest on trust funds, the lease of allotments and the sale of inherited lands, an average per capita of more than $200, thus taking away the necessity of labor as a means of support, would seem to be sufficient reason for no progress whatever. On the other hand, such a condition of circumstances permitting them, as it does, to pass their time in idleness and still have means to indulge in all vices, would seem to make retrogression certain and advancement impossible. I think, however, that it can be truthfully stated that some progress is being made. More Indians are living upon and cultivating their allotments than ever before, and a greater acreage has been farmed. Their corn crop has been conservatively estimated at over 45,000 bushels, their small grain at 1,500 bushels, and their yield of vegetables, including potatoes, at nearly 2,000 bushels. They have put up 1,350 tons of hay and have cut and sold 350 cords of wood. They own about 900 horses, about 250 head of cattle, 300 head of hogs, 500 sheep, and 1,750 domestic fowls. The farmers both state positively that farming among the Indians has been more general and more successful this year than at any time during their service among them. Liquor.-A large portion of these Indians are addicted to the use of intoxicants. The agency lies within the corporate limits of the city of Pawnee, which has nine licensed saloons, most of them doubtless through boot leggers furnishing liquor to the Indians. Two of these saloons are notorious, but while a number of their boot leggers have been arrested and convicted, it has been impossible so far to get hold of the real criminals-the saloon keepers who employ the boot leggers. There have been eight prosecutions during the year, in which convictions were had, seven receiving sentences of $100 fine and sixty days in jail, and one $100 fine and two years in the penitentiary. There are now twelve men awaiting trial at the Federal jail in Guthrie for furnishing liquor to the Indians. Education.--The Pawnee Training School is doing good work in both the academic and industrial departments. The employees are competent, industrious, and loyal to the school. The enrollment for the year was 139, the average attendance 120. The difference between the enrollment and the average attendance is accounted for by the fact that a number of the smaller boys were sent home after the burning of the boys' dormitory. Only those who could be accommodated in the hospital and kindergarten buildings were retained. Very little difficulty is experienced in keeping the Pawnee children in school. The people favor the school and offer little opposition either to the attendance of their children or to the maintenance of good discipline. The burning of the boys' dormitory, which occurred on January 15, 1904, and the origin of which still remains a mystery, was a great misfortune to the school. This was by far the best building on the plant, in fact the only building with anything like modern conveniences. The girls' building is an old dilapidated affair, poorly constructed. badly arranged, unsanitary, inadequate in size, and with no modern appliances for heat, light, or ventilation. The second story of this building, in which the sleeping rooms are located, is very badly planned, having very low ceilings, and being so cut up with small halls running in all directions as to make it very improbable that the children could be gotten out of it without loss of life if a fire should occur in the nighttime. The class rooms are in this building, and they are very poorly adapted for the purpose. One is entirely too small and the other as much too large, and both are miserably lighted. It is not to be wondered at that many of these children are afflicted with chronic sore eyes. The same may be said so far as light and general adaptability are concerned of the room used as the sewing room. The bath and lavatory facilities are also very poor and inadequate. Missionary work. The missionary work is being conducted among these Indians by Rev. A. G. Murray and his wife, who are under the direction of the presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this district. THE OSAGE INDIAN AGENCY. [Frank Frantz, United States Indian agent.] Until July 1, 1904, the agency embraced the Osage and Kaw (Kansa) Indian reservations, at which date the Kaw Reserve, with the subagency and boarding school pertaining thereto, was segregated and placed under a bonded superintendent. The Osage Reservation is located between the Arkansas River on the west and south, the State of Kansas on the north, and the ninety-sixth meridian of longitude on the east, and has a mean elevation of 816 feet above sea level. The land is about 60 per cent prairie and 40 per cent timbered. The prairie soil is about half sandstone and half limestone, and is fertile, raising an abundance of wild grass, and when placed under cultivation is productive of large and varied crops. The timber lands consist of river bottoms and broken hills, and has been called by another writer the best and worst land of the reservation. The entire reservation is well watered by innumerable springs and streams that traverse its acres, many of which assume considerable proportions and abound with all kinds of fish found in this locality. The reservation has an area of 1,470,055 acres. The slope of the land and general course of the streams are to the southeast. The Kaw (Kansa) Reservation comprises an area of 100,141 acres. About 20 per cent of this reserve lies along the Arkansas River and is as fine land as can be found in the West. The balance is nearly all limestone upland unsurpassed In fertility as wheat land. The reservation has been equally divided among the Kaw, or Kansa, Indians under an act of Congress dated July 1, 1902, each member having received about 406 acres, of which 160 acres is designated and considered as a homestead and is unalienable and nontaxable for a period of twenty-five years; the balance, about 246 acres, is nontaxable for a period of ten years, but can be alienated at any time under certain conditions and restrictions imposed by the Department. The tribe had a fund to their credit in the United States Treasury amounting to $135,000, yielding an annual income of $6,750. This fund, together with all moneys due the tribe at the time of allotment, has been individualized and will be gradually disbursed in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, each member receiving annually interest on whatever of his or her share remains in the Treasury. At the time of the allotment the approved roll contained 247 names, of which number only 218 were alive-89 full bloods and 129 mixed bloods. Osage population.-A census of the Osage tribe at the close of the fiscal year 1904 shows a population as follows: 946 949 1,895 454 492 946 531 418 949 1,895 594 1, 301 1,895 838 1.857 |