Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1871.djvu/13

Rh from the remaining part of their lauds by a line running along the section lines from north to south.

The Ottoes and Missourias, whose reservation contains 160,000 acres, have expressed a desire to sell about 80,000 acres, being the western half of the reservation, and lying wholly west of the Big Blue River, partly in Nebraska and partly in Kansas.

The Pawnees whose reservation contains 288,000 acres, would sell about 50,000 acres but the location of the part to be disposed of has not yet been determined.

I expect to submit a special report concerning these lands, together with a bill providing for a sale of such portions of said reservations as may be designated. Mr. Janhey recommends that there be established a sufficient number of day-schools for all the children between the ages of 6 and 12 years, and a manual-labor boarding-school at such reservation, in which I cordially concur.

In accordance with my request, Hon. Felix R. Brunot, President of the Board of Indian Commissioners, was present at the council of the Indian tribes occupying the Umatilla reservation in Oregon. That council was for the purpose of ascertaining the feelings and desires those tribes relative to removing from said reservation upon the payment to them of certain specified annuities. The result of the council was the refusal of the Indians to leave their reservations.

Mr. Brunot's report fully details the proceedings of the council, and the proposions of the special commissioners, which the Indians declined to accept, and will be found with the report of the Office of Indian Affairs.

PUBLIC LANDS. From the report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, it appears that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, the transactions of that branch of the public service were as follows:

This statement shows an increased disposal, a compared with the preceding year, of 2,511,379.03 acres. The cash receipts during the past fiscal year, under various heads, including fees to local officers, &c., amount to $2,929,284 70.