XXX   REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
specified. Part of their reserve is sandy and barren; part good farm- 
ing land, if cleared, (but this is so difficult to do as to be almost im-

possible to Indians); and part is covered with valuable pine timber, not

less than 300,000,000 feet, estimated. 
Since game has disappeared, these Indians have been making a pre- 
carious and scanty living by picking berries, gathering roots, wild rice,

&c., eked out by the small annual interest paid to them by the Govern-

ment. Many efforts have been made by this Department to encourage 
them in farming, but the obstacles in the way of making a living on their

reservation by this means and without other reliable pecuniary assist- 
ance are so great that they became discouraged, and have been gradu- 
ally retrograding for many years. In the mean time the immediate 
wants, especially those of their old, sick, and otherwise helpless mem- 
bers, were so pressing that many of them concluded to give up farming 
and turn their attention to other pursuits. At their earnest solicitation,

and believing it promised to open a way to better times, the Depart- 
ment, in the fall of 1881, authorized them to market dead and down 
timber, of which there was a great quantity going to waste on their resw

ervation. This, it was decided by competent authority, they had a right 
to do, and this action of the Department was subsequently indorsed by 
act of Congress approved March 31, 1882. 
Commencing with the winter of 1881-'82, they have continued log- 
ging up to and including the winter of 1884-'85, with varied fortune, 
of which below is given a short sketch, that its advantages and disad- 
vantages may be fully understood.. During the season of 1881-'82 
about 225 loggers marketed over 5,200,000 feet, which sold for some 
$47,000. This, after paying the tribe the stumpage, say $5,000, and all 
their own expenses for stock, tools, and subsistence for about ten weeks,

left them still a fair profit on their winter's work, and they were much

encouraged. The stumpage, by common consent of the tribe, was set 
aside to be used for the benefit of its old, sick, and otherwise helpless

members. 
During the following season, 1882-'83, they banked about 6,000,000 
feet, but on an effort being made by their agent to sell it for them in 
the spring of.1883, it was found that there was no market. This may 
have been a result of collusion amongst buyers or of an oversupply, 
but it was generally believed to be the former, and this should be borne

in mind as one of the causes which may lead to a complete failure in 
this business any season. The timber, consequently, could not be dis- 
posed of at any reasonable price when ready for sale, and the waters 
falling in the mean time, it could not be moved. 
Still hopeful from the results of the first season's work, the Menomo- 
nees, having borrowed some money and arranged to get further credit 
for supplies, &c., tried again, during the winter of 1883-'84, banking

about 4,000,000 feet, which made about 10,000,000 feet in all, for sale in

the spring of 1884. Sale of this was effimted, but the prices obtained