24                 REPORTS OF AGENTS IN         DAKOTA. 
Schools. 
I am now hopeful in regard to the working of the Government boarding school
here. 
I have secured the services of experienced people for its conduct, and feel
sure that 
everything will be done to make success only a question of time. The school
build- 
ings are too small, and additional ones should be built, so as to accommodate
at least 
double the present number. Day schools in the different camps should also
be started, 
and I intend to make a strong effort during the present year in this direction.

The report of clerk in charge at this agency will be found herewith, and
I have to 
request that it may be made part of this report. 
CONCLUSION. 
In closing this report it gives me pleasure to be able to refer to the universal
good 
conduct of agency employs of consolidated agency. The labor to be performed
in all 
departments is both constant and often most trying. I often feel that more
is de- 
manded of them, from the necessity of the situation, than of any other men
employed 
by the Government, and yet no disposition to complain is shown, but all cheerfully

labor in their various positions. The influence of employ(s, for good or
bad, is very 
great. The Indians are brought in close contact with them, and are quick
to observe 
their language and general conduct.- I am sure that I can truthfully affirm
that, 
almost without an exception, the example of the employ6s at this agency has
been of 
the greatest service to Indians as far as good conduct, proper language,
and faithful 
service can tend to this end. 
The future of these Indians is full of promise, if kindly, firm, and honest
efforts can 
be made for them for a time, schools properly conducted, lands given in severalty,

and a sufficient police force to enforce orders and punish crime. I feel
confident that 
the people will steadily improve and eventually become fit for citizenship
and self- 
maintenance. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
JOHN G. GASMANN, 
United States Indian Agent. 
The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
LOWER BRULE' AGENCY, DAK., 
September 1, 1885. 
SIR: I have the honor to submit, in accordance with your instructions, the
follow- 
ing report of the condition of affairs at this agency. The Indians, during
the past 
year, have remained quiet, and have paid moue attention to farming than they
have 
done in any previous year. Early in the spring the additional farmer went
out into 
the Indian camps, aiding and encouraging them in their work in every possible
way, 
and the result was that they planted 62 acres in potatoes, 324 in corn, and
62 in veg- 
etables; besides this, 124 acres were seeded in wheat and 85 in oats, in
all, 657 acres, 
a gain of 157 acres over the year previous. The weather during the entire
season has 
been very unfavorable for our crops; what rain we had during the early part
of the 
season was not at all beneficial to vegetation, and the weather being very
cold dur- 
ing the night, and very hot during the day, the consequence was that the
crop of 
wheat and oats proved an entire failure. The corn, potatoes, and vegetables
were 
doing well until entirely destroyed by a terrible hail-storm on July 24,
1885. Our 
Indians feel very much discouraged, more especially hose who sowed small
grain, 
this being the second season that their crops have failed them. I fear they
will be 
very reluctant to try sowing small grain another year. During the year just
ended 
the Indians broke for themselves 116 acres of land, and 80 acres were broken
by 
agency teams for Indians who did not have any teams. 
Last spring I issued to these Indians 73 head of domestic cattle and 20 yokes
of 
oxen. Each person receiving any signed a pledge not to sell, trade, or kill
the animal 
iven him, and up to this time I have heard of only a few cases in which this
pledge 
as not been kept. 
The Indians have erected about twenty log-houses during the last year, the
only 
expense incurred by the Government being the doors and windows. Quite a number

of houses have been moved from the camps on White River to different points
on 
Medicine Creek, and in many cases I was compelled to furnish new doors and
windows 
for them. 
The industrial boarding-school was in session ten months during the year,
the av- 
erage attendance being 24 pupils. The Indiansi seem to be backward in sending
their 
children to school, and the attendance has not been as large as I wished
for. This is