REPORT    OF AGENT     IN NEW    YORK.                159 
Taos made additional purchases of lands years ago. The Picuris and Taos have
sold 
lands to the whites years ago also. 
The only pueblo, the largest and the most isolated, and by far the one that
needs the 
aid of the Government more than any other just now, is Zufli. These Indians
have no 
patent to their lands, and these Indians are in more danger of losing their
best wheat- 
raising lands in the Nutria Springs. The lands included in executive orders
of March 
16, 1877, and May 1, 1883, (anid if executive order of March 3,1885, should
be revoked) 
this land, surveyed and patented to them, would put them on an equal footing
with 
the other pueblos of New Mexico, as this pueblo is one of the oldest in this
region. 
There have been several cases of drunkenness in the pueblos, but it is very
difficult 
to catch the offenders, as the Indians are fond of liquor and afraid to accuse
those who 
sell it to them. 
I Many thanks are due the Commissioner for the uniform courtesy and kindness
re- 
ceived during one month and five days that I have been in this agency, as
also to the 
efficient clerk and interpreter, who are honestand competent men to discharge
the 
duties assigned to them in this agency. 
Very respectfully, 
DOLORES ROMERO, 
Indian Agent. 
The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
NEW YORK AGENCY, Gowanda, August 29, 1885. 
SIR: In compliance with circular letter of July 1, 1885, I have the honor
to submit 
my second annual report. 
During the past year I have visited all the reservations in New York under
my 
charge, with the exception of the Saint Regis, on the Canada frontier. I
found the 
majority of the Indians on the various reservations engaged in agricultural
pursuits. 
They will raise good crops of grain and vegetables this season. On the Cattaraugus

Reservation there are several Indians who are engaged in dairying, milking
from six 
to ten cows, and carrying milk to cheese factories. There are others who
are success- 
ful market gardeners. The earliest vegetables grown in this neighborhood,
and 
brought into market this year, were grown on the Cattaraugus Reservation
by the 
Indiana. 
There are a small number of Indians engaged a part of the time in mechanical
labor, 
to wit: carpentering, blacksmithing, shoemaking, and mason work. 
The Indian schools in New York, being under State control and having but
two 
terms per year, their reports do not correspond with the United States quarterly
re- 
ports. I would recommend that but two reports per year be called for, i.
e., one at the 
close of each term, to enable the teachers to make full reports. 
The Thomas Orphan Asylum, on the Cattaraugus Reservation, is in a flourishing

condition, and is doing good work for the Indians. The asylum provides for
one hun 
dred orphan children from the different reservations in the State, giving
them prac- 
tical instruction, and fitting them for useful members of society. 
The pastors of the churches in the different reservations report a fair attendance

at Christian worship and Sabbath schools. The Rev. Mr. Tripp, resident missionary

of the Presbyterian board on the Cattaraugas Reservation, assisted by Joseph
Turkey, 
a Cayuga Indian, is doing earnest Christian labor on the Seneca reservations,
which 
I hope will be of lasting help to the Indians. 
There is a great deal of cider-drinking among the Indians on all the reservations.

Farmers employ Indians and pay them in part in hard cider, thereby depriving
their 
families of the avails of their labor. The cider traffic is demoralizing
and very in- 
jurious to the Indians. I would repeat my recommendation of last year, i.
e., that 
hard cider be placed by the United States statutes on the list of intoxicants
not tobe 
sold to Indians. 
During the past year I have attended three terms of the United States courts
at 
Buffalo, Auburn, and Albany in the prosecution of men who were procuring
whisky 
for the Indians, but the prospect of suppressing the sale of whisky to Indians
is not 
very encouraging, when, after conviction, at a probable expense of from $150
to $200, 
a United States court judge only imposes a penalty of $25 fine, or imprisonment
for 
twenty-five days. 
I would reiterate what I said in my report of last year. The financial affairs
of the 
Senecas, of Cattaraugus and Allegany reservations, are in a bankrupt condition.

The funds received from lands leased are squandered by the councillors in
useless 
legislation, and are largely used in bribery and corruption. The nation is
in debt 
thousands of dollars, their orders selling at 50 per cent. discount, and
there is no 
prospect of their paying their debts, unless there is some change in the
manner of 
collecting rents and accounting for moneys received. I would recommend that
the