pediment should be removed. To this end, two measures I regard as of paramount importance-the appointment of a surveyor-general for the Territory of Washington, and the extension of the surveys over the whole territory wherever, by the settlement of portions of it, it is required; and the extinguishment of the Indian title. In a communication of this date, in reply to the call of the depart ment, referring to me Major Alvord's communication, and asking my views in relation to its several suggestions, I have expressed the opinion that the act for the donation of land to actual settlers had reference to the east as well as the west side of the Cascade mountains, although no appropriations were made for their survey on the east side, and I shall, in consequence, unless otherwise instructed, direct my exertions to establishing friendly relations between the white settlers and the Indians. There is a population of about six thousand Indians, in about twelve different tribes, east of the Cascade. The reservations which they will require in any treaty arrangements must necessarily be large, on account of their horses and cattle, already large, and, with some tribes, increasing yearly. The amount that will be required to negotiate treaties with these Indians will not be less than $15,000. In the meantime, I shall receive many valuable suggestions from Lieutenant Mullan, now in the St. Mary's valley. It is my intention soon to send Lieutenant Arnold into the Nez Perces country, to continue our geographical and railroad explorations, and shall direct him to collect information in relation to that interesting tribe, and the arrangements as to reservations which can finally be made with them. I propose next year to visit all these tribes, examine the country in reference to reservations, and thus be ready to act promptly in view of receiving the necessary authority and appropriations from Congress. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Hon. GEO. W. MANYPENNY, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, &c. Governor and Superintendent. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, February 17, 1854. SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit to you, for the information of your committee, a copy of a report made on the 16th instant from this office to the Secretary of the Interior, respecting provision by act of Congress for the appointment of additional agents for certain Indian tribes. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. W. K. SEBASTIAN, GEO. W. MANYPENNY, Com'r. Chairman Com. Indian Affairs, United States Senate. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, February 16, 1854. SIR: Referring to my late annual report, (pages 12 and 13,) and to documents Nos. 43 and 44 accompanying it, and in view of the probability of the establishment of more intimate treaty relations with the wild tribes of Indians on the head waters of the Arkansas, Platte, and Missouri rivers, from the boundaries of Utah and New Mexico on the south, to the British possessions on the north, and in view of the importance of more perfectly preserving peace and friendly intercourse between such tribes and the citizens of the United States, and between the several tribes themselves, I have the honor now to suggest that you recommend to Congress, through the chairmen of the Committees on Indian Affairs in the Senate and House of Representatives, that provision be made by law for the appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, of two additional agents for the Indians east of the Rocky mountains. Referring to my report of the 14th instant, relative to Indians and Indian affairs in New Mexico, I have also to suggest, in like manner, you recommend that provision be made for the appointment of one additional agent for the Indians in the Territory of New Mexico, and of any number deemed expedient, not exceeding three, for the Indian tribes in Washington Territory. I have the honor also herewith to transmit, for your information, a copy of a letter from Isaac I. Stevens, Governor of the Territory last named, dated the 29th December last, in which he submits a plan for the organization of the Indian service therein, which I recommend be approved by you. In view of the organization as proposed by Governor Stevens, I have estimated for the expenses of the Indian service in Washington Territory, during the last half of the fiscal year ending the 30th June next, and I shall base my estimates for the same objects for the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1855, on the same plan of organization, unless it is disapproved by you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. R. MCCLELLAND, Secretary of the Interior. GEO. W. MANYPENNY, Com'r. OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Olympia, Washington Territory, December 29, 1853. SIR: I have, in a communication of this date, estimated for the ordinary and incidental expenses of the Indian Department for this Territory for the remaining half of the present and the next fiscal year, and have recommended an appropriation of $15,000 west of the Cascade mountains, and the same amount east of these mountains, for extinguishing the Indian title. I have now the honor to propose, and urgently to recommend, that the Territory be organized into three agencies and two sub-agencies. The agency and sub-agency of Puget's Sound, extending from the Cascades to the Pacific, and from the Columbia river to the northern boundary, embracing some forty different tribes, and about five thou sand Indians-the agency to include the tribes on the Straits of Fuca, the lower portion of the sound regions, and the adjacent islands, and the sub-agency for the Columbia portion and the upper regions of the sound. The central agency and sub-agency, extending from the Cascades to the Cour d'Eleine mountains, and from the southern to the northern boundary, embracing the Wallah-Wallah, Palouse, Nez Perces, Takamah, Klickatat, Cour d'Eleine, Spokane, Pend d'Oreille, Colville, and Okanagan Indians. The agency, extending from the southern boundary to the Spokane plain, and the sub-agency, the country north to the British boundary; and the agency of the St. Mary's valley, including the eastern portion of the territory inhabited by the Flathead and Kauteney Indians; but on the route of all the Indians going to the buffalo hunt, and the scene of many border difficulties with the Blackfeet and Crows, the superintendents, agents, and sub-agents, to have one interpreter each. I have also to recommend that five thousand dollars be appropriated for agency buildings, but not to be expended till negotiations have been entered into, the question of reservations settled, and the proper place for the agencies determined. Appropriations, which may be wanted for farmers, teachers, artisans, &c., &c., will appropriately come up for consideration in negotiating treaties after the passage of the necessary laws by Congress. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient, Hon. GEORGE W. MANYPENNY, Commissioner, &c., Washington City. Compliance with a resolution of the Senate in relation to the United States Insane Asylum in the District of Columbia. FEBRUARY 23, 1854.-Referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, February 21, 1854. SIR: On the 14th instant, I had the honor to receive from the Senate a resolution in the following words, viz.: "Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be requested to inform the Senate what deficiency, if any, there is in the appropriation to complete the hospital for the insane of the District of Columbia, and of the army and navy, the cause of any such deficiency, and whether, in his opinion, any additional appropriation will be required to complete the work, and if so, how much; and, also, whether the sites selected are the most proper and convenient, and what sums have been respectively paid for those sites, and whether such sums were or were not reasonable, compared with the value or prices of land in the vicinity of those sites." Upon the receipt of the resolution, it was referred to the superintendent of the hospital for a report, which I now have the honor to transmit, accompanied by a diagram, exhibiting sections A, B, C, D and E, being that portion of the building now being erected, and his estimate of the amount required to complete the same. From these it appears that of the appropriation of $100,000 made by the act approved 31st of August, 1852, (acts of 1st session 32d Congress, ch. 108, p. 92,) there remains at this time in the Treasury unexpended the sum of $30,445 65. At present, therefore, no actual deficiency exists. But to complete and fit up those sections of the building for the reception of patients, the superintendent estimates the amount required as being about $48,654 65. This exceeds the amount now in the Treasury by $18,209, and, according to the present estimate of the superintendent, the appropriation of that sum will be required for the completion of the work. As to the eligibility of the sites, and the reasonableness of the sums paid therefor, as compared with other locations, and the value or prices of other land in the same vicinity, I have never felt called upon to inquire, for the reason that, prior to my taking charge of the department, the two tracts composing the site had been purchased, the plan of the building adopted, and the work commenced, and particularly in view of the fact that my predecessor had, on the 28th of December, 1852, made a report to the Senate, in answer to their resolution of the 20th of that month, requiring him "to inform the Senate whether any steps have been taken to establish a lunatic asylum in this District, and if so, what has been done; particularly whether a site for the asylum has been purchased, and if so, where the same is located, the quantity of land purchased, and the price of such land, and whether the purchase is absolute or conditional, and what part of the price has been paid; also, how much of the appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars is expended, and for what purpose expended," after which no further action by the Senate seems to have been deemed necessary. That report will be found at length in Senate executive document No. 11, 32d Congress, 2d session, and as it states the price and aggregate amount paid for the land in question, a copy of it is herewith submitted. I may state, however, that, on several occasions, I have visited the spot, with a view to watch the progress and inspect the character of the work, and have seen nothing to induce me to doubt the correctness of the representations heretofore made by the superintendent and others, or those now made by him, respecting the reasonableness of the amount paid for the land, or the suitableness of the location, in every respect, for the objects intended to be accomplished. As to the cause of the anticipated deficiency in the appropriation heretofore made for this object, I am of the opinion that it resulted from the circumstances stated in the report of the superintendent. I have the honor to be, with much respect, your obedient servant, R. MCCLELLAND, Secretary. Hon. D. R. ATCHISON, President of the Senate. UNITED STATES HOSPITAL FOR INSANE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Senate relating to this hospital, dated the 13th instant, and hasten respectfully to submit to the department the information requested. 1. Deficiency. After the purchase of the farm and site upon which the hospital is now being erected $73,000 remained, and it was estimated that the necessary preparations for building could be made, and an edifice of a certain size and description could be erected, for that sum. That estimate was, however, necessarily hypothetical, and based upon the cost of building the preceding year. |