Report-1848, July 5

Transcribed report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Wm. Medill, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City dated July 5, 1848

.

Ind. M. L. School July 5th 1848

Sir

   In compliance with the regulations of the department I respectfully submit the following report of the condition and affairs of the Indian Manual Labor School under my care for the second quarter of the current year ending June 30th 1848.

   The number of Delaware children attending school this quarter is thirty two, sixteen males and sixteen females, from other tribes fifty one, twenty eight males and twenty three females whole number this quarter eighty three.

   Expecting it to be unnecessary to trouble the department with a minute detail of the school in each quarterly report, I would merely state that the progress made by the students in their respective studies and in learning the different trades in which they are employed has been as rapid as could reasonably be expected, and we believe fully equal to any other quarter since the school has been in operation.

   Our new wagon shop has been finished and the hands at work in it some five or six weeks, The smith shop we expect to have finished by fall.

   We have just finished cutting our wheat which is considered about an average crop — our oats and Hay are yet on hand which will require all our force probably two weeks longer.

   We begin to think our farming operations are on rather too expensive a scale to be advantageous labor being very high in proportion to the price of product, and at the present time the grain raised on our farm would hardly pay the hire of the laborers. Many of the Indians whom we could formerly get to work on the farm are now engaged as teamsters on the Santa Fe trail [unintelligible word] getting much higher wages than we can afford to pay we therefore think it most prudent to curtail our farm for the present and convert a part of this land into meadow and pasture and cultivate no more than we can manage with the three or four regular hands with the assistance of the school boys in that portion of their time set apart for labor.

   Our steam mill continues to be of great benefit to the Indians, furnishing them with flour and meal at all times in exchange for cordwood and saw logs.

   The Doctor reports the health of the institution to be good for which we desire to feel truly thankful to the giver of all goods.

   Accompanying this report you will also receive my account of disbursements for this quarter with vouchers.

I have the honor to be dear sir
Your obt. Servant
Thos. Johnson
Supt. Ind. M. L. School

Hon W. Medill
com. Ind. affs.
Washington City

.

[Transcribed from microfilm roll number MS980 frames 252-253 in the collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, (National Archives Microfilm Series M234, roll 784) by Roger Berg Jr., June, 1991]