Report-1839, May 23

Transcribed report from R.W. Cummins, Indian Agent, Fort Leavenworth Agency to Major Joshua Pitcher, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, St, Louis, Mo dated May 23, 1839

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Fort Levenworth Agency
May 23rd 1839

Sir

    In compliance with instructions received from your office of July 10, 1838, I have the honor to make the following report on the subject of the intended manual labour School, located within this agency by the Methodist Episcopal Church.

    Rev. Thomas Johnson, Agent made a beginning about the first of Feby. At this time he has ofur [four] hundered acres of land enclosed under a good new fence, 12 acres of which are set in apple scions, selected fruit, also planted in irish potatoes & other garden veegtables, one hundered & seventy six acres planted in corn, 85 acres in oats, five plows are braking the balance of the ground enclosed which is intended for timothy & blue grass, 100 acres in addition to the 400 inclosed is expected to be ploughed by the 15 July and enclosed in September, which will make 500 acres ready for next year, the rails, upwards of 40,000 were all made in a short time by the Shawanee Indians, with the exception of about 3000.

    The buildings are under way, Mechanics preparing brick, 30,000 feet of lumber at the place, 15,000 of it dressed ready for laying flours, 2500 lights of sash made, stone quarried for,

over,

the first building, nails, glass, hinges, locks all ready on the premises,they expcet to have a part of the buildings ready to commence the school in October. I think however this is doubtful, although they have gone on very rapidlyrapidly, their is yet a great deal to do. the agent is very attentive and persevering at this time about 40 hands are employed,

I am very respectfully
yr. mo. obt. ser.
Rich. W Cummins
Indian Agent

Maj Joshua Pilcher
Supt of Ind. Affairs
St. Louis Mo.

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[Transcribed from National Archives Microfilm Series M574, roll 63, frames 268-269 by Debby Williamson, July 1992.]