Report-1843, May 23

Transcribed report of the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School from E.R. Ames to Rev. C. Pittman dated May 23, 1843

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Indian Manual Labor School
Shawnee Nation May 23–1843

Dear Brother

    I herewith communicate, through You, to the Board of Managers. Some information Respecting this Instruction.

    The Board are aware, I presume, that this is the most extensive establishment ever founded for the benefit of the North American Indians. It has indeed cost the Society much money, and Some of its agents, much anxiety & labor. But it has already though Yet in its infancy, accomplished much good. It is a fountain that has Sent forth Streams of Life through the human deserts in which it is surrounded.  And should God continue to prosper it with his blessing, as he has hither to, it will ever be considered one “of the brightest, moments of the church, whose zeal and liberality have founded and sustained it. In its design, it contemplates, the Christianizing & developing of the Indian Tribes around it, by imparting instruction in Religion, Science, Agriculture, and the mechanic Arts to the rising generation. But its establishment has in one respect; done more than was contemplated—It has operated on the Tribes “afar off” as well as those “near at hand.” – this Institution has become the model on which the govt. is now fonding a system of Education among the Indians. Nay more it seems likely to become the model after which other Governments will pattern in improving the condition of their Heathen subjects. For during the last winter the Governor of the Provence of Upper Country wrote to Gov. Reynolds of Missouri requesting information respecting the plan on which his Institution is conducted, with a view, as I infer, f introducing Some Similar system, for the improvement of the Indians in that Province. So that the direct-influence-resulting from the establishment of this School are not to be compared, with the indirect, or incidental ones.

    But my object: when I Commenced, my letter, was simply to give the Board Some facts respecting the details of the School, showing the cost &c. that the Board may be prepared to form a correct opinion of the processes & results to be expected in similar establishments that are now, or that may be hereafter commenced, under their patronage. It is not intended in the Choctaw Schools, to expend as much for buildings as has been expended here, these are of Brick, those will be of wood; partly of logs. Especially, at Fort Coffee, where the buildings erected for the Fort mite be occupied by the School The improvements, at this place were commenced in the fall of 1838, and pupils were received in Oct 1839. The Reports made to the “Government from Year, to Year show the following Results, as to Students.

    Grand Total 348—The number set down for 1843 have been in attendance since last fall and it is presumed they will remain. The following exhibit shows the Expenditure Appropriated by the Mission Committee of the Mission Annual Conference

    Oct 1838 $8000  Oct 1839 $10,000  Oct 1840 $8000  Oct 1841 $8000  Oct 1842 $5000  Total $ 9,000

    Appropriated by the Govt from the Civilization fund April 1840 $4250  July 1841 $3750  Feb. 1843 $2500, and from the Delaware School fund $1800 Total 4,300$  Grand Total 53,300$ From which subtract 4,300 the last payment from the Govt. which was applied to the general object of the Soc. and we have as the Total amount of Expenditures to Oct 1843 $49,000.

    The following is the estimated value of the property belong to the Institution, Buildings. 11,450$ Farm of 550 Acres 5000$ Live Stock 2000$ Farming utensils 400$ Household & Kitchen furniture 600$ Dry Goods 200$ Tools & Stock on hand, in the mechanics shops 1000$ Total 25,750$ Which Subtract from the Expenditures, leaves 23,250$ for the payment of the salaries of persons in the employment of the Institution. The subsistence of the pupils &c.  from Oct 1838 to Oct 1843 inclusive which is a fraction less than 5000$ per annum on an average.

    It is supposed that the farm, after supplying all the Bread, meal and vegetables consumed in the family, and selling enough to pay for the Tea, coffee, sugar yields an annual Surplus in grain & livestock of about [ ?600$?] The following may be set down as about the average, produce of the farm. Annually, wheat 2000 bushels, Oats 3500 bushel, Corn 4000 bushels Hay 50 Tons–Annual surplus of stock for sale, or consumption, 110 hogs, averaging 200 pounds each 40 Beeves & 4 Horses.

    There are in the employment of the Institution 11 married men, who have in their families 20 children. In addition to which there employed 10 single men & 1 woman, which added to the average number of Indian children at the School, Say 100–make 150 souls, to be supported entirely, by the Institution. The Board know that this school is conducted on the Manual Labor System. That the boys are instructed in agriculture & the mechanics Arts, as well as in letters; And that the girls are taught hous-wifery, spinning, weaving, kniting, and how to cut and make garments. The labor of the children does something toward lessning the cost of their support, the Boys, under the directions of the Teachers, Cut all the fire-wood, Cultivate the garden, plough and hoe corn–help to tend the stock, & assist in getting in the harvest. The girls, within the last six months, have made (?446?] garments for the Institution, arid 200$ has been received for custom work done by them in the [_______?J. They do all the washing & make the Soap, beside doing about half the cooking, &c. in the Kitchen.

    How much the Institution will cost the Missionary Society, annually hereafter, is uncertain. If the Govt do us Justice it will require little or no aid, from the Missionary Treasury. We ought to have 2500$ from the Civilization fund, 2300$ from the Delaware School fund, 1000$ from the Kansas School fund. And as the Wyandotts are now settling, in our immediate neighborhood, I assume we shall get their school fund 500$ which would give us an annual income of 6300$ [?an?] The principal object of my present visit to this part of the Indian Territory is to make arrangements to secure the funds I have mentioned I am fully aware that he who deal s with our Govt. on the subjectof Indian School funds, or on any other subject has a troublesome task, and whether I shall succeed or not is uncertain, but I have reason to believe I shall If I do the Board shall be duly advised on the subject.

    I should be glad if the Board would inform me of the amount of funds at their disposal for the Support of Indian missions for the coming Year Supposing the Indian Missions to remain as they are the following is as nearly as I can estimate the amount needed. For the Support of the Indian Mission within the bounds of the Rock River Conference, 2500$ For those within the bounds of the Missouri Conference, 2000$ For those within the bounds of the Arkansas Conference 3000$. For the Indian Manual Labor School 6000, For the Fort Coffee Academy 1000$. For the [?Numanaya?] Academy 1000$ Total 15,500$, from which subtract 3300$ the amount certain from the Govt. and You will have a balance of 12,200 to be paid from the Miss Treasury If it is necessary to lessen the appropriation of last year in order either to pay the debt now hanging over the Society, or to bring our expenditures within our income, The curtailment should in my opinion, So far as the Indian work is concerned take place among the Missions within the Rock Rive Conf. not by lessning the expenses of any missions for that consent as done, but by abandoning altogether the Chippeway Missions–As being the most expensive and least profitable of any of our Indian Missions. Not that they are doing no good but they are doing less good than the others The Sioux mission is doing but little good, I fear. And-it- costs us nothing but the labor of the Missionary. he has the appointment of Government farmer he Salary of which is his only [?.expense.?] .

    It is painful to think of the mismanagement and extravagance that have marked the opperations of Alfred [?Morison?], and B.L. Kavanaugh during their superintendency of the Sioux and Chippewa missions. To give the Board a Specimen, At the Rock River Conference in August 1840, B.L. Kavanaugh was reappointed Superintendent of the Indian Mission district The appropriations for that    dist. were certainly very liberal, not to say extravagant. At the next Conference however Kavanaugh reported a debt of 1200$ which was paid by a draft on the missionary Treasury. He was reappointed to it. District, and the estimates for the support of the missions were again made on the most liberal scale. At the close of the Year i.e. last August he came before the Mission Committee [?near?] a debt of more than 25000!! I was present and protested against the payment of it; as having been contracted without any authority from the Missionary Society–and as I believed unnecessarily So far as the interest of the missionary work was concerned The committee declined the payment at that time but gave him a Year to prepare his accounts·& appointed a committee to settle with him at the next Session of the Conference, where I feel a draft will be drawn on the Treasury to pay the debt. But see the effects; about 1700$ of this debt is due the Agent of the American Fur Company–at the Point of Lake Superior from where supplies for the Fon Ju Lac and Sandy Lake Mission were obtained, last fall the new Superintendent of the Missions, Brother Goodrick, went to visit those missions, & stopped at La Point to purchase the winter supplies. The Agent was so offended because its account had not been paid, that he positively refused to let Goodrich have any thing at all though Goodrich told him he had the cash to pay for all he wanted. But fortunately one of the proprieters of the Company happened to be at La Point and on Goodriches representing the case to him, he ordered the Agent to furnish Goodrich with Supplies But such things do great injury, not to the guilty individual alone, But to the Church, the missionary Society & the interests of religion. Much if not the most, of the difficulties under which the Missionary Society labors have been brought upon it by the mismanagement of Superintendents of Mission Districts.

    Providence permitting, my present expectation is to be at  the next Session of the Rock River Conference, at Du Buque. Iowa Set on the 30 of August. Where I hope to receive information respecting the amount appropriated for the Suport of Indian Missions with any other intelligence, or advice the Board may see proper to give By the by I have forgotten the two Indian missions in the Michigan Conference. I suppose the Board know the cost of them. I do not.

    According to the minutes, there were last Year 11 [?German?] missionaries [________?] in the west by an arrangement among themselves. they agreed last Year to take their quarterage depend on Providence for family expenses. I suppose the German work may be set down at about 3000$ next Year, Should it not be extended. Yours Truly

E.R. Ames

Rev. C. Pittman etc. etc.

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[Transcribed from National Archives Microfilm Series 574, roll 63 frames 321-323 by Debby Williamson August 1992]