REPORT OF THE AGENT
OF THE
PENOBSCOT TRIBE OF INDIANS,
FOR THE YEAR
1882.
____________________________
AUGUSTA: SPRAGUE & SON, PRINTERS TO THE STATE 1883.
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REPORT.
To the Honorable Governor and Council of Maine:
The agent of the Penobscot tribe of Indians being required
by law to submit a report annually of the condition of said
tribe and of the expenditures in their behalf, the following
with accompanying vouchers is respectfully submitted for the
year ending December 1,1882:
APPROPRIATIONS.
Chapter 50, page 51, Resolves, 1881.
| Amount interest Indian Trust Fund............. |
$4,429.70 |
|
annual annuity............................. |
1,500.00 |
|
agriculture................................... |
700.00 |
|
bounty on crops........................... |
450.00 |
|
schools....................................... |
600.00 |
|
salary of agent............................. |
200.00 |
|
Governor of tribe................ |
50,00 |
|
Lieut. Governor of tribe....... |
30.00 |
|
Priest............................... |
100.00 |
|
_________ |
|
$8,059.70 |
The following is a statement of receipts and expenditures:
RECEIPTS.
1882.
|
Feb.,
|
State warrant.....
|
$2000.00
|
|
|
|
April,
|
"
" ....
|
1,800.00
|
|
|
|
Sept.,
|
"
" ....
|
3,000.00
|
|
|
|
Dec.,
|
"
" ....
|
1,259.70
|
|
|
|
|
|
_________
|
$8.059.70
|
4
PENOBSCOT INDIANS
|
|
W. H. Chesley, rent Brown islands
|
|
16.00
|
|
|
S. Low, rent Mexico islands
|
|
10.00
|
|
|
C. M. White, rent Orson islands
|
|
10.00
|
|
|
W. Ingalls, rent Boom islands
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
|
________
|
|
|
|
|
$8,097.70
|
annuity appropriation withdrawn
|
218.00
|
|
|
_______
|
|
|
$8,315.70
|
EXPENDITURES.
For
|
Agriculture
|
$697.23
|
|
|
|
bounty on crops
|
315.25
|
|
|
|
goods for annuity
|
1,718.00
|
|
|
|
schools
|
580.00
|
|
|
|
salary of agent
|
200.00
|
|
|
|
" priest
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
"
Governor of tribe
|
50.00
|
|
|
|
"
Lieut. Governor of tribe
|
30.00
|
|
|
|
goods for spring dividend
|
701.26
|
|
|
|
support of poor, aged, infirm and sick
|
2,313.79
|
|
|
|
medicine and medical attendance
|
323.00
|
|
|
|
burial expenses
|
193.13
|
|
|
|
wood for tribe
|
983.13
|
|
|
|
incidental expenses
|
109.97
|
|
|
|
|
_________
|
$8315.70
|
In addition to the foregoing is the distribution
of shore-
rents of 1881, under special act, chapter 267,laws of 1873.
The receipts from this source were:
1862, March, State warrant...............$1,167.00
Balance from last
year..
40.00
_______ $1,207.00
CONTRA.
Distribution per capita to members of
the tribe as per
schedule............ $1,167.00
Paid for advertising shores for
rent...
13.00
balance to next
year......
52.25
_________ $1,207.00
AGENTS REPORT
5
The appropreation for the annual annuity again
proved in-
sufficient for the expenditures demanded by the treaty, and by
authority from the Governor the appropriation was exceeded so
far as was necessary to keep the faith of the
State, the amount
expended for this purpose this year amounting to $1,718.00 ;
an excess over the appropriation of $218.00, as shown in the
foregoing statement,---the same being rendered necessary in
a great degree by the extraordinary high price of corn and
pork, which form so large a part of this annual purchase.
AGRICULTURE.
Owing to the very wet and unfavorable spring, operations
in this department were very much retarded. The tribe being
almost entirely dependent upon the agency for team work,
and the days suitable for ploughing and cultivating being so
occasional, it was very late before the most of them could
get in their crops ; and the diversion of laborers to the
"drives," before this work could be completed, left much of
it but partially and unsatisfactorily done. As a consequence
the harvest was correspondingly deficient, and in many
instances the crop failed utterly.
The following is the aggregate production of the tribe upon
which bounty has been paid :
Potatoes..............................3,330
bushels.
Beans.................................
253 "
Oats...................................
845 "
Peas...................................
106 "
Wheat.................................
120 "
Vegetables of all kinds..........
387 "
A few members of the tribe have for several years
given
their undivided attention to the cultivation of their lands,
and have proved themselves successful in a marked degree.
Notable among these is Governor Stepen Stainslaus of
Mattanawcook island, whose products this year were as fol-
lows : potatoes, 150 bushels ; turnips, 20 bushels ; beans, 55
bushels ; peas, 25 bushels ; wheat, 100 bushels ; oats, 150
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PENOBSCOT INDIANS.
bushels; hay, 30 tons. Joseph Nicolar and Newell Nicolar
are also worthy of mention in this connection, having each
raised a crop this year which would be creditable to any
farmer in the county.
SCHOOLS.
Schools have been taught during the year as usual at Old-
town, Olamon and Mattanawcook. That at Oldtown has
continued under the insturction of the Sisters of Mercy, and
with the exception of suitable vacations has been in continu-
ous session,---forty weeks of school having been taught, with
an average attendance of about fifty students.
At Mattanawcook the school is under the supervision of
school authorities of Lincoln. Two terms, summer and
fall, have there been taught.
At Olamon one term was taught. The removals from this
island to other portions of the reservation have taken most of
the scholars from this school,---not more than a half dozen
attending. And while it seems important that the few
remaining should have educational privileges, it also seems a
disadvantagious service where for entire days a teacher is
obliged to sit sit out the time with only two or three primary
scholars. Some years ago a provision was made for these
families to send their children to the public schools of Green-
bush ; but owing to the inconvenience of getting from the
island to the school, and more especially, I apprehend, from
the want of social affinity, the attempt proved abortive and
was abandoned.
SISTERS OF MERCY.
Throughout the year these faithful toilers have remained at
their post, and I cannot refrain from adverting again to the
unselfish devotion with which they have surrendered them-
selves to this "life among the lowly." Unfaltering in their
ministrations to the sick and distressed, and laboring with
unabated zeal for the general uplifting of the tribe, they
AGENTS REPORT
7
commend themselves as representatives in truth and in deed
of Him whose ministry of love they seek to emulate.
CENSUS.
The Superintending School Committee of Oldtown,
upon
whom devolves the duty of making an annual enumeration of
this tribe, return the number this year at four hundred and
fifteen (415), as by their report herewith submitted.
ELECTION.
By Chap. 46. Resolves of 1881, provision was made for
holding the election of this trive biennially in conformity
with that of the State. An election was accordingly held on
Oldtown island on the second Tuesday of September, the
time prescribed by said resolve. Sockbesin Swassian was
chosen Governor of the tribe, Swassian Fransway Susup
Lieut. Governor, and Lola Coly representative to the legis-
lature. By some error the time of holding the election was
fixed by the resolve above named, on the second Tuesday
of September, instead of the first Tuesday of Octover as for
several years prior thereto. As many of the tribe do not
return from their summer vaction until after the time now
fixed, I would recommend the re-establishment of the first
Tuesday of October as the most convenient time for this
purpose.
SHORES.
The leases of certain shores of the tribe having expired
the same were re-let on the 20th day of April last, for a term
of two years from the first day of January, A. D. 1882.
They are as follows:
1. Shore on west side of Orson Island, from the Cook to
first bridge of B & P. R. R.; annual rental, $100.00.
2. Shore on west side of same island from the bridge afore-
said, to the south line of the public farm ; annual rental,
$201.00.
8
PENOBSCOT INDIANS.
3. Shore of same island from a point opposite the Pea
cove boom to the breakwater at the head of said island ;
annual rental, $28.00.
4. Shore of Orono Island ; annual rental, $151.00.
All of said shores except the third parcel, were leased to
C.M. White of Oldtown, and the excepted parcel to Low &
Maxfield of Milford.
LAND TITLES.
In my report two years ago (1880,) I had the honor to
submit at length my views on the condition of the land titles
of the tribe as related to individual proprietorship, and then
urged the importance of providing some legislative relief
from the involved and contridictory state into which their
titles have come. Without repeating the suggestions there
made I will simply refer to the views then expressed and
renew the recommendation then made.
The laws controlling this subject were passed nearly fifty
years ago. They were necessarily experimental in their
character, and the lapse of time since their enactment has
proved wherein they wer wisely adapted to the purposes in
view, and wherein they were defective. An earlier modifica-
tion of them would doubtless have saved many complications,
and perhaps some expense which may now be necessary to
right the wrongs which have grown out of the system. But
it would seem to be a matter of imperative justice that the
laws which the State has seen fit to impose upon this property
should not longer for want of adaptation be allowed to con-
tinue and increase the evils complained of ; and that the con-
fusion which has grown out of the system, as well as from
errors in its administration, should be speedily remedied.
I cannot therefore forbear to commend this subject to the
considerate judgment of those whose duty it is to institute
whatever proceedings are necessary to meet the exigencies
detailed in this and former reports touching this matter.
AGENTS REPORT
9
HEALTH.
The physical condition of the tribe does not improve. The
causes of disease being for the most part radical, its devel-
opment is only a matter of time. With congenital tendancies
to physical weakness, their habitual disregard of all hygienic
considerations spplemented in many cases by excesses, in-
terperance and exposure, works the inevitable result of
early death.
The number of deaths the past year has been thirty-five,
sixteen adults and nineteen children. The adults with but
two exceptions were between the ages of twenty and forty
years, and the causes of death were principally diseases of a
pulmonary character. Two men were drowned while engaged
driving logs, and one died from accidental shooting.
Among the children the causes of death are closely allied
to the principal causes above stated. Infants in several
instances have survived but a few weeks from birth from
sheer want of vital force, while others having lived along for
months or possibly years have at last died from constitutional
inability to continue the struggle. This tendency has how-
ever been greatly aggravated the past year by the evil effects
entailed upon the tribe by the measles which prevailed among
them last year, and from which many imperfectly recovered,
leaving them subject to complications which in some instances
have terminated fatally.
CONCLUSION.
In material prosperity, however, the year has been more
than ordinarily favorable. Those who went upon the "drives"
in the spring received high wages for their labor ; the sum-
mer season was profitable to those who went abroad to vend
their manufactured articles ; and there has been a steady
demand for their wares in the home market. Repairs have
10
PENOBSCOT INDIANS.
been made upon their houses to a considerable extent and
a commendable desire for home improvement has been
manifested.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. BAILEY
Agent of Penobscot Indians
OLDTOWN, December 1, 1882.
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STATE OF MAINE.
_______
In Council, December 27, 1882.
Received,
accepted and 500 copies ordered printed.
Attest:
JOSEPH O. SMITH, Secretary of State.
END OF DOCUMENT