Mr. DOOLITTLE. Isay the SecyInterior and the ComrIndAff make the recommendation, based upon the facts stated in this report of the superintendent of Indian affairs: “The accompanying mapor platofaportion of the reserve.toget or with the adjacent and s on north Will the 8038 to facilitate a correctunderstanding of what follo s. “The bestfarming lands on this reserveare in the valley of Omaha creek. About 300 acres of these lands were broken some 3 months si nce by late Agent Balcombe and a crop may be raised upon them the coming season if the treaty be ratified in time and the necessary appropriations bemade to carr& it into effect. e propose that. as a matter of interest to the Winnebagocsand for the benefit of the Government, the lands inclosed Within red lines upon the map be purchasedfor the tribe and addedto the reservation recentlypurchased bylthem from the Oinalias. The reasons in favor of said purchase are briefly as fol Iowa: “1. They adjoin the 300 acres of bottom land already broken and all lie in the valley of Omahacreek. which is very rich and productive. “2. There are 400 acres of broken land upon these improyed farms. upon which a crop may garnised the coming summer. t us giving 700 acres of ch0ice land in a body. which.if properly cultivated. With an avera a yield, Will supp y all the breadstuffs and vegeta les which the tribe Will require., “3. be cost of hoselands (about 800 acres)will be about 1500 There are 5 housesupon them, worth nearly or quite 1/2 the amount and in our iudginent. the crop of the 1st year will be worth to the Indians all that those lands will cost. BeSides, there is a good mill site upon one of the farms the only mill privilege within 15 miles of the reservewhichnflordsamplefall for a goodwater mill. With plenty of water to propel from one to 2 run of stonesi n the driest season. “4. With this purchase all the plow land necessary if no rth the buesset spoofstshibeletrliobeeaWlitiyll. beThine saeswinhgoledbeosdirye. farms in severaltycan be accommodated alon the valleys of the small tributaries of Omaha crec, in the immediate vicinity. “5. The purchase of these lands Will extend the north line of the reserveto a point from which the Indians can have excess over lands belongingto the Government. to a lake indicated on the ma. which abounds in fish and which will furnish an a undant supply for the tribo for many years to come. Thcso Government lands. togetherwith this lake. we think should bedonated to the usesof the tribe. There are other Government lands on the north of the reservation. between the north line and the Missouririver. which are of littlo value. Theseshould also begiven to the Indians. in our judgment. sumsto prevent their occupancy by a class of settlers who may hereafter ilmocpartoepeurpoonrtihlleemg aflotrratflhiec pwuitr otsheeotrfi beeo, ndTuhctein an Winnebagoes were abundantly supplied With fish and aine at their former homesmMinnesota: and if this like begiventothemtheywill. in this respectat least. Ibne afuslcl omfortably situated as before their removal. council the chiefs and headmen of the tribe repeatedly roguested us to ask that this lake. with the adjacent mvernment lands.be given to them by th“e Great Father. 6. Omaha creek has high and almostperpendicu lar banks. It Will thereforeserve as a secure fcnce against stock at all seasonsalong the entire westline of the cultivated lands. If the proposed urchiisebe made. one and a half mile of fencing “ll be saved, leaving only about 5 miles of fencing necessaryto linacnlods;e some2000 acres of excellent plow a sufficienr.quantity for all the requirements of the tribe. " saw XILL COTTONWOOD riiinna. “On a tract of of land adjoining the northeastcorner the reservation there are about 700 acres of heavy cottonwood timber. There is a good sTahwe mtiimll.benreaanrdlymnoil wl.anroewoinwnoepderbaytio enitioznenthsiosftrNaoct. bfarairskraa.te. It is so believed they can he purchasedat a in order to avoid the delay consequen tulpon the building of a mill in the coming spring and to insure a supply of lumber in time to inclose rho plow land for a cro the coming season.wewould earn estly recommend that theybepurchased. If not. tpheeririod the building of a mill at thocarliest practicable is the only alternative. This is the only soft Mwouoedh timber Within several miles of the reserve. of it Will be neededfor the fencingof the land, weather boarding and inside finish of the various ibtuiWldiinllgesosptrov1de dfor in the treaty. In our judizment tirqber theyillW0 illVrIDenmo mhltlRoOfietfa surpletshsetoirpruerscern vasetiwonhat at a.single purchase t on to buy it may require. as their necessities especially as the timber is nearly all owned by 2 or 3 individuals who will be much lmisohre likely to combinefor high ratesthan to estab low rates by active competition." Mr. President, in relation to the purchase of these lands, the committee have carefully guarded the section so that if there be any integrity to be found in any of the Officers of this Government, I know of no reason why we cannot as well trust them to purchase these lands for the benefit of this Indian tribe as we can trust them to purchase quartermasters stores or comniissary stores for the Army or any other service in the Government. Upon that subject this proviso is attached: Provided. That before any portion of the amount appropriated bythis section shall bedrawn from the Treasury an appraisement of such portions of said sections as have been sold or otherwise legally disposed of by the U.S and of the improvements thereon, shall be made by 3 discreet and disinterestedmen. to be appointed by the SecyInterior for that purpose. who. beforemaking such np raisement.sha l severally take an oath that they will diligently inquire into and ascertain the actual cash value of said lands and improvements and will faithfully. fairly and without partiality. make and return an appraisoment of th esameto the SecyInterior. which appraisomentshall be submittedto and examined by the superintendent of Indian affairsfor thonorthern superintendencyfor the time being and the agent for the Winnebago Indians. who shall each make oath that they have carefully examined such appraisement and that the believe thesameto be a fair. just and impartial cas valuation and apraisement and shall also be upprovod by the SecyInterior: and provided further. That no portion of the sum so appropriated shall beexpended in the purchaseof any portion of said lands at any price exceeding the valuation of the same as shown by said appraisement. V Here is a sum, it is true. of $60,000 that i. but under the control of the SecyInterior for him to use in the purchase of these lands, or so much of them as may be necessary, in order to complete this reservation, so that these Indians can have access to the river and access to this lake, so that they can be there without any white settlers whatever in their way, that they can have the reservation and have it to themselves. It is but just to them that they should have it. The simple question is, whether you can throw any additional guard around this provision asto the mode of the expenditure of the money. The SecyInterior is himself to appoint 3 disinterested persons to make teappraisement. Then the agent and the superintendent both must take their oath that it is a fair appraisement, and the whole thing after all goes back to the SecyInterior for his If you can guard apy expenditure 0ap pmroovnael.y from the Treasury With any better or safer provisions I am perfectly willing to add any safe guard; but you cannot ask more than that unless you distrust every officer in the Government, and because he is about to expend a dollar of money for the benefit of Indians we are to presume that there is something wrong about it. We can very liberally and generously, and without an inquiry, trust millions and 100s of millions to the expenditure of the agents of the War Dept in purchasing quartermasters supplies and commissary supplies without ono half the guards that are put upon this.