Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-15
PENoBScor INDIANS
Annual Report of the Agent for 1887

Col Charles A. Bailey, Agent of the Penob-
scot tribe of Indians, has submitted his an
nual report to the Governor and Council The
following abstract of the report will show the
work of the agency and condition of the tribe
during the past year.
The amount of the appropriation for the
tribe, exclusive of shore rents, was IS ,4s4 90
and the expenditures were as follows: For
Agriculture, S67I.46; Bounty on Crops.
S3o6.9s; Goods for Annuity, 81 ,3s7. 40
Schools 100000; Salary of Agent, 5000 90
Salary of Supt. of Farming, $1,000; Salary
of Governor of Tribe, $1,000; Salary of 1t.
Governor, $1,000; Salary of Priest, $4,000
Spring dividend, S4.3.33; Support of poor
and distressed 50, 057 "a; Medicine and
medical attendance, S624.sl; Burial expenses,
So7.42; Wood for tribe, 81 ISL SO; Making
land records, Sl57.40; Incidental expendi-
lures, S97.74; Hose for engine, SSH ;
Cemetery fence, $500; Balance unexpend-
ed, S62. 81.
II is recommended that this unexpended
balance be applied 10 the building of the
cemetery fence as the amount appropriated
for that purpose was barely enough to pur-
chase the material. OF the shore rents avail
able for the year (4,038.44) there was dis
tributed per capita to members of the tribe,
81 ,020.50, leaving balance to next year of
$l7.94.
For the farm operations the agency fur
nished blowing, teamwork. seed and
fertilizers, the Indians doing the rest of the
work. The aggregate products were as fol-
lows. Potatoes, 4 AGO bushels; beans, 24s
bushels; peas, l26 bushels oats, $50 bushels /;
buckwheat, 30 bushels; vegetables, s34
bushels
The appropriation for schools has been
fully expended. The school at Oldtown in
charge of the Sisters of Mercy has done good
work and teachers are commended for their
faithful and self sacrificing labors, not only
in the school, but in behalf of the tribe
generally. Spring and fall terms have been
taught both at Mattanawc cook and Olamon
Islands.
On the first Wednesday of January 1887
the tribe numbered $50. During the year
there have been twelve deaths, seven births
and two added from the Passamaquoddy tribe
by intermarriage, a net loss of three. The
death rate is year was about per cent; in
1856 about per cent; 8 per cent in 1885
and nearly per cent in 1884.
Other than pretty general spread of the
measles on Mattanawcook Island only the or
binary cases of sickness have occurred in the
tribe, but the demand for medical attendance
has been greater than ever before. The
practice of the native Indian doctor is practi-
cally a thing of the past and the best medi-
cal practitioners in the vicinity are in daily
requisition.
The year has been more than ordinarily
favorable to the tribe in material sense
The Penobseot Indian is an expert at log
driving, and their employment at this class
of work at good wages through the spring
and early summer and good run of business
at the seaside summer resorts have made the
season a prosperous one. There has been
marked improvement in homes and home sur
roundings the intense fractional spirit of the
past, SO prolific in jealousy, distrust and i'll
will, has in large degree disappeared, and a
disposition to harmonic upon matters affect
ing their public and political welfare has been
generously manifested, and in matters of
public concern a spirit of amity and good
feeling has prevailed between the different
parties.