State, cause to be erected, where necessary, convenient buildings for their accommodation."

Until the passage of this act, only feeble and fitful attempts had been made to educate the Indian children and youth in this State. Since then, either new school-houses have been built, or old ones have been repaired, on every one of the reservations; schools have been taught in them by competent teachers; text-books have been furnished, and the attendance and progress of the Indian children have been far better than had been anticipated by those who sought by such means to aid in their civilization.

Of these schools, eight are on the Cattaraugus, five on the Allegany, two on the Tuscarora, two on the Tonawanda, one on the Onondaga, two on the Oneida, and two on the St. Regis reservations, respectively. Another is located. near Sag Harbor, for the benefit of the Shinecock Indians. The table, in the appendix, marked E, will show the number of children that have attended each school, and the time it was in session, during the last school year. The payments from the State treasury, during the same time, for the erection and repair of school-houses, wages of teachers, purchase of furniture and books, and for expense of supervision, amount to $4,142.05. Of this sum, there was paid for and on account of schools, on the

Cattaraugus and Allegany reservations

Oneida reservation

$2,343 32

324 53

242 62

306 71

460 87

368 00

96 00

The undersigned, having visited several of the reservations and their schools, has pleasure in stating that the Indian people generally have a grateful appreciation of the provision of the State, made from year to year, for the education of their children. This is evinced in their conversations; in addresses made at school celebrations, and

attendance of the children. It is also shown by the of the "National Council," in appropriating land fo and, from their scanty treasury, money to aid in b school-houses; in electing a trustee for each of the d into which most of the reservations are now plotte clothing him with plenary power to protect the property from injury, and to require the male pop of his district to furnish the necessary fuel for the the school, and also to share in the labor at times re in repairing the school-house; and, finally, it is evin the fact that these school-houses and their furnitur comparatively few traces of the Yankee knife, pliec destructive hands. It is in evidence that in the pr of malicious mischief, in and about their school-h these people are far behind their brethren the pale

The teachers employed are persons of unexceptio character, and worthy of commendation for the man which they are performing their difficult tasks. The number are females, some of whom could command g wages as teachers in schools surrounded with the con of refined social life; but they choose rather to teach children of this poor and humble people, believing th so doing they obey Him, in whose promises of an everla reward they have an abiding trust.

Mr. PETTIT, who lives near the Cattaraugus reserva and who is, in all respects, a competent witness, write Superintendent of Public Instruction: "Since these sc were established, the people live in better houses, better furniture, more of the comforts of civilized better cultivated farms and gardens; in their costu their food, their manners, and all that appertains to s life and civilized society, there is decided improvem My own observations, made six years ago, and again fall, confirm his statement.

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commendation. The report to the Department, made by a gentleman who visited the people of this reservation last fall, gives a gloomy account of their condition. They subsist chiefly by hunting and fishing, leaving home in summer for long wanderings in the northern wilds of Canada, and returning to their huts to spend the winter in idleness. They have leased their lands to their white neighbors, who have stripped off all the valuable timber, and rather robbed than cultivated the soil. The pittance received for rent is wasted in improvidence. The two schools on this reservation have a hard struggle with the prevailing ignorance and vice.

Your attention is called to the report of the trustees of the Thomas Orphan Asylum, for orphan and destitute Indian children. The undersigned visited that institution, and there found a large number of these children, to whom it is a refuge from extreme suffering and destitution. They are comfortably, though very plainly clad, and furnished with cheap but wholesome food. They are under the care of persons who are religiously devoted to their welfare. The lads are taught how to get their living from the cultivation of the soil; and the girls, how to perform the duties pertaining to a civilized household. As soon as the children of either sex are of sufficient age, employment is found for them among the farmers in the neighboring counties, under whose guidance they continue the habits of industry in which they were trained at the asylum. My predecessor (Mr. VAN DYCK) caused a convenient school-house to be erected, for the special benefit of these children. A school is kept therein, which all attend regularly; and each day's time is divided between manual labor and the study of books. Can this system of training be commended too highly? The child, accustomed to employ each day alternately between manual labor and the study of wellselected books, will be likely to do so in maturer years; thus securing a healthy and enduring physical life, with a

A faritfor mind T

to teach, are the State Normal school, teachers' cl academies and teachers' institutes and associations.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

During the past year, embracing the thirty-fi thirty-sixth terms, two hundred and twenty-five ap for admission were examined, of whom one hund ninety were admitted. The average age is ninetee and seven months; and the average period during they had been engaged in teaching, prior to their e into the school, was six months.

The whole number in attendance has been two b and ninety-three, of whom ninety-nine are males a hundred and ninety-four females.

The number of graduates of the past year is fif of whom twenty-two are males and thirty-two f All the counties but Fulton, Hamilton, Ontario and kins, have been represented in the school during the and thirty counties in the graduating class.

The number who have attended for a longer or period, since this school was established, is three th eight hundred and fifty-four, of whom one thousan hundred and thirteen have completed the prescribed of study.

The annual report of the executive committee w hibit a detailed statement of the expenses for the y

Connected with this school are an experimental ment, and a model primary department, under the in ate superintendence of excellent teachers. The numbers one hundred and five pupils, and the p tuition for admission is twenty-five dollars per year. latter is composed of pupils between the ages of fi seven years. Forty children between these ages, attendance. The tuition fee charged for each is s

and the applications for admission to them exceed the number that can be accommodated. They are of importance alike to their pupils, and to the students of the Normal School, for whose special and practical instruction they are designed.

The graduates and under-graduates are represented by local school officers to be doing valuable service, not only in the schools in which they are employed, but as zealous workers, imparting their knowledge of the proper modes of instruction to their associates in teachers' institutes and associations, who in turn apply the same to the schools under their charge, and thus the influence of this school is diffused.

In this connection, I would make honorable mention of Messrs. RODNEY G. KIMBALL and ALBERT N. HUSTED, who were for several years successful and honored teachers in this institution, but who, immediately after the memorable battles before Richmond, resigned their positions, raised a company of volunteers (composed largely of its graduates and students), and with them joined the shattered remnants of the 44th (Ellsworth) Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteers, with whom they have since given evidence of their courage and patriotism on the battle-field. The positions they occupied in the corps of teachers have been filled by other competent persons; and I cheerfully bear witness to the admirable skill and success with which all the teachers in this school are performing their duties.

Wherever institutions of this character have been established and fairly supported, their fruits are too apparent and useful to need commendation; and it is suggested to the Legislature that other normal schools might be established, in localities whose public-spirited inhabitants would furnish, at their own expense, the necessary sites and buildings; and that however efficient one such school may be, it could not have been expected to meet the demands of a State, which requires the employment annually of more than twenty thousand teachers.