supporting manhood and manual training, with at least the beginnings of domestic science is no less needful for the girls. We hope that this may receive your thoughtful attention.

Owing to the increased number of children now cared for, the school building is becoming overcrowded and should be enlarged by adding another class-room. Changes should also be made in the location of the toilet rooms for reasons which are made clear by the Superintendent's report.

By a moderate expenditure in the purchase of an additional fifty acres of farm land our farm products could be increased to meet the needs of the institution. This would prove to be an important economy.

The Superintendent's report, which is annexed (Appendix A), also calls attention to the need of a larger allowance for provisions and for clothing.

The earnest efforts of the Board of Managers throughout the years of their service has been directed towards providing for the best welfare of these Indian children, that while under the care of the State they may be so educated and trained in mind and body that they may become self-reliant men and women, useful to the world in which they are to live when they reach maturity, and in their turn helpful to those of their own race in their steady struggle towards better civilization. In this endeavor they have relied upon the conscientious and capable management of the Superintendent and Matron, who in all these years have served the State and your Board most faithfully and well. Their discouragements have but stimulated them to stronger effort with results of which the State may well be proud. They are justly entitled to this record of appreciative praise.

The report of the Treasurer, Mr. Samuel G. Keyes (marked Appendix C), is respectfully submitted, also the report of the Attending Physician, Dr. A. D. Lake (marked Appendix B), while Appendix D gives the names and nationalities of the children, showing the reservation from which each has been received, and Appendix E gives a statement of the real and personal property of the institution.

HENRY R. ROWLAND,

President.

LILLA C. WHEELER.

SAMUEL G. KEYES.

NEWTON A. CHAFFEE.

HEMAN M. BLASDELL.

JOHN SCHOEPFLIN.

JOHN C. WILBER.

WALLACE JEMISON.

JOHN JEMISON.

ALFRED JEMISON.

APPENDIX A.

To the Board of Managers of the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children:

I present herewith my report as Superintendent for the year ending September 30, 1902.

The per capita cost of the institution has been reduced quite materially during the past year, and a further reduction cannot reasonably be expected; neither do I believe that the present low rate can be maintained during the year, owing to the high price of all food supplies. The allowance for provisions is not sufficient, neither is the allowance for clothing. The cost of provisions last year was extremely small, the meals averaging only two cents each on the pupil population, and on the total population only .017. A substantial increase to the regular maintenance fund should be granted.

The school work of the year was quite satisfactory. Not so large a class was graduated as in the previous year, there being only three in the class, Sophia Gordon, Flora Tallchief and Bertie Bluesky. These three are bright scholars, and I am sure that the education and training that they received here will be of lasting benefit to them. A new principal has been employed in the school, and the future prospects are exceedingly bright and promising.

The school building, although recently constructed, is overcrowded, and should be enlarged so as to provide another class

.

room, and in providing for this class room a much-needed change in the toilet rooms can be made. The present toilet rooms are directly under the main stairway. They are poorly ventilated, and the odor rising from them permeates the entire building. It is especially noticeable in the large school room on the second floor. There is also only one passageway leading to these toilet rooms, and both boys and girls are compelled to pass down this hallway, which is in direct violation of the Public School Law requiring the entire separation of the toilet rooms or closets for the sexes. Both of these serious objections could be completely obviated in providing for the addition for the class room. This I consider a much-needed improvement; it is almost imperative, and I urge most emphatically that provision be made for the same.

The interest shown by the pupils in the study of music is very great, and the advancement is most gratifying. We are, however, crippled considerably by the lack of instruments, those now in the institution having been in constant use for a number of years; they are practically worn out, and should be replaced by new ones.

Athletics are always an interesting feature, and, I might add, a necessary one, in all of the modern schools. Our boys have shown great interest in all athletic games. The foot ball team deserves especial mention, having lost only two games during the season, and they have played with teams of considerable reputation, such as that of the Central High School of Buffalo, and the High Schools of Bradford, Dunkirk, Gowanda, Springville and other villages in this vicinity.

The work of the industrial branch of the school has been very limited, owing to the lack of proper facilities, and of an

instructor in carpentry. This instructor in carpentry has been provided for by the salaries classification committee, and we expect to employ one in the near future. A number of the boys, however, have worked with the temporary carpenter, who was employed for a portion of the year, and considerable aptitude and much interest has been shown in this line of work. It has demonstrated conclusively to the minds of us all that these boys are capable of learning the trades, and that they can be developed into good workmen. In this connection, I wish to again urge upon you the importance of providing an industrial school building. I have repeatedly recommended this improvement in my annual reports, and am convinced more and more each year of its necessity. I feel that a great mistake is being made, and an injustice is being done to the institution in delaying the means for prosecuting this most important branch of instruction. A practical education and training is what these children need, and the sort that they must have to fit them for fields of usefulness.

Manual training is recognized by all modern educators as a necessary adjunct to the public schools, and it is being adopted in nearly all of the city schools with very satisfactory results. If it be beneficial for the white children, it is doubly so for these Indian boys and girls, for there are not as many ways open to them for earning a livelihood as there are open to the white children, and when the State recognizes this fact and provides the way of giving these Indian boys and girls a practical industrial training, it will soon see long strides toward civilization, and a greater independence on the part of the individual Indians.

This industrial building has been approved in the plan and general scheme of the institution by those in authority, and it