the settlers great annoyance by camping near residences, their horses at the same time breaking into inclosures. I would recommend that agents be instructed to keep the Indians on their several reservations as closely as possible. You were some time ago advised of the murder of two Indian women on Lost River. The husband of one of the murdered women is a white man named Lee, who was charged with the crime. I offered a reward of $1,000 for his arrest and conviction. Lee was subsequently apprehended in California, and returned to this Territory from the State of Nevada.

He has been tried in the county of Alturas and found guilty of murder in the second degree, and is now in the United States penitentiary at Boisé City.

This is the only case of crime and bloodshed between the whites and Indians I have at present to report.

The general condition of the Indians in the Territory may be said to be good, and when they have all received their lands in severalty, I believe they will be contented, and their advancement in the line of civilization more rapid.

UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY.

This penitentiary is located two miles east of Boisé City, on a tract of land owned by the United states, and is under the charge of the United States marshal.

This penitentiary in its present condition is inadequate to accommodate or keep with safety the large number of convicts now incarcerated within its walls, and reflects discredit to a great and humane government.

Governor Stevenson in his report last year forcibly presented the necessity of enlargement, wherein he said:

In each cell two prisoners are now confined, where the capacity is only suited and intended for one.

The prisoners are clothed and fed, and crowded into these cells without any employment, and only kept there by the guns of the guards.

The wall now surrounding the penitentiary is constructed of frail inch boards.

In the sundry civil appropriation act, approved October 2, 1888, an appropriation of $25,000 was made for the improvement and enlargement of this penitentiary. May I ask if this appropriation can not be reached and become available in the construction of a new building without serious delay?

If it is not in conflict with the act of February 23, 1887, I respectfully request that the United States marshal be authorized to employ the prisoners in taking out stone from the quarry near by, for the purpose of surrounding the penitentiary with a good and substantial stone wall. This, I think, would not be construed as hiring out the convicts. There are several good stone masons among these prisoners.

I can not present too strongly the importance of hastening these much needed improvements. They are required for the safe-keeping of the desperadoes and murderers there confined, that they may not be permitted to escape to commit new depredations.

On their part they have a right to expect humane treatment, which is out of the question in their present crowded condition.

I append the report of the warden in charge.

UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY, Near Boisé City, Idaho, October 7, 1889. SIR: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit the following report in regard to the United States penitentiary, in which is confined the Territorial prisoners of Idaho.

The prison inclosure is about 450 feet long by 225 feet wide, and is surrounded by a board fence built a number of years ago out of one-inch lumber, which has been repaired from time to time as necessity required to keep it from falling down. It is about 12 feet high, very frail, and could be easily scaled; and the prisoners are only kept within the confines of the same by the vigilance of the armed guards, who are posted in sentry houses on said fence during the day.

The cell-house is built of stone taken from a quarry on the prison grounds, and has, in all, 27 windows, of which only two are wholly ironed; 11 are only ironed on the lower portion, while the remaining 14 have no irons at all. The larger portion of the 27 windows are easily accessible from the cells and walks leading to the same, and afford an avenue of escape from the cell-house.

The block is built of brick of an inferior quality and is very poorly constructed; it contains 42 cells 6 by 8 feet, which are very poorly ventilated, and in the larger portion of which I am at the present time compelled to confine two prisoners, which not only adds insecurity to their safe keeping, but is injurious to their health, as the capacity is only suited and intended for one.

There is no employment for the prisoners; hence they are locked in their cells, with the exception of about four hours each day, when they are turned out in the yard for exercise, being closely watched by the armed guards.

There are confined in the prison at the present time 66 Territorial prisoners and 3 United States prisoners, as per the inclosed report, showing the number and nativity of each, and the sentence of those for life; also, those for ten years and over.

The sanitary condition of the prison is very poor; there is no sewerage; the waste water from the kitchen and wash-house is conveyed in wooden boxes just outside of the yard, and allowed to spread over the ground. Portions of it are absorbed in the sandy soil while some of it remains and sends forth offensive odors, especially in warm weather, while the privy used by the prisoners during the day, and in which is thrown the slops from the cell-house, has to be moved from place to place in the yard as necessity requires.

There is a scarcity of water at the prison. That which is used for drinking and culinary purposes is procured from a spring about one-fourth of a mile above the prison, on the hill, and conveyed to the same in wooden and iron pipes. The spring is very small, and should the number of prisoners increase to 80 or 100, the supply of water for the above purposes would be entirely inadequate.

On the prison grounds, and but a short distance from the prison, is a splendid stone quarry from which could be procured at a very little expense all the stone necessary for building additional prison room, besides building a good, strong, and substantial wall around the prison, and thus add security to the safe-keeping of the prisoners, as their chances of escape would, with such a wall, be greatly reduced. By a small addition to the force of guards now employed, the prisoners could be put at work quarrying and dressing the stone necessary for building purposes, besides other work necessary for the improvements mentioned, and thus not only reduce the expense of the improvements, but be beneficial to their health, and far more humane than keeping them locked up two in a cell, 6 by 8 feet, eighteen to twenty hours per day.

And now in conclusion, I wish to say that some of the improvements are actually necessary, and should be attended to at an early day, as they are required for the wants, safe-keeping, and health of the prison.

Very respectfully,

Hon. GEO. L. SHOUP,

Governor of Idaho.

INT 89-VOL III-26

J. D. SPRINGER, Warden United States Prison.

List showing nativity of convicts in the United States Penitentiary near Boisé City, Idaho, and the sentence of those for life; also those for ten years and over.

This fine structure is located in the heart of Boisé City, the capital of the Territory. It is the property of the United States, and cost the Government $81,000. It is greatly appreciated by those who are engaged in handling the products of our mines, as the Government pays transportation charges on bullion purchased at the office.

By reference to the following table it will be seen that the volume of business transacted has greatly increased.

Gold and silver bars manufactured at United States Assay Office, Boisé City, Idaho, commencing with fiscal year of 1884.

I append hereto a communication from Hon. J. W. Cunningham, Assayer in Charge.

UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICE,
Boisé City, Idaho, September 28, 1889.

SIR: The work of gathering statistics under the direction of the Mint Bureau will not be begun until after the close of the year. No data is in possession of this office, therefore, upon which to base an accurate estimate of the production of precious metals for the current year.

Owing to the unprecedented scarcity of water it is evident that the production of the placer mines will be less this year than has ever been known since the settlement of the Territory. However, the quartz mines of Owyhee, Boisé, and the northern counties are far exceeding their out-put for last year and will doubtless swell the total production of the Territory to nearly twice that of 1888.

The encouragement offered by the Government in paying the transportation charges on gold bullion purchased at this office, the miner thus realizing the mint value, is appreciated, as evidenced by the fact that the annual business of this institution now approximates $1,000,000, as against a little more than $100,000 a few years ago.

Very respectfully,

His Excellency GEO. L. SHOUP,

Governor.

BOISÉ BARRACKS.

J. W. CUNNINGHAM,
Assayer in Charge.

I am indebted to Lieut. Frank B. Andrus, post-adjutant, for the following data:

This post was established in July, 1863. Geographically it is in latitude 43° 37', and longitude, 116°; altitude, 2,812 feet. Located in Boisé Valley, about one-half mile from Boisé City.

The climate is mild; mercury seldom higher than 100° Fah. in summer, or below zero in winter. Suspension of drills, etc., on account of cold weather is practically unknown.

The post buildings are constructed for a garrison of two companies-one of infantry and one of cavalry. Quarters are for but six officers.

It is at present the only occupied military post between Fort Douglas on the south and Fort Walla Walla on the north, and between Fort Washakie on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

In view of this point being the Territorial capital, and for twenty years to be the State capital; the construction of railroads present and prospective; the extension of the Idaho Central, Chicago and Northwestern, and Oregon Pacific; the abundance and cheapness of supplies in the immediate vicinity; the amount of lumber and brick manufactured in the vicinity; the advantage of excellent company gardens; the room available; the size, population, wealth, resources, etc., of the Territory, it would seem that this post should be enlarged to accommodate the headquarters of a regiment and at least four companies. It is estimated that the cost of such enlargement would be about $100,000. The abundance and cheapness of supplies at this place, and the increasing railway facilities for moving in any direction, etc., point to this place as suitable for a permanent post.

FORT SHERMAN OR FORT CŒUR D'ALENE.

This fort is located on the northern extremity of Coeur d'Alene Lake, in Kootenai County, and near the line of Washington Territory. It is a five-company post. The location of this post being so near the border, its influence is but little felt in this Territory. Its importance, however, is felt and appreciated by the people of Washington Territory and by those of our own in the extreme northwestern counties.

In view of the fact that this post is so distant from the central part of the Territory, I again urge the importance of increasing the barracks at Boisé City to a four or five company post.

CAPITOL BUILDING AT BOISE CITY.

The Territory has constructed, unaided by Congress, a capitol building, at a cost, including furniture, of about $85,000.

The ground was furnished by the city corporation, but is now being improved by the Territory at an expense of $15,000.

The capitol is a most substantial building, the basement being solid masonry, while the main structure is of the best quality of brick, and is heated by latest improved heating apparatus. The capitol contains a spacious suite of rooms for the governor; another for the surveyorgeneral; two rooms for the Territorial secretary, and single rooms for the superintendent of public instruction, the controller, the United States attorney, and for an armory. These are all upon the first floor. On the same floor is the magnificent library room, with a collection of books, believed the largest and best owned by any Territory of the United States. On the second floor are the council chamber, representatives' hall, the supreme court room, the judges' chambers, and various committee rooms. The third floor is connected with the galleries, and also has book rooms and committee rooms. Every part of the capitol building is elegantly finished and furnished.

INSANE ASYLUM.

The Territory has at Blackfoot, Bingham County, an asylum for the insane. This is a large three-story building. There are seventy-two acres of land in connection with the asylum, a portion of which is under cultivation. The building and grounds have cost the Territory approximately about $40,000. The institution is under the immediate control of Dr. John W. Givens, who is the medical superintendent, under the direction of the board of trustees, consisting of Messrs. I. N. Costin, O. P. Johnson, and N. A. Just. Dr. Givens is peculiarly adapted to have charge of this important institution, and is entitled to great credit. I submit herewith his report:

The movements of the asylum population for the year have been as follows: Number of patients in the asylum at the beginning of the year, viz, on July 1, 1888: 35 males, 11 females; total 46. Number of patients admitted during the year: 20 males, 10 females; total 30. Whole number of patients under treatment during the year 55 males, 21 females; total 76. Daily average number of patients in the asylum for year: 533. Number of patients discharged: 8 males, 3 females; total 11. Number of patients died: 3 males; total 3. Number of patients remaining in the asylum at the end of the year, viz, June 30, 1889: 44 males, 18 females; total 62. Of the 11 patients discharged, 7 males and 1 female were well; 2 males were improved, and 1 male was unimproved. Of those discharged as well, all but 1 had been here less than one year. One had been here twenty months. The general health of the patients has been good. The death rate, 4 per cent., is the lowest since the opening of th easylum. There have been no serious accidents to life or limb during the year, and no successful elopements.

The more competent patients have been more or less constantly employed in farm and garden and housework; the plowing, seeding, hoeing, cultivating and harvesting; the ditch-making and irrigating, together with making the patients' clothing; the cooking, washing and ironing; the general household duties of keeping the wards in order; the care of the sick, aged and helpless, continuing to provide an increasing amount and variety of employment for them.