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[[preprinted]] 347 [[/preprinted]]

Ft. Lapwai Idaho.
Oct 8, 189[[5?]]

Hon. Commission of Indian Affairs:
Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Sept 21st marked "M. in which you ask me for suggestions relative to an Indian office exhibit in the Worker's Fair at Chicago.

As to the [[?]]:  The work of the Indian office is a [[?]] in as much as it has to deal with a diversity of sociological conditions which are complicated by most varied geographical environments.  In the [[forests?]] in the North; on the [[coast of the Sh?]]; in the midst of the Mountains and arid plains; and upon the broad [[?]] of prairies, the office is confronted with the problem of protecting the rights of two diverse people, who have been since their meeting on this continent ^[[?]] [[old?]], and to more or less contact not understanding.  It is also changed with the task of enlightening, educating and preparing one of these peoples, the Indians, to take their place as citizens in the middle of their [[?]], and it is