School Utilities

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a copy of a letter from the Carlisle Gas and Water Company regarding cost of water while the Barracks is occupied. Pratt requests permission to resume payment of a long-standing water contract, as requested by the company.

Richard Henry Pratt suggests to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that constructing a boiler for heating would be more efficient and less laborious.

Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs R. E. Trowbridge regarding a delay in approval for his request for a $6,000 general heating system at the Carlisle Indian School.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group…

Richard Henry Pratt request the authority to buy an annual supply of coal, approximately 400 tons, for $2,280.00. Pratt notes that he normally purchases coal monthly, but he'd rather buy a full year's supply to avoid having it shipped in the winter.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were…

Richard Henry Pratt requests $800 from the Commissioner of Affairs to supplement funds he has raised from donors in order to install a heating apparatus in the boys quarters. Pratt states that last winter, the male students were very cold at night and suffered from illnesses due to their current heating system, which relies on coal stoves.…

Richard Henry Pratt requests funds to recruit students from the Sisseton, Green Bay, and La Pointe agencies and to install steam heating in the buildings at the school.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters…

Richard Henry Pratt explains to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the price of lumber has increased by 25% since building the chapel. He also describes his issues in obtaining funding to install steam heating in the boys' quarters, and due to lack of funds, requests to postpone building a new hospital until the heating is finished.

Richard Henry Pratt requests to purchase a four foot extension to the school's cooking range and two copper boilers totaling $126. He explains that the current range is too small to accommodate the recent increase in students.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the…

Richard H. Pratt submits this Monthly School Report for October 1882.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that the new school building is too large for any of the boilers at Carlisle. Pratt further requests that he be authorized to purchase a boiler from the Star Steam Heater Co.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards sends plans and specifications for adding on to the girls dormitory due to only receiving half of the appropriation for the building. Pratt also discusses the need for the new building in order to eliminate crowding. Included are seven enclosures including blueprints for the building, plan for the water closets, and…

Richard Henry Pratt proposes amending his previous authority to abandon the Smead Willis system for the girls quarters due to its failures in the Public Schools of Cleveland as well as other difficulties raised by their employees and engineers. In addition, Pratt asks for 12 new closet fixtures, the changing of 10 sets of old fixtures to the…

Richard Henry Pratt writes to Thomas J. Morgan to provide an update on various aspects of the Carlisle Indian School including the construction of the Girls Quarters, the Hospital addition, and the barn. In addition, he provides an update on the status of the number of students at Carlisle and on outing, the harvest from the farms, and the…

Richard Henry Pratt provides a report responding to questions from the Office of Indian Affairs on the needs of the Carlisle Indian School. Included are discussions on the need for more land, additional educational needs, and industrial training including the limitations of the industrial instruction received at Carlisle.

Pratt also…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to Office of Indian Affairs letter requesting an estimate of the amount needed for support for fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. Pratt provides the enrollment statistics for the school and its capacity during the past year. In addition Pratt proposes building employee housing in order to have them on the campus at…

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to spend $150 to rent a telephone.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to install electric lighting at the Carlisle Indian School and pay an annual cost for the use of electric lights. Pratt notes that the use of coal-oil lamps has been a great anxiety due to the threat of fire and the use of electric lights would be of a great advantage in the care and safety of the school…

Captain Richard H. Pratt requests to spend $203.00 on the purchase of hardwood for the bakery, coal oil for lighting buildings, and postage stamps for students.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has gone ahead and installed electric lights using the Charity Fund and believing that there would be no objection if the annual cost was less than the previous system. Pratt indicates that there was a small increase in price which he requests to be covered by his Government…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that the Carlisle Indian School needs to make a change in their drainage. Pratt proposes to dig a cesspool and purchase terra cotta pipe.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that following the installation of electric lights the Carlisle Indian School has a number of used and new lamps which are no longer needed. Pratt notes that the lamps could be sent to Western Schools with credit provided to Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt provides an overview of the Carlisle Indian School's switch to electricity from oil lamps at the request of the Office of Indian Affairs.

Richard Henry Pratt provides an estimate for the fiscal year 1898 at the request of the Office of Indian Affairs.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to spend $100 to make repairs to buildings, water and steam pipes, and machinery at the Carlisle Indian School before the end of the fiscal year.

Richard Henry Pratt replies to a circular from the Office of Indian Affairs by providing his estimate for the 1899 fiscal year. Pratt requests authority to have 1,000 students at Carlisle and on outing in addition to various plans to improve the physical plant of the school.