The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-04
FROM FORT WADsWORTH.
0FF6CTS OF DRLAY IN INDIAN RIPHDE.
aaONs-sOFFAL0 HUNTTNq-TH8 HAY


From Our R.ssl,r Correspondents.
fosr WADswoRsu, D. T., July 20.
To the Editor Of tie Psouee- ,,
We are still without anv fre.. ,-,.
There is no doubt that the ho,,;,. s.A 1--we.
annuity bands are in the vicinity of Turtle
Mountain, prepared to cross the bonn. -
whenever any troops approach their s.s nne
location. The hostile Yanktonias. &c en'
most probably high up the Missouri, or on w
west side of that river.
It's matter of deep regret that in organic.
ing expeditions to the Indian country, there is
always such delays that the Indians ascertain
the route, object and force of each in time to
make the necessary arrangements to elude
them. 1t is more than probable that the Sioux
against whom the Sd Illinois cavalry expect to
Operate have the necessary information at
this time, to enable them to avoid the troops
and render the expedition frritless.
Te be successful, impromtu expeditions
should go against the hostile Indians, when
they are located within reach of troops and
scouts from frontier post.
The Buffalo are coming down the James and
Cheyenne rivers in large numbers, which indi.
Gates that they are being hunted towards the
head OF those streams. 1t may be by some of
the sioux bands, but more probably the Red
River half breeds.
Some OF the scouts went out with the sur
rendered Indians short time since and made o
very successful hunt. Gabriel Renville killed
sixteen, and Charles Crawford killed fourteen
highest number ever killed by two men in one
run. Twenty-one is said to have been killed
in one run by two Red River hunters, but the
report is not generally credited by other hun
tiers. ReEville and Crawford used Henry's
rifles, and every shot brought down buffalo.
There is considerable cussing and discussing
of the advertisement of the chief quartermaster
of this district, for bids for furnishing hay at
this and other posts. The great objection to it
appears to be the late date prescribed for open.
ing the bids, and the early period designated
for the delivery of the hay in the post stack
yard. From July 81 (when. the bids are to be
opened) until the 18th of September (when the
hay must all be delivered). but forty-five days
intervene. Deducting fifteen days for perfect
ing the contract, getting on the ground, and
for the usual wet weather, leaves but thirty
days in which to deliver the 800 tons of hay re-
quired at this post. To deliver that quantity
in the specification, twehty-seven tons must be
delivered daily, to be hauled from eight to
twenty miles over the broken land on the Co
team whoro hrt l;tflo m oro thov half a to,, roc
be kept on q wagon. This state of affairs
throws the "small fry" out OF the ring, as
they cannot, after the bids are awarded, pro-
vide the requisite number of teams to do the
work in time to meet the obligations under
which the contracts are to be made, and con.
fines the bids of the heavy transportation con-
tractors (who have long trains of teams in the
country at any figures they may stipulate.
But this has always been Uncle Sans system
of economy. Had the contracts for the hay
required in this military district been let early
in June, when men of small means would have
had time to prepare for the work, there would
have been chance for fair competition, and
the cost of the hay would have been at least
two dollars per ton less in the aggregate. This
would have saved our good Uncle about
$40, 900 in the article of hay alone
The hay for this post, am satisfied, will
cost from s. to % per ton more than it would
had the contract been let in June, and from 81
to 81 more per ton than it would, had the con-
tractor been required to cut and cure the hay
by the 18th of September, and been allowed
until the LIST of November to complete the de-
livery.
But giving the contract in June, or extend
ing the time of delivery through October,
would each have violated the well established
system of governmental economy, which, in
contradistinction to the economy practised by
individuals in their daily business, requires
that supplies of all kinds shall cost the neither
most bawbee that conscientious contractors can
be induced to receive for them.
But as / am not interested beyond very
small tax, in Uncle Sans purchaser, will
even let him pursue his system of economy in
his own way, especially as he will do so re-
CARELESS of any suggestions might make in
reference to it.
was led into reference to this subject by
hearing very animated debate upon it this Of.
ternoon, by persons who had pretensions to
become contractors until they saw the adver-
tisenent for proposals. That document dam
pened their patriotism and caused them to
abandon the field of competition, simply be-
cause they could not reconcile the necessary
outlay to the meagre condition of their bank
accounts, and could not, like Joshua, com.
mand the sun and moon to stand still, and be
obeyed. Yours as ever,
G. HARMIN.
a LARGE PARTY.-On Friday last party of
emigrants from Fremont County, Iowa, arriv-
ed at this place and camped for few hours,
about noon. There were 136 persons in the
company, with "a wagons 40 horses, $50 sheep,
200 head of cattle, and large quantity Of
The stock was, much of it, unusually good.
This party comprises among it's numbers, wag.
on-makers, blacksmiths, shoe makers, chair