The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-06-24
FROM INDIAN TERRITORY.
The Usage Is Building Fences
and HOuses--Lelfer from Agent
Sarney.
HoMING STATION, !
Usage AGENCY, 9th mo-, 10 day.

| Usage AGENCY, 9th mo-, 10 day.
EDITOR ADvERTIsER:-ln your IS
sue of May 9th | noticed an article
headed the "Noble Red Man, and on
reading it ] felt like making some
comments and stating q few facts
that | have had some experience in
since the action of Congress referred
to, as there was doubts expressed as
to the possibility Of carrying out such
measure. came here two years
ago the 18th of May, and was assign
ed post at this place, sixteen miles
south of the Agency, with the care Of
four bands, numbering nearly one
thousand. Two of the bands were
considered The widest Of the Usage
tribe, the other two had expressed
themselves willing to clvilize,but had
not made any improvement yet
About thirty families had breaking
done that year, and made few rails.
Last yeer they wanted mere breaking.
/ and three teams were furnished TO do
| ii, but the season was so dry that but
little was accomplished, and when the
annual report was made for the fiscal
year, last July, there was about sew
enty-iiv acres broken, in fields from
one to FIVE acres, and about twenty.
one thousand rails made. The break
ing this season is let by contract, to
be six hundred acres; and my report
for the first of next month, of rails
made, and nearly all in good stake
and ridered fence will be one hundred
and two thousand. including those in
last report, and all made by The In
diaus. except few who hired white
men with their own money to make
for them; many Of them have made
with their own hands, and put III
fence, from three to FIVE thousand
When that new regulation of Con-
gress, spoken Of, was Transmitted
through the proper departments to
the Agent. he informed the Indians
that all that wanted houses, that
would cut down their own logs and
assist in hewing and building their
houses, should have them, and after
it was ascertained about how many
would be needed, contract was let
for hundred houses for the Osages,
and the result is that thirty six Indian
houses have been built at this Post,
the last one completed to-day, all fur
nished with good stone chmneys,s size
of house lGx2o, story and half high.
We commenced issuing rations un-
der the new rule, the first of October,
and continued till the first Of April.
Since then they have to buy most Of
their provisions, except little beef
with their annuity money. In addi
tion to the work making rails and
building houses, they make roads and
dig down the steep banks OF creeks
so as TO make it passable with wag-
ons 10 almost any part of the country.
We are not SO particular about the
value Of the work accomplished as
we are the disposition to put in the
time and show a willingness to work
and Ito something for themselves
The Agent expects to help them to
get started, that is, to build their
houses, give them some furniture md
clothing, break them ten acres or
more, il they fence it, then give them
a wagon, harness, plow, and other
tools sufficient to cultivate their
ground, and then let them take care
of themselves, and encourage them
to keep hogs and cattle SO they can
raise their own meat. If the next two
years show as much improvement as
the last two have there will be but
few Osages but what can take care
of themselves.
l have thus spoken briefly of what
has been done under my own observa
ton, out the other bands Of Osages
are doing equally well. As all your
readers, perhaps, do not know where
the Usage bands are located, i will
just say the. Goth meridian is the east
line, Kansas the north line, and the
Arkansas river the south and west
line. The Kaw Indians having the
northwest corner. The Usage Reser-
walton containing about two thousand
five hundred square miles.
| ! think if the Government would
be prompt to do all that it agrees to
do for the Indian, and give them ra-
tions according to contract, there
would be no trouble in ciyilizing them,
but it is but little use to talk to
hungry Indien about work when he
can find any game or ANYTHING he can
steal, but feed them well aud they
will work. MOSES VARNEY.
A gang Of burglars went through
three dwelling houses in Charles
City, last Saturday night, and the
| haul onl,, oornrrnrra n al e,i IN fro aanfS