The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-10
Gen. Sheridan's Annual Report.

WASHINGTON. Nov. %. Following j. the
concluding portion Of the annual report Of
Lieut.. zen. sheridan:
THE BLACK HILLS.
! earnestly recommend some action which
will settle this Black Hills question, and re-
iieve a. from an exceedingly disagreeable
and embarrassing duty. feel quite salts
ned that all the country south II the Yellow
stone River. from the Black Hills II the
Cheyenne a. far west a. the Big Horn Valley,
and perhaps a. far west a. Clark : 4 Ork Of the
Ow-tOne. J. sOld-bearing. but A. 20 the
amount ~ gold deposit cannot say: IL MSS
be- great, or II may be snail. This area a.
alsO. AT many places, well timbered, has
many beautiful valleys OF rather high alti-
tude, with good soil and abundance Of run
ming water Nearly the whole Of IL j. well
adapted 70 grazing purposes. the grass being
principally bunch grass. " ith 20 little rain
Ia the fall and winter n 20 let the grass cure
on the ground and make better hay on the
stalk than II cut and cured in the usual man
ner. The winters are. have every reason
20 believe. very cold. but the temperature
J. uniform; the cold weather i found 70 be
les injurious 10 stock, where there Is no
shelter. than a milder climate where cattle
are subjected 10 the changes 81 alternate
freezing and ihlwing, and where
the rains rot the grass. ! make thi, state
meut from having studied this country for a
long time. and in order that my superior.
who viii. before long. have 10 deal with the
question Of the Black Hills. may be able 10
better appreciate the Interests ~ All con-
cerned. be they white or red. The Sioux
indians. numbering about -. 900. now hold
this extensive and perhaps very valuable
country. and in addition. the belt eastward
from the base II the Black Hills u the
CHEYENNE 10 the Missouri River. which
would make about 10 900 acres Of land for
the head Of each family. and perhaps much
more. without one single acre being cult-
waited. whilc the maximum amount given by
the Government 20 an adult white settler l.
only 1913 acres. on which he has 70 live build
a hut. put up fences. till the ground, and
pay taxes. Hence much Of the trouble ~
protecting Indian reservations: the hardy
pioneer having very little consideration for
the red man who has 80 much and l. still 30
idle and worthless.
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
II would have been better II the Indians
had been considered part 81 the population
Of the United >tatcs. and dealt with gener-
Ou>ly; and when forced on reseTvations-
which j. always the ease-let them be reason
able in size, subject to especial rule and gov
eminent, until they are fitted 10 obey the
ordinary laws ~ the country for the control
II all our people. But, az present. we see
the ridiculous anomaly Of having the most
stringent laws, municipal. state. and Fed
eral. with penalties such A. imprisonment in
HfIlNfnlttNit-. anu even tNt ~tAlNN~s ANl iif
government Of intelligent white people.
while we are attempting 10 govern
these poor. wild sayagc~, without any power
over them. or any law ~ all. The ob>crva-
ton ~ many years in my own command.
aud throughout most Of the Indian coun-
Try for the last twenty year, has left the
impression that this system Of civiliZng
the wild portion Of our Indian in
hahitants has not met with success which
gives a fair equivalent for the expense.
trouble. and bloodshed which has attend
ell %. | believe there j. true humanity in
making the -erations reasonably small,
dividing them into tracts for the heads of
families. making labor gradually compulso-
~. and even compelling the children 10 90
10 school. To accomplish this purpose, 10
ciyilixe. make self-~upporting. and save
many more " these poor people than ether
wise will I've saved. believe IL hest 10 trans
fer the Indian Bureau 20 The military. and
1T il be taken under the general admiuis-
trliion ~ the army. governed and controls
ed in responsibility II accounts Ia accord
ancc with our present system. The Indians
will thus be humaHcly aud honestly dealt
with. and believe If this had always been
the case. there would have been hut few of
the troubles and bloody records which have
characterized the civilization ~ the Indians
in the many years gone by.
To meet the troubles which will originate
from the Black Hills question. and to he in
advance ~ them when they come. and b.
letter able t. deal with them. directed.
without expense 20 the Government. an cN-
plOration ~ the Yellowstone River Last
spring. and selected two sites Tor military
posts. one M the mouth " the Big Horn. the
other ~ the mouth ~ the Tongue River.
both iu the Valley oi the Yellowstone. These
stations can d. supplied by steamboats,. aud
will have - important bearing on the SET
Element of the sioux Indian question that !
earnestly recommend that Congress BE- call-
=, upon % give authority for theire-tahlsh-
mcnt and the necessary funds FOR their con-
~truCfiDn.
fNpIAN CAMPAIGNS.
In Toe Department, " the Missouri. the
camraign a.ain>t the Ch,yennc.. kiowas.
and ,umnnthe-. was finished early ~ the
spring and the ringlradcl- and worst crimi- |
nals separated from the tribes and sent ~
Fort Marion. Fla. Ihis campaign was not
on, VERY comprehensive. hut was the most
succcs.ftil 20 any Indian campaign ~ this