The New York herald., 1877-12-26

10 their interest remain at peace. somc OF the
Bannocks, however, could not DO restrained from
Stealing. aud two of the band attacked and killed tso
freighters on tho Montana aud Corinnc road good
many cattle were killed. and although their loss was
charged UP 10 stragglers from Joseph's band. no
doubt the Bannacks had hand n tho slaughter Mr.
Harkness' ncrder saw four indaos skinning beef
ard when he approached them they fred on him and
chased him several miles The Lerdcr believed tlia;
they were Bannock Indians, as tncrc wero noac Of
Joseph's people IN that part OF the country at the
time. The citizens along tho cornnc road nearly all
believed that 4 Joseph had beoa successful at Big
Hole tho Banaocks would have Joined HIM IN body.
Many people scnt away their women and children ss
m uch from fear OF tho BannocKs OF Joseph and
his band.
TIE DANGER rue nAxSocss
These Baonocks nave their agency on the snake
River, In the southeastern part OF ldsho Inc ROAD
which all the travel IRON Montana passes IN win
Ter time runs through their reservation and close by
the agency. Ths road also tho man stage anu
freight route from Corinnc, The Union Pacinc Rail
way, 70 Montana, Southern Idaho and Sorthcfn
Utah. II II wcrc closed ihcro would be no travel from
Montana 10 The States during i've months IN tnc
year. so important thoroughinre could not remain
closed long, even if u took onc-half OF The uM.cd
States army 10 keep II open; yet the Bannocks
hayo it in their power to osc IL any moment and
cut on whole Territory from communication with
the States Great anxiety on account OF their loca-
iion as well as disposition has been !eli, and the
BanDocks to-day an important menace 10 the ctl-
Of three Territories. y they should break our
they could overrun Idaho, Utah and Montana and de-
stroy hundreds OF lives ana millions OF property be-
tore they cou.u he checked.
COMBINED PowgR THE BAxNoCKs AND SNAKES.
The BunnocKs livo with The snake Indians. with
whom thoy Inlermarrled and closely assi1natcd.
The Snakes number eo4 and The Bannocks 64S Souls
If the. bannocks went the Snakes would un-
dcuDSediy 60 with them, and the government would
have 1872 hostile Indians on It's hands-moro than
Joseph had all his campaigns last sumner. The
Snakes have in their band 5l4 females anu 469 males.
Bannocks $50 females and Z79 males. The Two
bands could muster ana put in The saddle $50 good
fighting men, well armed and equipped. The bands
5000 head VI horses, some mules. cattle and
SWINE. Tho reservation contains 100 square
which only 5000 acres are SAID 10 be siiiable
Last year the government cultivated 100 acres
bushels OF wheat and the Indians 1000 Tno indians
ana agent raised jointly 70 bushels OF barley and
3025 bushels OF vegetables. besides cutting 10, 600
feet OF lumber 800 cords oil wood and 160 tons OF hay
OF thoir subsistence tho Snakes aud Bannocks raised
ten per cent fishing and hunting furnished sixtylvc
per cent ana the government Issued twenty-five per
cents ra!ions.
Forty OF the Indians wear cizens' dress; one lives
in house. have learned to read and eight are
church members. They have two school buildings
but only one school,. There teachers but only
five female scholars over $1,000 was expended
last year education, but the Indians took
little interest In the matter, and Il s no! believed they
will ever become educated or civilized 10 any great
extent in these bands. They hold their res
ervation by treaty. made July 1865 and executive
orders dated June ii, 1867, and July 80, 1859. The
Snakes are allowed by the government, for the pur-
OF clothing annually, $l3 S74 for the purchase
OF such articles as may be proper by the
Secretary Of the Interior annually $4,000; Tor pay
of physician, carpenter, teacher, engineer, farmer
ana blacksmith, annually $1,000; for blacksmith's
in1p aos arc allowed Tor Of
clothing So 000 ior tho purchase Of such articles
S4, 600; tho pay OF physician, carpenter, miller.
teacher, engineer, farmer aud blacksmith, S5,OO0
The Snakes have yet due them twenty Three install
mcnts for clothing and four Tor goods from the lnte-
rior Department. The Rannocks have due them
twenty-tnree annual instalmcnis for clothing and
three for goods from the Interior Department
Mr. W. Ii. Danicson, agent for the Snakes and BAN
nocks, gives the following interesting intelligence
ubout these Indians in recent report TO the Com
msso ner OF lnoian AIair5.-
sWhile the Indians assembled at tho agency In
Novcmber last accurate obtained. Each
lodge was visited and the number Of men, women and
children There we're 39s Bannocks. 964 Snakes,
and il was estimated 250 Bannocks absent the
,ualo country. The total of both bands belonging to
he agency is l6l2.
sUPfERINGs LAST WINTER
"Last winter, although the stictost economy was |
,scd in The dstroulon Of iood oniy half ralions OF
Jour- beef and potatoes being issued by tho LIST OF
March all lhe flour and nearly all the beef Ind been
Had u not been Tor the wheat crop raised
N the agency farm from which CO. 900 pounds OF aour
Terc made, the Indians must have starved AS II was
had 10 stop the general issue the 10th OF April,
from that date furnish food only to the families OF
armers, agency employees and the old and inlrm In
iians making IN all about tnree hundred persons led
turing the summer.
.rhe rations OF more than ono thousand Indians
gere cut OIL, ana they were throYn upon their own
Tor living at season Of the year when the
mount aims and foothills covered with snow and
u country where there IL scarcely any game Large
numbers Of men and women came TO my Office begging
pitcously tor food stating that their children were
;rying tor bread. aud while we'll know what they
,aid true, nad nothing to give them. 1t is not
IN easy matter describe how agent with any ee
ngs OF humanity is affected undcr these circum
stances. II s always difficult to convince Indians that
not the iau OF the agent that more food is not iur
nished. The Snakes ana Baunocks however, be-
hayed most admirably under their misfortunes, and
eft the agency with sad and sorrowtu hearts,
INDUSTRY.
rwenty-four families cultivated 40 acres of land
hcr own raised 800 bushels Of potatoes ana 600
bushels of wheat, worth $4,000 They we're coz
stantly ut work on their crops or engaged
and cellars. had $500 allowed, ana with
enabled furnish thcm Seeds shovcls picks
rcaping hooks. six ploughs four sets Of harness anc
pther articles They raised some golden fields OF grain
by their labor, and seemed thoroughly
about the work OF farming. The success OF those who
worked seemed to have great influence on Others and
spring.
the labor available Tor armin purposes could be more
prohtaby employ ed on farm Of that size than on
Iarger Fifty wcrc sown IN wheat, the bal
ance dressed with hoavy coating OF manure and
planted IN vegetables The potatoes failed TO up
in places, which materially reduced tho yicd. The
cause Of their not growing well atributabe to their
having been overhcated IN collar. Our crops made
about 900 bushels OF wheat, ten bushels oil onions
900 heads Of cabbage and $500 bushels OF potatoes
al worth about So 900. We put up $50 tons oil hay,
worth 81 200 800 cords oil wood, worth $l,5cO 1.50O
Of iogs, worth $500, and logs Tor corral worth
$780, All the work done ny Indians, except one
whe man 10 assist. under tho direction OF the head
farmer
1--WE have twenty-five Indian children at school,
i've OF whom are girls, under the OF Mrs. Daniel
son, and twenty Indian boys, under the SUPERVISION
oil Rev. J. NJ JamIson. Tho average daily attendance
nj sch is scholars. The children learned
rapidly and seemed 10 take great interest In their
studes."
There Is no regular minister at the'agency nor any
provision Tor supporting one. The agency Is under
the supervision oil the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The reference made by Sir. Danicison to the labor
and education of The Indians is most encouraging.
There is provision In the treaty made with those
Indians which reads as follows:-
ssWhen the head OF a family or lodge shall have
selected land aud received his certificate, and tho
shall be satisfied that he intends In good faith 10
commence cultvaiing the soil lor ivug, he shall lie
entitled 10 receive seeds aud agricultural implements