Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-10
FROM CHEYENNE AGENCY.

from Our Ira yelling Representative.
Special Correspondence Press aud Dakotaian.
CHEYENNE AGENCY, Aug. Z. 1878.
Our up river journey ended at this point.
where we arrived Yesterday morning.
The military post and Iodiau agency are
pleasantly located on a high plateau of land
on the west bank Of the Missouri river.
some 10 or Is miles below the mouth of the
Cheyenne. This is In what might be called
the "gumbo range" and the appearance of
the soil aud vegetation indicate that 1t Is
not desirable or tolerable for agricultural
purposes. As a grazing and stock raising
section, however, we believe it has advan-
tages which will make it valuable for these
purposes, providing 1t should ever pass out
Of the possession Of the Indians.
The garrison at this post is composed of
four companies of the 10th infantry, under
the command of Col. ". H. Wood, whom
we found a very courteous gentleman, and
to whom we are indebted for valuable in.
formation in regard to the post and the In.
diane belonging to this agency.
The buildings at the post, especially those
for the accommodation of the military, are
not as good as we expected to find them.
They are composed of cheap material, hasti.
ly put together, aud lack the three essen.
tials of appearance, comfort and stability.
The officers dwellings are passably good
but insufficient in number. The building
for the soldiers quarters is a Ion !, two story,
cheaply built affair, and has been so racked
and twisted by the wind that it is only kept
10 position by a long line of props on each
side. AT the approach ola high wind the
soldiers tumble out Of it like bees out of
hive, and "stan the storm" rather than risk
themselves inside the shaky fabric. A new
hospitable building is being erected, to re
pace the old and unsuitable building nov
used for that purpose. 1t is being built I'm
der the superintendency of our old friend
G. X. Poor.
The Indians at this agency are composed
of four bands. one each of Minneconioes Sans
Arcs, Black feet and Two Kettles and number
in the aggregate by actual count, two thous.
and souls-or probably more properly
speaking, head-and to this number rations
are now being issued. The records of the
office show that during the incumbency Of
Agent Bingham rations were issued to 5000
Indians The system adopted by the presen,
Agent, Major Theodore Schwar, for the issue
of rations is a good one, and precludes the
possibility of the Indians receiving more
than they are entitled TO. He requires that
an adult male of each family shall be pres
ent at the agency OH each weekly issue day
or if detained by sickness or other good cause
the fact must be represented to the agent
supported by satisfactory proof. If these
conditions are not complied with it works a
forfeiture Of the %rations. The adoption o,
this rule enables the agent to know at least
once a week whether the Indians are all on
the agency and has had the effect of stopping
the habit of strolling off to %neighborine
agencies and to the hostile camps.
These Indians have been disarmed and
dismounted not only in name but in fact
As a consequence, although but a few years
ago they were regarded as among the worst
on the river, many of them being with
Sitting Bull at the time of the Custer massa.
ere, they are quiet, tractable and seemingly
we'll disposed.
They got in exchange for the ponies taken
from them 449 cows and four bulls. These
COWS were delivered to them in October last,
and were distribute as equitably as possible
to the heads of families in the four bands.
Each Indian receiving a COW was compelled
to sign a pledge that he would not kill, sell
or otherwise dispose of her or her offspring,
That they have observed this pledge is evi.
dentfrom the fact that at the enumeration and
inspection Of the cows in June last it was
found that they had lost but four COWS. and
these had died of natural causes, being old
and crippled when received. The inspec.
ton also showed that $50 calves had been
born, giving them a herd of 799 cattle, and
an increase of 342 since last October.
Lieutenant Brown, commander of
the scouts, who had charge of
the enumeration and inspection of the cat
tie in his report, says: Gail the cattle are
now in excellent condition, fat and gentle.
presenting as fine and thrifty appearance as
any lot of cattle I have ever seen at this
season of the year, and showing unmistaka-
BILE evidence of kind and careful treatment"
AT the time the horsee were taken from
the Indians, those which they were allowed
to retain were branded. This spring, wien
the ponies were inspected, between two and
three hundred were found which were not
branded. These were coniscated and sent
to Yankton and sold. Out of the proceeds
Of this sale 200 COWS have been purchased,
which are now on the road to the agency,
and will be distributed among the Indians,
giving them a herd of one thousand cattle.
The Indians milk the cows regularly, some
of them have learned how to make butter,
p ~ A. " -