The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-08-22
The Condition Of the Pettawatemie In.
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IHOiron Signal

lhOitan Signal
The reserve Is 4 trae; u; land eleven
miles square, embracing an area Of ~
35..52 acres Of land. the greater portion Of
which is beautiful rolling prairie. II is es-
timated that about three-tenths Of this
land IS suitable for cultivation. some por-
tons OF il being rocky. The streams Of
Little and Biz Soldier and their tributaries
furnish plenty II water, and along the
banks timber is quite plentiful. The prai-
ne band of PottawatnnIir Indians hold this
reserve through treaty made with them
by the Government, At Council Bluffs, In
lsi6. This treaty Is similar in meaning Ia
a warranty deed. For and in considera-
ton of the sum III SO, 900. by the Indians
paid the government, they are Ia hold this
tract of land forever as their homes The
opinion exists that the government donated
this land 10 the Indians. but II Is not \
fact, as the treaty viii show.
Through different treaties made between
the wears 1895 and l,69. these Indians have
derived fund III sos. 600. which has been
placed Ia their credit on the books If the
Interior Department. The interest, AZ ;
per cent. per annum, i their annuity.
which is paid Ia them quarterly Another
erroneous idea exists about this annuity.
IL is thought by some that ii comes out of
the pocket Of Uncle sam, while In fact IL u
the interest on the Indians money held in
trust by the government. The Indians ~
ceiye nothing from the government but
what is actually due them.
AGRICULTURE.
Until five wears ago no farms cpuld b..
seen upon the upland. the Indians occupy
ing little patches Of ground along the
streams Since that time such rapid al
yancement In agriculture has been accom-
piished that their farms now number l0l
and they have coo acres under cultiva-
ton, four hundred acres 81 which have
been broken this year and will Ice planted
in fall wheat. Their farms are reaching
out on the high prairies and the work Of
making valuable and stable improvements
is rapidly going on. MANY 81 their homes
and surroundings are equal, and We might
say superior, Ia som. of those of the mors'
| civilized man. Good, tight fences. large
fields Of well cultivated corn that will yield
fifty bushels Ia the acre. cattle grazing on
the broad prairies. garden vegetables grow
ngsluXuriantly, greet the eve. and 10 seems
impossible Tor the observer Ia reconcile his
mind TO the fact that this Is the home 81
the -dusky savage. They have loo
head IL horses, ponies and mules. too head
| Of cattle and 900 hogs. Each Indian has,
| a wagon. harness and full set OF necessary
| agricultural implements; every household
er has n small orchard As each wear
comes and goes some new idea III agTt-
culture l. picked up and some obi method
dropped. They take pattern after white
| citizens, living contiguous 10 the reserve.
and those who are among them u instr1ic-
tors.
The industrial boarding school. located
| at the New Mission, fifteen miles southeas,
Of Holton, is under the sup.riDtendepce Of
John NJ. Newlin and is a prosperous insti-
tuition. cXerting a good influence. IL col :
| sists Of a handsome, conmodious schoo'
building. boarding house. laundry aud
b-.rn, costing sl2 .ooo. which amount was
paid from the accrued interest on the POI
tawatomie school fund. The average at
tendance for the fiscal year ending June
30th. ISIS. was thirty pupils. Coed text
books rc used. and the children In attend
ance are making rapid advancement Even
| the adult Indians. who's" minds have here
tofore known nothing 81 what II contalnc,l
in books. are taking an interest In .duca-
ton and ar. gaining great deal 81 lnfOI =
maii"n from their children. The school
| building has been In use for three years
and II remarkably well preserved The
walls are free from marks, the seats all In
good order. In connection with the school
Is farm IL sixty -thre" acres. which h
cultivated by the children IL the school.
under the supervision 81 farmers. This
farm serves ~ a model for the. Indians.
frum which they gain many good Ideas 80
agriculture. They are learning a. plant
earlier, 10 pillow deeper, Ia plant 4 greater
variety Of crops and a. use more improved
implements. tn" farm has forty five head
Of cattle. five 81 which were p'Irr hassd. the
balance being Increase. sixty hogs. three
hundred fowls AMI ilfiy-seyen sheep.