Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-07
OPENING tine UPPER MISSOURI COUNTRY,

Judge Bennett 10 making \ very com
mendable effort to secure the rc-openipg o
the country west of the Yankton reservs
ton 70 occupation by the whites. A lette'
addrsssed by tho judge to tho interior dc
partment is published below showing thu
necessity which exists for such action. Thu
people Of Dakota will fully endorse all gu
delegate claims in this matter. The pro
hibitory order which shuts the door to thu
occupation OF this vast region bv white
people was made att time when certain
d~isorderly and demoralizing elements ex'
listed on the border of the Sioux rec .rvation
which 1t was thought desirable to remov
10 the interest of reace aud decency.
To day, however, the advance Of clvilizs'
ton presses against the borders of this
strip of reserved territory and demands the
right to 60 10 and occupy it. Three rail
road lines are pointing across 1t and ten
thousand families with their baggage will
start in a very short time In search OF
homesleads and tree claims within the
present confines Of this quasi reservation.
In view Of the recent unpleasantness at
Okolona, 1. T., it would be wise to with
draw tho prohibitory order before any tres
pass occurs.
JUDGE bENNETT's LETTER.
House of Representatives, Washington D.
c., May 3Oth, lS79.-Hon. Curl Schurtz, Sec.
reiaryof The Intcrior.-SIR: 1 have the honor,
,,,o.t .n.,ootf,llv IN onNAs thSfN voCrfiuo
orders dated January llth, 1875, March 10th,
1875, withdra wing from sale or settlement
and setting apart for the use of the several
tribes OF Sioux Indians therein referred to,
a. additions to their reservations certain de.
fined tracts of land in Dakota territory, be
rescinded, and the territory embraced within
such orders opened to settlement, with Ger
tain exceptions.
Much of the territory embraced within
executive order Of March 10Th 1875, lie
west of the Missouri river and now belong
to the great Sioux reservation, as fixed b,
the treaty ratified by congress and approve,
February 9th, 1877, and the recession Q
the entire order could not effect the right
granted under that treaty. Nor do I desir,
in any way to interfere with the Yankto
and Crow Creek reservations, which are OF
cupied by Indians, but the remainder of tn
country covered by these order, should b
opened to entry and settlement. This
absolutely essential to the growth, prosper
ty and settlement Of our territory. A III
matter now stands We are barred from tn
east bank of the Missouri river. from tn
east boundary line of the Yankton agency
to within a few miles of the city {
Bismarck, a distance Of several hur
dred miles, greatly interfering ait
the profitable navigation Of that grea
water thoroughfare that traverses the entir
length of our territory. Besides 4 gre.
area of our very best agricultural an
grazing lands up and down the east bank
the river is shut out from settlement an
Improvement, that otherwise would be raj
idly populated. Several railroad lines ar
pushing their way from our eastern horde
to the Missouri river, where they seek
business, but these reservations lie directl
in their pathway. and serve TO re,srd the
speedy construction and completion. TIL
country which | seek to have freed fro,
the operation of these orders is not occupie
by Indians, and there il no sort Of reaso
for continuing the orders in force, while ii
reasons are many and cogent for the
resrision.
Hoping that this matter may recei'
early and favorable consideration,
| remain respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
GRANVILLE G. Bennett.