Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-20

oaWeS uaX2eTty, JOnn Matthew'S, w. III
Palcott. aod Emerson Blood. carpenters; J.
Demniset ass,ssant blacksmith: Frank NJ.
Belrose. night watchmsn. 1n addition
there are ak hesdessy and. twelve lsborers,
also tho or trsia, with a. iesmsters. Wm.
Courtney ~ train master. j; 5aspsa
Al this agency there are four bands Of
Sioux indians, 10 Wit: j. tbs Brales, mum.
bering 1914: Loafsrs. 1899; Wahzahzshos,
1908; Minnsconioux. l34; mixed, 428; 10
tai 6,70l. "a
ln company with Agent Newell and
'Messrs Lelar and Meriness, visited the
saw mill. miles out on the south fork Of
White river. This mill saws 5000 feet Of
lumber per day aud 10 addition 5000.
shingles are manufactured daily. The
bluffs west Of the agency are covered with
. heavy growth Of pine furnishing abus-
dant logs for lumber. During this trip
the agent selected tract Of land for the
agency farm compri.iug about 300 acres.
II 10 not more than i've miles from the
agency, aud will sson oe enclosed with .
good fence. and, {ornamented with fine
farm house for tho accommodation of the
farm hands.
40 inspection Of the recent surveys made
here by surveyor D. g. Major, had been OF.
dsred by ySecretarv Schurz previous to my
arrival. Major Newell, as inspector, pro.
ceeded With this duly. during my stay. An
examination Of the stakes aud mounds was
made resulting very unfavorably 10 Mr.
Major and 1t Is very doubtful if his work
is received and approved. Half of the
mounds have no stakes, and where stake
is found it is not permanently set 10 the
mound, but carelessly driven down a few
inches. The rules require the surveyor to
dig hole 10 inches deep aud If the stake
cannot be drlyso into the. ground il must
be surrounded by 2 tcet of earth. Secretary
Schu.z saw some of the work aud was verv
much dissatisfied He then appointed The
agent TO inspect it thoroughly, which has
been dons and the report will place Msi,r
IN very awkward position.
l have visited several of the Indian camps
aod though the improvements surrounding
are very slight, il should be remenbe.ea
that these Indians have been here barely a
year, and had no plows 10 work With until
Tue plowing season hsd passed. observ.
ed good many small patches Of ground
that bad been fenced and cultivated TO corn,
potstoes and other vegetables with fail
success. Water melons grow to prodieious
ssz.. There is 10 doubt tha, the soil here
is fertile and farming will prove success,
II Is estimated that not less than /, ,7CO
TONS OF goods aud supplies (not including
annuity goods have been transported from
tbe Missouri river to this agency during
the past year. This work Of hAulog this
large amount of merchandise hiss been per.
formed entirely by the Indians without loss
or hndrance and il the face Of some d fl.
culties, particularly lack Of wagons For
this service the Indians receive 81 per 100
pounds and make about $50 per week.
At las. the prejudices of the Indians
against establishing police force here, have
been overcome, and I. : lay two full booded
redskins were enlisted. They are the flow.
er OF the tribe and we're recommended by
Spotted Tail a. trustworthy in every re.
spect. have interviewed Old Spot and
shsil send you an account Of our talk in
nv next G..