Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-16
SOUTH OF THE WHITE RIVER.


existence.
SOUTH OF the WHITE RIVER.
The Work OF b Majsr Surveying Par
ty-Nins Townships Subdivided Into
Forty Acre Lots-A Cold and stormy
Trip-Not . Very Encouraging Condi.
tton OF Things At spotted Tail Agen ,.
r. ]. Mershon returned yesterday after.
noon from elk months service in the field %
. member Of Asjor's surveying party, which
has been laying out forty acre lots for the
Indians of Spotted Tail and Red Cloud.
Under the direction of Mr.. Major the party
has put In a largo amount OF work aud IS
result have nine townships subdivided into
forty acre tracts. This gives over fifty thou
sand acres to the uses Of Indian farmers and
enables each head Of q family TO squat upon
his forty and proceed to plow and SOW aud
reap. In addition to this work the party
has carried up the third, fourth, fifth and
sixth guides and the 9th and 10Th standard
parallels. The country over which they haye
run their lines, Mr.. Mershon says, is very
much broken up with deep ravines aud high
hills, which rendered the work slow and
laborious. In addition to these natural diff
f%icultles they were operating in an Indian
country, with the occupants thereof susri.
cious Of their movements, and not at all
convinced that any good would come out of
1t. The character of the soil is not favora-
hlo IN arr;cn1tn,o ovoopt in tho v;vo. vo)
leys and the parks which exist in various
localities. Generally it is sand Of the most
clearly defined var,ety-white and lying
loose enough 10 be caught up and shifted
about by the winds. The ridges generally
exhibit q sparse growth of stunted pines.
This description applies to that portion
of the Indian reservation lying
south OF the White river and mainly in the
counties of Meyer, Pratt, Lueenbeel and
Shannon. 1t is generally excellent for
stock growing and contains q sufficient
number of fertile spots to give the Indians
all the agricultural employment they may
desire for several years time TO come.
Mr.. Mershon was emphatic In his denial
Of the reports which have been circulated
regarding the fare and treatment of the men
in the Major party. In an experience Of
many years as a surveyor upon the plains
of the west he says he never encounte red
better treatment or better living than with
this party. There were times when it was
not possible to procure little necessariee, but
whenever they were available they were
placed before the men. Mr.. Mershon does
not think that any member Of the party can
reasonably complain.
He had an exceedingly cold and danger
GUS trip in from Rosebud agency. Accom-
panied By one man and riding in a light
wagon, the storm of last week came
upon them and caught them out
upon the prairies far from any human habi.
tation. The air was filled with binding
snowiand Q freezing north wind swept across
the frozen plain. By making slow pro.
Rress on foot ahead of the team they we're
enabled to stick to the trail, Though at times
they were obliged to feel their way through
the drifts with their feet. Ga the coolest
aud most clustering nj yht Of the journey they
were compelled to lie down 10 the snow
without the usual protection of gulch and
without wood. Along towards morning
the cold drove them from their blankets
! and they attempted TO harness their horses
and take the chances of q journey in the
: dark In preference to the certainty of freez.
ing to death 10 the drift. Their hands were
J 90 benumbed by Geld that they could not
8 handle the harness and it was only after an
7 hour or two of vigorous running up and
Q down the rosd that blood circulation was
restored and they got their rig into the road
. and moved forward. Mr.. Mershon came IN
with the ends of his fingers and one side of
d his face frozen.
Affairs at Spotted Tail agency, Mr.. Mer.
shon says, are not at all pleasant to contem
o plate. The indians there are very much
disconnected and there is q we'll defined I'm,
2 preston Of trouble ahead. Spstted Tail il
full of indignation because the agent failed
to punish the Indian who shot Young
y one Of the recent issue days Chief
Reddish threatened the life of the agent
and but for the precaution taken by the
police in disarming all the young bucks, i,
- is believed that q serious collision would
: have occurred. Mr.. Mershon says it is cur
) rently reported that the agent has prepared
charges against q late officer of the LIST reei,
ment, reporting that he introduced liquo,
into the Indian country. Our informan
does not believe that any cause exists 70,
such proceedings. From his statements y,
. Judge that all is not harmony at the agenc,
:, and that there may be more exhibition, o
" ineubordina.ion when the spring opens.
be Mr.. Mershon will remain in Yankto,
IL during the balance Of the winter.
~ Call on Charley Walbaum At the Germa
r mia. if You want your ice house filled.