New-York tribune., 1880-01-08
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE


"H. H. REPLIES AGAIN TO MR., SCHIrpz
INVESTIGATION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS oucul To
COVER
To the EditOr Of The Trtbune
SIR: The readers of The TRIBUNE VIII perhan,
remember the following paragraph in Secretarv
Schurz's communication to The TRIBUNE Of Ia
cember 1S:
II. II. asks: " How many OF the American peonla
know that, ii Indlan on a reservation raises aeck
OF sheep, he cannot sell the wool neither the agent
sell the wool and GIVE the money TO the Indian Tbs
agent must sell the wool and turn the proceeds aiS
the United States Treasury 2" l admit that NOT
many of the American people know this Neither doe.
IL. H. for it is not true When flock Of sheep belongs
10 the agency md the wool is Sold then the money re-
ceved Is accounted FOR 70 the Government by the agent
under the head OF miscellaneous receipts" aud paid
into the Treasury.
Also THE TRIBUNE readers may remember this
paragraph in my reply:
This statement the letter OF II. H. made on the
authority OF former head clerk In the Indian Bureau
The secretarys reply wonld be more satisfactory fit
lifelong TO the agency" ana II It is specified IN
treaties giving reservations to Indians that the Govern
ment reserves the right OF sheep-rasing on tracts
therein included.
Within the past week there has come to me from
beyond the Mississippi this narrative of flock of
sheep which was sold by the agent of the Yankton
Indians last year. 1t appears to be a striking Illus.
tration of the manner in which fiocks of shee
"belong" to "agencies."
few years ago sheep husbandry was begun
among the YanktOn Indians, in Dakota, by the Rev.
John G.. Gasmann, their agent lie bought
some sheen. paying for them /" from a fund he had
accumulated out of the savings made from time
to time from the Indians supplies. The sheep were
kept on the Indians lands; fed with their grass in
Summer; in Winter with grass cut, dried aud put
up at their expense. Shepherds were hired
TO take care Of the sheep, and paid for
from the Indian annuity funds. Two looms
were secured and a white woman employed
to teach the Indian women how to weave. Some
strong linsey manufactured by them,
very pretty in pattern and well adapted 10 the
manufacture of warm and durable dresses. Mr..
Gasmann's plans however, for carrying on or
enarging this industry were not encouraged
by the Indian Bureau. lie resigned his posi-.
ton as agent in April 1873. His successor,
Major |. W Douglas, on reaching the YanktOn
Agency. had his attention brought to this flock Of
sheen by the chiefs and head-men assembled in
council. They then, and ever after claimed these
sheep as their own property, as belonging to
them and not to the Government. They complained
that thew were deriving no benefit from them what
ever and wished that the sheep might be sold
or exchanged for oxen and cows, which they very
much needed"
Major Douglas approved Of this suggestion Major
W. l. Pollock the Dakota superintendent o Indian
Affairs, agreed with hlm, and wrote at once to the
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs strong ana press
Iur letter IN favor of the sale OF the sheep. IEe
Summer passed away, and the Comm'SSloner would
not, or could not, come to any conclusion ih !he
matter " The sheep We're fat and IN Nne condition
60 be sold, and many parties III Nebraska ana Iowa
lad written Major Douglas IN the mean time
about heir sale, or exchange Tor cattle.
At last to BRING the matter 10 an issue, MAJOR
Douglas teegraphed 10 the Commlasoner 10 send
him hIs conclusion about the sale; because upon
that conclusion depended the cutting, h2ulng a1q
putting M or not OF 300 TONS of bay the She ps
Winter feeding. No reply was ever .eceYed 70 ths
telrgr'm .........4 49,, ,o,. .-,. .,.orof.r,o o,+
and pat up. and the old sheds repaired as well as
possible fur protecting he sheep another iuieF'
though thr labor and expense attending all tins WAS
really needed Ior other mou-tr e. at tue agency"
In ~eptcmhcra great hre Swcp, Oyeca aIge tractor
tLe Sheep's Winterwnge destroying the grass. Avery
severe Winter followed the scab appeared on the
flock. ANA many sheep Gleu DuI " kI'a, Cli i i
feeding The sheep with bran and ground barley iil
blurht'viih money out Of the Indians annuity
fund, the lock wa, brought out IN far condition IN
"0n the last day Of April Major Doullas's
resignation as agent took effect. His suc-
cessor was Major Gardner Special Indian
Agent Under nm the sheep were sl0rn
m time; ana by him-it IS understood, uuder
orders from the Commissioners TIE saeep
were sold, in a body, TO enc person, without pun
hcly advertising them for SALE or allowing olher
parties 10 bid for them, who were ready and anxious
10 bnv them in whole or IN part. They were sold
for 81 500 and the whole procceus OF their sa'o
aud the sale of the wool, rirhttuily belonging 10
the InktOu Indians, were turned lnto the Cnitel
States treasury. ,
"Itls reported on good auth,rity that when these
sheep were sold. one party vino had been "atc am,
Tor ticir purchase Tor many months stood ready %
give y 500 FOR them
The Commission which Is presently to investigate
Commissioner Hayes methods aud -nan2eemeu' u
Indian affairs may be abe q asceitain wL.tA,r
thus account is in all particulars true. Ia'y
may also be. able 10 fad out whether e
D. irue. ~ has boon reported, that ll'"ld
pciIed last Spring 10y explicit orders from the
Indian Bureau 10 buy seed wheat ar - 10 baS1c.,
when he could readily 5ayc bought it 2i ~ ctI'';
(WAcat. moreover. when was fulI ot coe!,e-, aud
ought not 10 have been bought a. any p.ice.i
Boston, Jan. ;, 1850. H. H.