Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-08
TIE YELLOWSTONE
4 Description OF the Bad Ldnds-Tredt-
n.ent of the indians.

4 Description OF the Bad LdRds-Tredt-
ment of the Indians.
To the Editor of the Globe.
After Journey of some over two hundred
miles from the end of the Northern Paclnc
road our little party reached this place. The
country traversed until reaching the Bad Lands
consists principally of rolling prairie with &C.
casionally small winding stream. This
country may, think, be utilized for farming
purposes. The only objection of Importance
being scarcity of fuel. This difficulty will,
however, be overcome when the railroad is
completed. Goal being found IN abundance
through out the Bad Lands, may easily, and
with but little expense, be shipped to any point,
hence this objection is nominal. Stock raising
will he an important feature of this section.
The principal object of attraction thus far
on this route ia the Bad Lands, which name
certainly does injustice to them. A more unap
propriaie name could not be found.
Ststistically they are ninety miles long
by twenty in width. This includes
merely the lands proper, they continuing to an
extent as far as this valley. The scenery in
passing through il grand. The valley Is about
one hundred feet below the surrounding coun-
try. This is filled With hills, or buttes, as they
are called, of all heights, and varying in size
from q small rock to an immense plateau.
These hills are formed of rock and clay. the
colors Of both vary ing and blending together
as the rainbow being, if possible, more sym
metrical. These, on q pleasant day with the
sun shining brightly, must be seen before one
can fully appre cate them. Words are made
Quate TO express their grandeur. Then, look
ing ngain You discover metal whlco sparkles
like diamonds, his bring calc which closely
resem b rs mica, excepting It OF hre). Look
ing still further on and you behold what at a
distance had to the appearances OF Indians.
but on closer investigation proved TO be red
cedar. These, with their foliage of different
shades, add another link to the grandeur OF
this country.
In MANY places one may ind farms
of one hundred and sixty acres.
with fine farming and grazing
lands. also plenty of timber and excellent
springs What could heart wish better than
this? The grass is claimed to be equal to Our
best cured hay. As to the formation of these
lands, different theories are advanced. The
one which seems The most probable is this
Coal b+ ing abundant it is supposed that it, in
some unknown way, became ignited and burned
until tie coal became exhausted, after which.
with the heavy rains, the land cayed in, max
ing TIT valleys; the buttes now left not taking
fire have still remained. Then again, many of
them have the appearance OF volcanic erup-
tions the stone the summit being burned
red, and in many instances hardened lava may
be found, conveying the idea that they have
been formed by cont ual emittances. And
Others too numerous to mention, the above
being the principal ones. The country be-
tween the last named place and Yellowstone
valley is very similar to that before reaching
them, unless this ia more hilly and rocky,
and the water is bad, being full
of alkali for many miles. This
l think can be easily managed by sinking deep
wells. l can see but one possible drawback TO
this section settling quickly, and that is 1ndi-
ans l hardly know what to say regarding
these. One thing is certain, so long as the
government deals with them IN the manner 1t
now does so long will there be butchery OF In
nocent whites. Let US consider for moment
how they are treated through this section.
Winters You will find them all facing to the
agencies, or we might say their fathers house,
and rations are drawn for certain number
This is all right SO long as winter continues,
but when spring opens we find them becoming
uneasy, and anxious to rove. Then passes are
issued to them to hunt. This, OF course, l.
done by their agent. He is anxious to let them
go, because he still continues to draw full "a
tions, what are not used. He sells these and
resps rich reward, reporting all the time that
his children are all uader the paternal roof.
But mind you, while this IS being done
his good children are roaming through the
country differing, and, if necessary, numbering
10 acnleVc tnef pufpores5 A Jul Cni.eu S'1leS
troops are then sent out after them, the usual
report is they were not to be found, or if found
and captured, were lost again before the first
morning dawned. Then will they return alone
to shelr father, and bis children are welcome
home, and protected by the government. Do
these agents and officers want them driven off
or annihlIated7 NJ indeed, they are reaping
too rich harvests from them. The blame then
is all attached to the Indians. Why cannot
our government make laws and then strictly
adhere to them7 If this We're done and when
an Indian committed depreciation punish
him as he ought TO be, would not this matte.
of affairs change? Look at Canada. She has
about four hundred mounted police, who will
go anywhere among them, riding mules alone
many times and entering their camp, finding
the culpriG they wish and returning with their
man, while we have about 5000 sol diers and
cannot control them.