River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-29
EXPLORING A NEW ELDORADO.


EXPLORING A NEW ELDORADO.
A Trip nto the Turtle Mountain
Conn., Fort Totten Taken in by
the Way A Big Talk With the Chief
oil the Claimant Chippewa-1'rife of
the sioux on the Totten Reservation
"A splendid Mission school
Grand Forks Herald.
Wednesday morning bright and early
the Herald Mouse river expedition
pulled out of the busting little city of
Larimore and took its place among the
procession of settlers teams which
lined the road to the west even that
early in the morning. This travel per-
haps strikes the traveller more forcibly
than any one thing. 1t is enormous.
Every train brings in load of emf
grants.
BETWEEN LARIMORE AND THE LAKE
the country is comparatively well
known. There is a well-beaten thor
oughfare on which trains are always
in view. The shacks of settlers, all
erected within the past sixty days,
everywhere come in sight. The rapid
ty with which this country has been
settled up is amazing. A few weeks
ago there was scarcely house in the
tbirty-fve miles between Larimore and
Shrimp lake. Now no one need fear
losing his way or getting out
of sight or accommodation. The
country which has thus rapidly
been settled up is the finest kind of
rolling prairie. The soil is good, being
rich, mellow and warm. The hills and
meadows will at no late day be the
home of vast and valuable herds. The
country presents many of the topo-
graphical features which are found
where mixed stock, grain and fruit farms
prevail. Undoubtedly the exclusive cul-
ture of wheat will be abandoned, crops
will be diversified and dairy farms will
be started. The nature of the country
will bring about this change of itself.
The country beyond Stump lake and
between that and the east end of Devils
lake is undulating, and presents many
attractive features. The soil is fair, and
squatters' shanties dot the country far
and wide. AS soon as surveyed there
will be great rush for this section. Fort
Totten was reached by the Herald party
Thursday evening, after most delight
full drive, and Accommodations were
secured at Mr. Peck's, the post traders
fort. Gov. Ordway had already arrived,
and was the guest of Col. Conrad, the
commandment. Friday morning salute
of seventeen guns was fired in his honor,
after which one Of the most interesting
avpnts Of tho trim transnIred
AHEAP BIG TALK.
Learning that Governor Ordway was
at the fort last Thursday, Khishph, head
chief of the Turtle Mountain band of
Chippewas, expressed desire to see
him, and through Maj. Cramsie an
interview was arranged at the majors
house. After the party had gathered
an interpreter procured, the chief pre-
scented, among other documents, his
credentials. showing that he had been
duly elected chief, and was therefore
the accredited representative of his
people. He stated that he had So
licited an interview with the governor
for the purpose of appealing to him to
do something for his people. The
white men were daily encroaching on
their land, and unless the great father
at Washington look speedy action his
whole band would be driven from their
land and would have no place to call
home. The governor questioned the
chief relative to the Indian title,
whether any portion of the Turtle
Mountain country had been ceded to
the government or not, and was an
swered that no part of the territory in
dispute had been coded. He said that
in 1876 he visited Washington, together
with other members of the band, and
presented a memorial to congress, ask
ing the government to purchase the
land at so cents per acre. The mem
orial was printed and submitted to
congress, but nothing further came oft.
He said the authorities recognized the
validity of their claim, at that time, and
gave them to understand that negotla-
tons would soon be opened for the ces-
sion of the land in question. In an
swer as to whether the Sioux had any
claim upon the Turtle mountain coun-
try. the chief said they had not. The
Sioux had always conceded that coun-
try as the property of the Chippewas.
This statement was afterwards con-
firmed by Iron Heart, Sioux chief
living on the reservation After many
questions were asked and answered, the
chief arose aud formally addressed the
governor, the following being the sub
stance of his remarks, as interpreted
by a Chippewa half breed:
GREAT FArHER-I am much embarrassed, and
can scarcely find words to express my pleasure at
4 ~ Il xoQ
enough to do something for my people. am IN
trouble; my heart is sore. My people are poor
and cannot afford to lose their land. 1t is theirs
by right, and the great father at Washington
should pay them for it before allowing the white
people to settle upon it. like the white people,
but it troubles me to see them come into our
country and take possession of it before they have
a right to. My people do not like the great
father at Washington but we hope he will be jdst
to us and pay us for our land. 1t is all we have
got, and if the white man wants it we are willing
to sell it very cheap / hope the great father of
Dakota will advise US what to do. and interest
himself in our behalf. We are all poor and have
trouble to support our families, and if the gov
eminent will give US something for our land we
will do all we can for the whites with whom we
wish to be on friendly terms. This is all have
to say.
After making his little speech, the
chief grunted once or twice and then
passed around the room and shook
each one present by the hand. Gov.
Ordway promised to lay the matter be-
fore the secretary of the interior, and
made brief minutes of the documents
in possession of the chief. The pow
WOW then broke up, Khishph seeking
solace in his pipe, and the gubernatori-
al party starting for The mission school,
ituated about five miles from Fort
Totten, on the south side of the lake.
The country along the route is UNI
doubtedly the most attractive, and the
scenery the most diversified Of any in
north Dakota, of bluffy character,
and a full view of the numerous little
lakes that form the lake proper, it is
| indeed relief to the traveller after a
weary ride over the monotonous
prairie, to enter the reservation and
gaze upon the lakes and groves and
| the comfortable log house of the lndl-
ans, and their small but well cultured
| farms. For distance of over twenty
miles along the south shore of the lake
are settled Sioux Indians and their
| families to the number of 1900 who
are making rapid advance towards a