The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-02-22
New Lands for Settlers.

Another great Indian reservation, marked
upon the Land Office map by green spot,
surpassed in size only by the reservations OF
the Indian Territory, is to be thrown open to
settlers. This is the great Sioux Reservation
IN Southern Dakota. The area to be thrown
open is about II 100000 acres, or an area.
greater than the combined area of Massachlle
sets, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Della
ware. The recent opening of the Ute reser-
Walton, and now the opening of the great
sioux Reservation, show how rapidly civiliza-
ton is encroaching upon the lands set apart
for the Indian race and forcing the aborigines
into contracted areas. In this case, however,
the Indians are not to be removed to other
Territories, but are to be gathered into small
reservations within the limits of the large one.
These small reservations will, taken together,
cover as much ground as is given up to the
white settlers. At Pine Ridge there will be
5000 Indians with 800 acres for each one, or
2,5OO,OOO acres In all. The new Rosebud
Agency will be about the same size, and will
have about the same number OF Indians. The
new Standing Rock Reservation will be large
enough to allow 500 acres to each one Of 800
Indians, or nearly 100000 acres in all. The
new Cheyenne River Reservation will support
$500 Indians and will probably contain more
than 100000 acres. The new Lower Brule
Reservation will contain about 200 Indians
and will cover about 100000 acres. When
the great Ute Reservation was bought and
opened the Indians were sent out of it and
placed elsewhere, but in this case the Indians
will remain, SO that the settlers will be sur
rounded by them. The greater part of the
surrendered land is in South Dakota, and the
rapid settlement of that part of the Territory
will, in few years, either force these Indians
= into still smaller reservations or cause them to
be sent to other locations.
Treaties for the surrender of the lands have
been made with each band by board of three
Commissioners. The compensation allowed is
$4,000 COWS and 900 bulls, which the Indians
are not to kill or sell without permission. To
the head of each family is secured 800 acres Of
land in the new reservations, with 80 acres fol
each child, and the Government agrees to give
to each family that takes land and begins to
cultivate 1t one good COW and yoke of oxen
The Government also furnishes to each of the
new reservations doctor, a carpenter, q mil
Ter, an engineer, q farmer, and blacksmith
for 10 years. The Government hopes thai
these Indians will learn the business of stock
raising. The land thrown open to settlers ii
very valuable for stock-raising, and the Law
provides that it shall be disposed of only t.
actual settlers undsrthe provision of the home
stead law. This land all lies below the North
ern Pacific Railroad, between the Black Hill
and the settlements in Southeastern Dakota
and large part of it lies just above the north
ern boundary of Nebraska. The treaties hav,
been submitted to Congress for action, but til,
transaction, although one of great magnitude
and Importance, has not attracted much at
tention. e ~.