The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-04-30
The Blackfoot Agency.

The Blackfoot Or Piegan agency is
picturesquely situated on the south side
of Badger creek, about eighteen miles
from Dupuyer post office, and the same
distance from the mountains. The val
| ley is from two to four miles wide and
some twelve miles in length, but except
along the right bank of the creek is
| scarcely suited for agriculture on any
! extensive scale. The Indian lodges and
cabins extend up the stream for a couple
of miles, and below the post is the post
traders store and the cultivated land.
| The agency proper consists of stock
ade 80 feet square, of upright logs II
| feet high, from which sloping roof eX-
tends inwards, this being used for sta
| bles,.. implement sheds, wood sheds, etc.
| The main entrance faces south, and is
guarded day and night by Indian police.
| Within the enclosure is a square of low
one-story houses, the residences Of the
agent, clerk, teacher, the doctor and his
wife, and the few white employees of the
post. The agent, Major Allen, is from
Ohio, and has only recently taken up
wife, Capt. ). e. Graham, clerk, and O.
B. Bartlett school teacher, are also from
Ohio. The only other white residents
at the agency are: G.. l.. Bristol, Indian
trader; G. d. Phemister, farmer; Il. f.
Williamson, carpenter; B. r. Fowler,
blacksmith and engineer; J. G. Ruther-
ford, laborer; John Bird, herder F.
spearson, Interpreters and J. Nine
singer and wife, who have been house
keeping for Mr.. Bristol.
In conversation with the Major last
week at his cozy quarters, a RIVER
PRESS reporter elected the following
statement: Il arrived here on the 18th
Of March, and although was prepared
to find everything in confusion here,
the deplorable state of affairs completely
astounded me. The former agent ap.
pears to have left everything in such
condition as to embarrass ne as much
as possible. There was not pound of
-four or meat in the building; no sugar,
coffee, beans, or salt (the latter had not
been used all winter). The week before
my arrival one eighth rations had been
issued, consisting of / lb. of flour and
1%,lbs. of bacon per head Immediately
telegraphed for and obtained permission
to purchase necessary supplies in the
open market, and have thus far received
10000 lbs. of flour and 1000 lbs. of
bacon. The department. has refused me
nothing, and [ find that all along they
have given the former agent in excess
of what he estimated for. For example,
his last requisition was for 25 900 lbs. of
flour but I find that 10000 lbs. were
supplied. / can only surmise that Ma
.ior Young wished to create an impress
sion that his wards were becoming self
sustaining, and thus under-estimated
his needs. At the same time / cannot
help thinking that he was certainly
guilty of criminal negligence in sey-
eral matters which have come under
my notice Last fall such potatoes as
were grown were left in the ground till
frosted and then taken out and piled in
the cellar; none of them are now fit for
food. He reported $50 acres broken and
under fence, but there are not Is acres
broken in the valley. He reported 5000
Indians under his charge; last week the
number of rations issued was 2,1O0, AMI
many families have returned here since
he left. To say that his daughters
taught school is farce. They drew
salary of $1,000 and there the matter
ended We have now 3O1 children on
the books and can say they are making
fair progress. / have also applied for
permission to erect hospital here. We
have farm of forty acres, with an irri-
eating ditch thereon, but have not force
enough to properly work it. Our horses
are few, and not one of them less than
sixteen years old. Our police force now
appear in uniform, have their hair cut,
and appear to take pride in themselves.
| cannot imagine how Major Young re-
tanned his position SO long as he did, ex-
cept it be from the fact that he was for
merly Sunday school superintendent
in Brooklyn and of the same congrega-
ton as Commissioner Price and other
influential politicians. The white EN-
ployes were partly cognizant Of what
was going on, but they depended on
him for their position and deemed it
unwise to report matters with which
they had no immediate concern. / have
barely enough seed for twelve acres, but
am endeavoring to purchase more. /
have to-day sent out two teams to meet
Coatsworth with the -four from Benton.
When we get in a supply of food / shall
begin to have more hope, but it is no
use trying to do anything with an In
dian on an empty stomach. The Won
der to me is that they have not done
more mischief among the cattle than
they have"
In reply to a query the major said he
expected his family here in June, by
one of the early boats, and he would
then take the opportunity to come down
to Benton, in whose prospects he takes
lively interest.