St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-24
Redmen Who Maintain Themselves
Educational Matters.
Correspondence of the Globe.

y
in the employ of
GEN. II. II. SIBLEY,
in whose service he became thoroughly con-
versant with everything pertaining to an
Indian. He could speak their language,
appreciate their sorrows and sufferings, and
like Napoleon and his army, could call each
OF his wards by his christian name. He
was strict disciplinarian, though famed
the reservation over for his catholic spirit
and just methods in dealing His policy
was to exclude Tigidly all half-breeds and
that degraded class of men known as Squaw
men, white men with Indian wives, admit
ting none TO the privileges of the reServa-
ton but the full-bloOded Sioux. These In
dians We're early given to understand that
one of the promises to the universe made
in the holy book, somewhat modified,
should find force in
THE LITTLE WORLD
with which they were surrounded.
This promise, slightly modified, re-
vised and brought down to the
time of its PRONUNCIATION by
Agent Forbes was, ''the agent will help
those who help themselves. and it has had
a wonderfully salutary effect. There are
now between LOCO and 1000 Indians on
the reservation, and they are all full
blOoded Sioux, with the well-knOwn physi-
cal peculiarities of this people. This year
they have raised 40, 600 bushels of wheat
and oats, the greater part of which are now
safely harvested. The crop has not been
injured from any cause, and many fields
will produce twenty-five bushels to the
acre, though the majority will probably
not average more than fifteen owing to inn
perfect seeding, blowing and harvesting.
In addition to producing sufficient to supply
their own wants, they have already, from
last years crop, ground sufficient wheat
INTO flour which they have sold to their less
productive brethren in
THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS
to supply them with some twelve or fifteen
selfbinders, rakes, steam threShers, etc., all
of which are now III use by the Indians
themselves. Soon after the work, which has
resulted so favorably to those people, was
commenced by Agent Forbes, that worthy
man and Indian benefactor was stricken
with fever and died, and Mr.. Mclaughlin,
the present competent agent at Standing
Rock, who was then Mr.. Forbes head
farmer, was promoted to be agent, and car
Tied the work forward most admirably.
After time the government transferred
Mr.. Mclaughlin to his present responsible
position, and his head farmer, Maj. John
w. Cramsie, was advanced to the position
of agent, which he continues to fill most ac-
ceptably to the Indians and the government.
1t will be seen that promotions in the reg
ular line of civil service reform have pre-
vailed at this agency, and such admirable
results have been obtained that to this point
is the attention of the
CIVIL. SERVICE REFORAIFR
called, that he may find moral with which
to adOrn his tale. Mai. CramSie has been
at the reservation for eight years, in one
position and another, and can marshal his
dusky children of the prairie and a little
forest before him and point out each man
with history and tell the name of all. The
old men on this reservation were actively
engaged in the Indian massacre of 1862,
some as allies Of the whites and in the SER
vice of Gen. Sibley as scouts and some en-
gagged in active hostilitieS. One old man,
''LOng-knee," was pointed out to me as the
murderer of Bully Wells, an old settler and
frOntiersman and one of the first victims of
that terrible massacre. He does not pre-
sent n particularly formidable appearance
now, dressed in a dirty, rusty suit of Ken
lucky jeans, gaudy sash, SLOUGH hat and
rents in his raiment that In st. Paul would
make him
LIABLE TO ARREST
by one of the finest for indecent exposure.
The head chief is Economically, though I'M
known in the nomenclature of the
as pretty Lodge" The Lodge
may be and probably is accurate, but the
adjective is VIGOROUSLY and flagrantIy in
EDUCATIONAL MA TIERS
A new school house has Just been COM
pleted and is under control of the Sisters of
Charity, VINO have a contract for the edu-
cation of certain number of children.
This building will accommodate 20 to 100
while the training school for boys
about thirty. The children
are said 10 be quite apt and are learning
rapidly. The disease that comes with filth
and very bad sanitation is making such
inToadS that it is only question of time
when the race will become extinct. Tray
elling about and living in their
tepees with change of diet
and occupation they can maintain better
sanitary conditions, and under these cir
are race given to longevity.
these Indians are now pursuing
agriculture, and managing to
MAINTAIN THEMSELVES,
it Is not from choice, but from necessity.
There is evidence Of this in their seemingly
utter inability to adopt the ways of civil
iZatiOn in their daily lives. Although they
have, neat, substantial and comfortable
houses, they cannot be persuaded to live i'm
them, but during the summer months, from
early spring until late in the autumn. they
vacate their houses and live in tepees
erected close by. This may be only an eff
fort to initiate the white man, who goes
out into the country and herds under can
vas for time, under the guise of fashion.
The reservation is of vast extent. including
all the lands lying ON the south
shore of the lake and extend
ing back some miles. This land is all being
and in the course of few years,
after the Indians have been awarded their
LANDS IN sEVERALTY,
the balance will be thrown open to settle
ment. This will not occur for at least ten
years, but when it does there will be such
a rush for the valuable farms lying there as
has not been seen in this or any other cOun-
try. The lands are worth now at least $40
per acre, and is the choicest garden spot i'm
all Dakota. It is combination Of hill and
valley. woodland and prairie, well drained
and wonderfully productive. The govern
ment has the reputation for selecting the
finest spots in the country for the military
and gaITisons. The selection
of site for Fort Totten is not an eYcep-
ton to the general rule. 1t is as fine as the
eye could desire or the mind imagine.
AB0RIGINE.