The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-06
DAKOTA LETTER.

an. aoth, 1885.
Pierre, although comparatively
acw town, is among the best in Da-
kota. The buildings are all new and
many show they have been built the
past summer. Pierre 10 at present
enc Of the aspirans for the Capital.
Although her chances are the best Of
any city in southern Dakota, the IA
NOUS "Capital band wagon" 10 not
liable to reach there, at least as long
as the territory is undivided. 1t is .
place of about 1900 inhabitants. and
numbers among its people some very
wealthy men. The buildings are
mostly of brick, made in the city.
We noticed q Hotel of fine archi-
lecture. At the time of our arrival
great excitement prevailed over the
election, and the Democrats were
running the town. If Pierre, on that
night was to be taken for an omen,
eur people will regret the Democratic
ascendancy. The continuous shoot
ing and yelling did not allow us to
get much sleep and we did not get
very early start the next morning.
About 4 o'clock we reached Chap
pelle Greek. Here we found three
ranchmen, all Canadian French and
married to squaws. They seemed to
be prosperous, each having quite
band of stock. We found their houses,
though built of logs, were neat and
clean. We were now on the Sioux
Reservation, known though as the
Grow Creek Reservation, which be-
longs to class Of Siouxs. Along
Chappellc Creek we found an abund-
ance of timber and good land. Saw
nothing of interest until about
o'clock p. M, when we entered Elm
Creek Agency. The valley is very
fertile and quite ,thickly settled by
Indians, most of them having COM
Portable log houses, and we also
noticed some frame ones. Nearly all
had raised a field of grain of some
kind. Many of them have cattle
and hogs. Here we saw curiosity
a threshing machine in full opera.
lion, managed by Indians and not
white man around. They seemed to
have plenty of help as we counted
twentyeight men and there were
about as many squaws sitting in a
huddle looking on, which is quite the
reverse of most Indian tribes, as the
squaws generally have to do the work.
Just before we reached opposite of
them, four them started to the road
with pitchforks in hand, ard we were
in a quandary as to what was before
us. We soon learned that "f0bac"
was all that was wanted, but we had
no generosity for anyone that would
tamper with our feelings by making
such warlike demonstrations for q
quid of tobacco.
The Indians in this valley are
making considerable Roadway in agri.
culture, and If Uncle Sam ever ex-
poets to want their land he will have
to get it soon, as they will not feel
like giving up cultivated farms after
they learn that they can support
themselves as we'll as the whites.
We travelled late and got out early
next morning. The country we trav-
eled through during the day was re-
markably good and well supplied in
the bottoms with timber, but as it
was all reservation we could find
but little interest in it. About three
o'clock we reached Pukwana, thriv-
ing little place of about 500 inhabi-
tants, on the Milwaukee & ST. Paul
r. r., nine miles west Of Chamber.
lain. Pukwana is but 10 months
old, yet it has two large hotels, two
large grain elevators, five general
stores and other branches of business
in proportion. We noticed an In
dian boy clerking in one of the gen.
eral stores. From Pukwana we passed
through thickly settled country
until we came to Bijou, small place
near Bijou Hills. After Leaving Bi.
jou the country is not as good, there
being many rocky ridges and sloughs.
The principal crop in this section is
fax, though many raise oats and a
few wheat and cora. Thirty five
miles west of Pukwana we passed
through Castalia, small place of 2oo
inhabitants; few miles farther on
we found Platte Creek, and here we
camped. Next forenoon we came to
Pease Creek. Here we found one oil
the best ranches on the road, owned
by one Chambeaux, French Cana.
dian, and one of the oldest settlers,
having lived on Pease Greek ,S years.
After leaving this place we were on
the Yankton Reservation, but we saw
nothing of interest until we re ched
Andes Lake, which is beautiful lake
about IL miles long and from 1 to 2
wide. Here we stayed over night.
Twenty miles from here we left the
reservation, and after crossing Chat
earx Creek we are again in a land