Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-04-11
were not occupying or using themselves,
but simply holding under the executive
np6Ap ~ 107S

Uus JILL Ply 0Ol0lp8 UuQoI t0e executive
order Of 1875.
The order of President Arthur made .
pefmeneot reoesvation OF tho lands upon
which the lndians were actually residing.
These lands ore mostly in the vicinity Of
Fort Thompson, on the Missouri river,
and embrace altogether the equivalent
Of five townships.
Tho reserved arcs has an exten ded
river feontags-whioh IL what the Indi.
ans arc most desirous OF secuEing-in.
cluding one township north Of Thomp-
con, lying on the Big Bend Of the Nus
sour r1vsr, whore there ;are no Indians
living ct the present time.
These five townships comprise total
area Of liz, 200 sores Of land well watered,
besides being wooded in places. There
are about 600 Indians receiving rations
ct the Grow Greek agency, at Fort
Thompson, and il is for them the new
permanent reserve il established.
These GOO Indians probably include
not over 16O families. This would give
nearly 800 acres Of land to each family OF
four persons, on an average, or 200 acres
to each brave, squaw, boy, girl and pap.
poose.
Let eastern sentlmentalists consider
how many white settlers families there
are in Dakota that have only 160 acres
for the whole family.
There are . few scattering Indians liv-
ing at distance from the agency and
upon the lands thrown open to settle
ment. The order Of President Arthur
does not dispossess them OF their squat
ter's rights to the lands they arc occupy.
ing. In fact, they have moro than squat
ter's rights, for they can acquire title
under the rights established BY their
residence in severality on the lands
while they we're yet included in the
reservation.
There are quite number Of Indians
or, to be definite, perhaps twenty-five
families and 100 Indians in all-who
have taken up land in this way. Very
few, if any, of them have abandoned
their homes and gone down to the
agency since the opening of the reserva.
tion and the Incoming of white neigh.
bors.
There is no open discomfort amone
the Indians. and will be mono, unless
they are incited and deceived as to the
facts by white men who have Q selfist
| purpose OF their own to advance.
The Indiana, ct Fort Thompson, Ar
friendly to the whites. They are sr
easy going, ROod.natured lot of beggars
who are fond OF visiting the railroad
towns, whore they like to trade and beg
They can do the latter to perfection
using the most peBuasiye of arguments
which are often oounhed in the most pic
turesqhe language, even as interpreted
into rude English.
They are not doing any uprising" .
present, but on the contrary seem t,
take very kindly to white invasion o
territory they had no other use for thal
to rent for grazing ranges to thei
white neighbor1 and to despoil it Of il
native timber, winch they cut in defianc
of law and sold to the whites and I
. some Frenchmen who have Q tradin
post on the railroad ct one edge of th
reserve.
Since the opening OF tho reservation
} curiosity has brought many of the aRenc
Indians up to the railroad towns, Wher
} they have found they can buy Rrocerie
J. provisions, and dry goods cheaper tbs
ct the agency store. It is just possib
that this knowledge may breed discol
tent among the Indians. but it will
ofs different kind from that reporte
by correspondents who were eithe
!. ignorant or malicious in tampering Wit
facts.
There has been no destruction
? property. no threatening Of life, an
there is not the least danger in the worl
of any uprising.
Families have been leaving Canniu
: and other points every. day for the ress
9 yation, in no fear Of anything happenir
D to their women and children.
i It would seem to be to the intereet
. the few hundred Sioux.at Fort Thorn
= son, from even the sentimentalist stan
4 point, to throw open the 100000 acre
}. or moro, which the Indians were not o
. cupying, and never would occupy. ar
invite white settlement for the bene
of the pratical example in civllizatie
u which would thus be set the Indian
g the very door of his tepee.