Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-02-17
THRIFTY INDI- Ms.
Tho Romance of Civilization as shown Of
the shores OF Devils Lake.

Tho Romance of Civilization as Shown on
the shores OF Devils Lake.
The DEVILS Lake Reservation ex-
tends along the Southeastern shore of
the lake. 1t is forty miles long by
fourteen broad. Of the many Indian
farmers in the reservation Shipto is a
shining example. Shipto fled from
Minnesota after the outbreak of 1862
in which he was implicated. Induced
by relative to attend one of the
Progressive Councils, "Shipto' kept
outside, but listened at the window and
heard some advice Major Mclaughlin
was giving the Indians, telling them
that it was not 80 very difficult to get
out few rails and make fence. He
went home and said to his wife: Il
believe I'll try the white mans ro4d.'
That winter he cut two thousand
rails. When any Indians came along
where he was at work he hid his axe in
the wood. In 1881, when the Major
left Devils Lake, Shipto, after getting
in his crop of wheat from fifty acres,
had several sacks more than he
needed and gave them to the poor.
Schools had been established, gradually
overcoming violent prejudice. The girls
were guarded from sale for ponies,
guided into wise marriages, and those
who married were established on claims
of one hundred and sixty acres, with
wagons and cattle.
On my visit this summer saw many
of these homes and others since es-
tablished. l saw Shipto's house and
farm also. He bought himself self
binder this year for $3.50, paying part
in cash and part in flour. He had
66O bushels of wheat and 585 of oats
last year, and will have 1000 bushels
of wheat this year. He had nearly
eighty acres under cultivation, and to
reward his industry the agent has
built him this year a good granary. On
the whole agency over three thousand
acres are under crops, with $50 more
of new breaking. They will house 25.-
600 bushels of wheat The treaty an
nuities have expired, and the only ra-
tions now issued are for the sick and
destitute. Every family is now culti-
waiting from one to eighty acres. gener-
ally from eight to twenty-five. They
have bought and paid for this year, for
themselves, seven self-binders at $3.50
each, two rakers at $50. three moving
machines at $50 and seven at $75. The
larger machines are usually bought by
clubs of five or six. They are paid
for by sale of -four and wood on
and off the reservation. They hire q
steam thresher, which saw vigorous
" turning out mo. hard at the rate
of twenty bushels to the acre. There
is a good mill on the reservation. with
four run of stone and capacity Of
twenty-five barrels of -four.
On one of the prettiest claims on the
reservation I found . young man tax
ing advantage of rainy day to work
inside of the house he is plastering.
'.Blue Shield is one of our 'rustlers. w.
said the agent. HE hauled his house
nine miles to secure larger farm, land
is building one near him for his mother
He has a granary, and has bought new
furniture and an ingram carpet for his
house luxuries. Throwing
down his trowel. he came to speak te
me, and asked me to send message
from him to the people in the East
Tell them,'' he said. with approp
rate gestures, blue Shield says thai
the Indians are going up step by step
not only in farming, but all kinds o.
work. in education, in Christianity
everything. And tell them also, if yor
will, one little word in praise of me
Blue Shield, that am like beaver;
build my house of logs. and plaster il
and store it with food