The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-12-22
here the water will be carried by numer-
Gus small bitches onto the extensive farm
ing lands below between the Leavings OF
Sun River and Great Falls.
The Indian Commission.

The Indian commission arrived at Bis
marck on the 9Th and departed the next
morning for Fort Berthold. We are in
debted to the Tribune of that city for the
following interesting information in re-
gard to their operations and future pro-
gramme:
Judge Wright, of Tennessee, G. F. Lar
rabee, of the Indian bureau, and DR.. J..
w. Daniels, comprising the northwestern
Indian commission, arrived in the city
yestel daY and will leave for the Fort Ber-
thold agency this morning. They gave
very interesting report of their work in
Minnesota. They have been in that state
since August 1st, the object of their labors
being to concentrate the Indian tribes and
provide for the sale of the surplus lands.
OF course the consent of the Indians was
necessary, and in Minnesota they were
successful with all but the Mile Lacs, who
insisted on remaining upon their reserya-
ton. Ill the tribes of the state, number
ing eleven, were visited, and while many
Of them were in good condition there were
some who were in deplorable straits. The
Fond du Laos were found in such good
condition that no attempt to remove them
are located twenty miles west of Duluth on
their own land, and are doing so we'll in
their agricultural pursuits that they will
soon be independent Of the government.
They have an abundance Of good land and
farming facilities, and the government
still owes them Sis, 1000, which the COM
mission will recommend to be paid.
WEALTHY TRIBE.
The wealthiest tribe is the sBed Lake,
This tribe possesses thelargest reservation
of any in the state-3, 100000 acres-and
as they are located just north of White
Earth, there was no proposal for their re-
znoval. The Red Lakes agree to sell all of
the reservation, with the exception Of that
portion about the lake, which is the best
farming land and will be retained. The
balance will be sold by the government,
on sealed proposals, in forty acre lots, the
money to be placed in the treasury for the
Indians, drawing 5 per cent. interest.
They get all the proceeds of the land, and
they will be the richest community Of any
class, race or color in the world. Lt is es-
timated that it will give each individual
of the tribe $4,000.
The Indians in the poorest condition
were the White Oak Point bands, who
were very destitute and despondent. They
sold their reservation to the government
some time ago, but desired to remain on
the land. They were permitted to remain
because Of their good conduct during the
great massacre Of 1852. Thus they were
thrown upon their own resources, and the
government regarded its promise not to
disturb them to such degree they became
wandering beggars and half-staryed hum
ters. They are now comfortably located
on the White Earth reservation.
FUTURE OPERATIONS.
This morning the commissioners will
leave Bismarck to visit Berthold, where
they will endeayor to enter into an agree
ment with the Indians similar to the one
with the Minnesota tribes. They will re-
turn from Berthold and then go west to
inspect and negotiate with all tribes in
Montana north of the Northern Pacific
railroad, and thence to the Washington
territory tribes. They have accomplished
a great work in Minnesota, and hope to be
equally successful with the tribes of Mon
tana, Dakota and Washington territory.
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