The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-04-27
MONTANA.
UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE
Fort PECK AGENCY. ,

POPLAR CREEK, NJ T., April II, 1861
Ed. SPIRIT: Noticing in your paper
the temporary absence OF correspon-
dent from this place attempt to write
a few OF the many incidents which are
constantly taking place. Many of your
readers doubtless think that to be at Fl.
Peck Agency is to be out Of the world,
yet we are we'll located and glad We are
here. If any one imagines we are located
10 any thing but fine country be is SIM
ply mistaken. This Reservation, lying
on both sides of the Missouri and Milk
rivers, is we'll watered and contains some
of the finest country one desires to see
The broad acres OF prairie stretching for
miles and miles either way without so
much as tree or shrub, bounded on either
side by what Is termed bluffs or bills,
dotted here aud there by cattle and
horses, presents magnificent appearance,
especially to a son Of the Ozark Hills
of Monroe"
This country is better adapted to graz
ing than anything else. still it possesses
numberless acres of wheat land not IN
equal to the famous wheat lands OF Oak /,
~hich are considered equal to any in the
world. This being an Indian Reserva-
ton and unopened to the white settler,
but little OF it's vast wealth is known ex.
cept to very few to whom 1t has been
their lot to see. Let the proclamation
90 forth that this country is open and
ready for the settler and thousands Of it's
acres will be homestesded in the course
of tie next six months. Many already
are coveling homes on its broad acres,
some have even gone 30 far as to pick
out site preparatory to locating, should
it ever happen. The dry, light atmos-
phere OF this section tends to arrest
much OF the severe weather which would
otherwise be experienced, hence, as said ,
making 1t q great cattle country, as they
can be kept throughout the winter 10
good condition without one cent OF ex-
pense. Sheep also do fairly we'll. Many
sheep ranches are already opened on
edge of Reservation.
OtECc Out otktNul uCAC We hovO nav
but little time or opportunity 10 observe
much of this country or its inhabitants
and yet We can cay, as has been said.
"The white mans az has been here. -
Many of the Indians try to assume their
wild savage ways and independence, bu,
The tcot OF the conqueror is on their
neck and has shorn them OF all their
resources. although they dress in the
peculiar gsrb OF their race (leggings and
blanke,) making themselves as hideous
as possible, with different colors Of paint,
feathers etc., laparound in idleness, at
tend the grass dances and ieasts, etc,
with great regularity, and all the gusto
ina aglnarv. vet they are dances and feasts
in name only, wanting in much OF its
old time vim and excitement The stories
about how mary white men they have
killed. how msny horses they have sto-
len, and various exploits, are the same
old stories told, ,over and over, until they
are losing the power they once bad OF
arousing the savage nature within their
dusky breasts. When this country was
teeming with buffalo, antelope, deer etc ,
the Indian was insolent and independ
ent, but now it is a "ground bog case" T"
lit is "root hog or die." The Depart.
ment has issued orders that oil that are
able to work shall work or no rations
After every pay day the Indians take q
spell and refuse to work. After the pay
day April l, Indians who before bad
been considered trusty listened to the
arguments Of some lazy chief and as BY
one consent oil quit work. Gen. West
had read to them orders already stated
and told them il they listened to Red
Thunder again, they would have their
raiions stopped.
-Four yesrs ago not an Indian had or
knew how 10 use a plow, nov many OF
them can plow and farm fairly we'll =
Thev are slowly approaching the ways
of the unwelcome white man. Their
ideas as to undisputed right of this
country is very broad. They say "the
white man runs his boat up our river ev.
ery Summer and never gives US a cent"
The best thing they can say OF Q white
man is to call him dog.
Everything around Agency and school
begins to assume a new aud li!e-like ap.
pearance. Winter has began to immerge
in Spring, and such Spring. Weather
warm, cool lights and: every thing dry