News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-08-29
SIOUX AS NEIGHBORS.
WHAT SETTLERS WILL FIND
IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
The Prospective Price of the Land
and the Indians Future.

The Great Sioux Reservation, bound
ed by the Missouri River on the east,
extending to the South Dakota line on
the west and south, and embracing the
lands west ot the Missouri and south OF
the Cannon Ball River, except the
Black Hills territory, contains nearly
twenty-one million acres OF land. OF
this the Indians have by recent treaty
consented to cede to the Government
nearly one half, or, according to the
best computation, about nine million
acres. The lands will be most easily
accessible from the points where the
railroads touch the Missouri River, and
from far-out districts along the ElkhOrn
Fatiof iss4iiroad on the Black Hills.
The nearest approaches to the reser-
YatiOn by rnil arc mt Chamberlain and
Pierre, i'll Dakota. Crossing the river
at Chamberlain one finds himself in the
midst of n fine grove of cottonwood tim,
Der, extending i'll Il narrow fringe along
the stream in either direction. The soil
here and, in fact, in all bluffs along the
Missouri River in this region is what is
known as gttmbo, and stickier, nasticr,
more disagreeable substance on II wet
day cannot be found. Where there is Il
sufficient amount of sand mingled with
this gumbo fine crops of corn, oats and
wheat can be produced. Six miles south
from the crossing of the Missouri is the
mouth of the White River, which forms
the south boundary of the land ceded,
The character of the soil here is differ
ent from that in the vicinity of the Mis-
souri, River, being sandy loan and less
e,,coa,,ft1N1o ~ |a ,,,k,.l L.,
been the rule there for several years.
The valley of the White River, for
about ten miles from the mouth is quite
wide, and SO far rs cultivated it has
been found very fertile, even under
such careless, haphazard cultivation US
all Indian or squatter gives the land.
This valley of the White perhaps offers
as good opportunities for farming rs any
part of the reservation, being far enough
south to lie within the corn producing
belt. and having n warm, rich soil, with
open sub soil, retaining moisture well.
Continuing up the White River for
nearly hundred miles above the forks,
where the Little White River joins with
the river from tho south, the country is
found to be adapted solely to grazing
purposes, being much broken by abrupt
hills, covered with q short, but nutri-
tious grass called by the stockmen who
have grazed their herds upon it alkali,
or bunch grass. Cattle grazing upon
this grass fatton very rapidly, being
ready for market in August or Septem-
Der. The same general description ap
plies to Bad River which has been given
OF the White River.
To summarize all descriptions of these
lands and give them in the form of
manual for the hOmeseeker is a difficult
task. Differences of opinion will exist
in individuals, and the country which
plcases one may cause another to feel
streams affords the best facilities for
general agriculture, the soil being in
nearly all cases deeper, richer, aud less
susceptible to droughts. For stock rails
ing ana BIsIIIuS UII5 reg IUIt IyirsS ot.~
extreme western part and at the head
waters of the White and Bad Rivers
will be found most available. Tho tim
ber will be found along the rivers and
creeks, and very little in any other
place Some of the deeper gulches have
scraggy pines, oaks and ceCnrs growing
in them, but not enough for any practi.
cal purposes. Two railroads now ter
inmate at the Missouri River and will
extend their lines across tho territory
now thrown open for settlement.
In conclusion, let it be understood
that this territory is not n paradise,
where industry, economy and shrewd
ness are not necessary for success.
There is no more certainty of full re-
turn from seed sown in this region than
in any other, but it is equally as sure.
The homeseeker who comes here must
decide to undergo and forego. There
will attach to this region all the discom
forts which are the usual accompani
ments of every first settlement
According to the act of Congress I'M
der which the agreement was made, the |
nnrelinquished portion of the Sioux
is divided into six reserva-
tons, as follows: Standing Rock, Chey- |
enne River, Lower Brulc, Grow Creek, |
Pine Ridge, and Rosebud, so seperated
that large portion of the relinquished |
part of the reservation divides them in |
10 sets of two, one set being on the nor
thern end of the reservation, another on
the eastern, and the third on the south |
,rn. The land thrown open to settle |
ncnt will aggregate about II 100000 |
lcres, and will be disposed of by the |
United States to actual settlers only at |
;he following rates: One dollar and |
cents per acre for all lands |
aiken within the first three years after
;he act takes effect, IS cents per acre for
I'll lands disposed of within the succeed
ng two years, and 80 cents per acre,
or the residue of the lands then uudis- |
posed of. All lands still open to settle
nent under the agreement mt the end of |
EN- years from the taking effect of the !
tct shall be accepted by the United |
States Mt so cents per mere, which |
amount shall be added to and credited |
20 the Indians rs part OF thci- perma-
lent fund.
The act provides for furnishing the |
seed to tho Indians for two |
years, for which adequate appropriation
S made. IN addition thereto there is to |
De set apart the sum of S3,000,0O0,
which is to be deposited in the United |
States Treasury to the credit of the |
Sioux Nation of Indians as a permanent |
und, the interest of which, at per |
,ent. per annum, is to be appropriated |
lnder the direction of the Secretary of
he Interior to the use of the Indians.
after the Government has been reim-
,ursed for the money expended for the
indians under the provisions of the act,
he Secretary of the Interior may in his
discretion expend, in addition to the in
crest of the permanent fund, not to OK
ced 10 per cent. per aunum of the prin-
ipal of the fund in the employment of
armers and in the purchase of ngrirul-
ural implements, teams, Ne, necessary
o assist tho Indians i'll agricultural pIIr-
uits. At the end of fifty ye RS the fund
5 to be expended for the purpose of pro-
noting education, civilization, and self
upport among the indians, or otherwise
attributed among them rs Congress
lay determine. All the new roscrNa-
ions include the land in the vicinity of
he agencies where the Indians are now
wing. The land to be thrown open to
ettlement is not occupied ut present by
he Indians. The number of Indians
II the reservation is -, 567.
The act provides that the agreement
S now entered into must be submitted
} Congress at its next session for ratifi-
alton In the event that the agreement
approved and no further Legislation
enacted, the Secretary of the Interior
ill proceed to carry into effect the pro
isions of the law
Mr. A. 7. Lea, an agent of the Inter
" Department, is now i'll Dakota and
as been ordered to proceed to take n
ensus of the Indians with view of as
ertaining how many of them arc able
, support themselves and in their phys
al capacity to work the land owned or
coupled hy them, either Individually
r collectively, the value of the land, its