The Portland daily press., 1889-08-09
The Sioux Reservation.

The big Sioux reservation which has Just
been surrendered by the indians is situated
In the southern part Of Dakota, and extends
from the Missouri River on the east to the
Black Hills on the west. The southern
boundary is the Niobrara river in Nebraska,
and the northern the Cannon Ball, which
nows a few miles south of Bismarck In
Northern Dakota. 1t contains about II ,OOo-
900 acres-more than half the territory of
Maine, and more than that of Massachusetts,
and New Hampshire combined. Efforts to
open this reservation were first made In
1882, when Congress appointed a commits
sion to treat with the Indians. While many
OF the chiefs signed, not enough signatures
were got to comply with the law, and Con-
gress refused to ratify the treaty. An at
tempt to renew the negotiations was made
In 1885, but failed, owing to the refusal of
the House to consent In 1887, however.
another commission was appointed and
negotiations again begun. This negotiation
failed, however, the Indians being willing to
sell, but not at the price the commission was
authorized to offer. In the last Congress
another bill was got through authorizing an
offer OF S1,25 an acre for the land, and ap-
pointing another commission, consisting of
Major Warner, Gov. Foster and Gen. Crook.
This last negotiation has proved successful,
and the President will soon issue proclama-
tion opening the region to settlement The
total price paid for the territory was about
$14,000,000. A gentleman who has lived in
this country for many years gives this des-
crlption Of it,
''The winter breaks In March usually. and
is usually followed Immediately by the warm
sunny days OF summer Seeding and farm
operations generally begin in the latter part
OF March or early in April, and are seld i'm
lhterrupted by the return of frost or snow.
occasionally seeding is begun as early as
February, and the fall ploughing continued
as late as December There is little question
that the cultivation of the soil, the planting
OF trees and the improvements of civilization
nave already had marked effect on the eli
mate. Some OF the oldest settlers on the
east side Of the Missouri insist that even
within their time these changes have been
very decided, and that seeding is now begun
month earlier than formerly. The summer
nights. This part Of South Dakota has es
tablished her claim to many advantages
when the question of home is being consid-
cred, and none is more universally admitted
IMAM her beautiful evenings and cool, pleas
too warm to be comfortable, but at night all
is calm and peaceful. and the tired laborer or
weary invalid never fails of finding rest In
the delightful hours of the cool, slumber-giy-
ing night season. In reality, the pure, ex-
hilarating, healthfnl climate Of South Dakota
isone Of the entertainments by means OF
which she holds irresistibly within her
grasp those who have enjoyed residence
within her boundaries, be it ever so short
The visitor who has once drunk deep
draughts OF the prairie oxygen is under the
ccharmer's spell and can never again content
himself to live without the new State The
story OF the prodigaps return was never
more truthfully represented than by those of
our people who having earned competency
astelnpt 70 become reconciled to the old
none IN the East. The effort invariably
ehus IN miserable failure and a return to
hne aenghtful climate OF South Dakota.
luis TACT alone ought to be a sufficient arpu-
ment 70 remove any doubts the reader NAV
entertain In regard to our weather.;
No doubt when the day for opening ar.
rlves there will be as great rush Of settlers
as there was In the case of Oklahoma Tho
territory is accessible from every side ond
railroads can land the emigrant from the
East right on the boundary line. The conn.
try Is big enough and fertile enough to SIM
port at least 10000 families, and it will prob-
ably be but short time after the hour Of
opening arrives before every foot of 1t is
Dre-empted.