Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-27

tert0wn. The western boundary runs
through the counties of Codington, Grant,
Day, Marshall and Sargent 10 the forty.
sixth parellel. The northern boundary lies
in Sargent Richland and Roberts counties
Lake Traverse, on the MINNESOTA border, is
the eastern boundary for a'tistance of thirty
miles, the boundary line running thence
through Roberts, Grant and Codington
counties to Lake Kampoeka again. The 1,S00
Indians will become Dossessed of less than
300, 900 acres, and all the rest of the 100000
acres will soon be covered with vegetables
under the ownership OF the white man. This
land is not q wild western wilderness far re-
moved from the centers Of civilization. The
country is thickly settled with thrifty peo,
pie on every side of the reservation. Among
tho towns and cities located within few
miles of the borders Of the great tract are
Browns Valley and Ortonvlle, MINI. !;
Britton, Webster, Milbank, Wilmot, Rut-
land, Forman and Watertown Dakota. One
railroad, the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul, runs through the Indian reservation,
and the Manitoba, Minneapolis 81 Pacific
the Northwestern, the Burlington, the Cedar
Rapids & Northern, and the Minneapolis 81
st. Louis run along its borders. The land is
splendidly watered by numerous lakes and
small streams, and sufficiently billy to be
splendldly drained. The soil is q black
loan which averages foot in thickness, but
at times reaches several feet. 1t Is the most
fertile on the eastern border of the territory,
and large crops of wheat, oats, corn and vege-
there is excellent grazing both summer and
winter. There is pleasing difference be-
tween this and adjoining sections as to tim
ber; oak and cottonwood trees abound on
both reservations. Building stone is plenti-
full along the central ridges, and the Indians
have utilized it to some extent Excellent
sand and brick clay abound. The rainfall is
usually frequent and plentiful, the average
for several years being 1897 inches. The
single company of troops now located at Fort
Sisseton will be ordered to some other post
early in June, and the government buildings,
twenty-five in number, will be sold at public
auction June 6. Several hundred acres I'M
mediately adjoining. the fort are already
under a high state of cultivation, the garri-
son having raised all its vegetables for a
long period. THIS and all the other land on
the reservation will be subject to homestead
entry only. The Sisseton Indians, branch
of the great Sioux tribe are the most peace
full and enjoy the highest civilization of any
in Dakota. They have almost entirely dis
carded the Indian language, and in their
schools English is taught exclusively. The
only Indian boarding school in the northwest
is located on this reservation. This school
has boys and girls hall and employs five
teachers, supported wholly by the Presby-
terian board of home missions, and receive
no aid whatever from the government. The
schools are in charge of Rev. DIR. Adams,
who, though eighty years old, is hale and
hearty. The Presbyterian school occupies
nine large buildings, while the government
school occupies but one building and en-
pioys only three teachers. In the former
all the industrial branches are taught, and
the red men are learning trades which will
be useful in gaining livelihood. Many
of the Indians are taking business
courses, some become fine musicians and a
large class ls preparing for the ministry.
The Sissetons are nearly all Presbyterians,
there being nine Presbyterian and one .Epis-
copal church on the reservation. John r,
Renville, the oldest Indian preacher in
America, who many years ago assisted the
missionaries IN translating the bible into the
Sioux language, is still vigorous and delivers
sermon every Sunday. The Slssetons re-
ceive no annuities from the government,
being entirely self-supporting, and their
homes compare favorably with those of the
whites in the counties bordering on the
reservation. They are Industrious and
honest, and, in marked contrast to those
being supported by the government in idle
ness, are increasing in numbers.