The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-09-20

river after about 20 miles from point of
entry.
The greatest length of the reserva
ton north and south is seventy miles
and its extreme width Though the long
itudinal arm eastand west approximates
80 miles. The tract is quite abundantly
watered by several small streams, as
we'll as by the two Missouri's and the
Little Knife, which enters the Missouri
from the northeast about seventy miles
from the east side of the serve This
stream affords a constant supply of good
water, and its banks are fringed along
much of it's course with an excellent
timber, and by bottom lands given to
hay meadows. At or near its source is
a considerable lake. At the intersec-
ton of the Little Missouri with the
Missouri there is q very fine tract of
timber lands, chiefly given to cotton
wood, though q very good quality Of oak
is found in considerable quantities, and
some ash and ceder also exist. The
body of timber extends up both streams
and is one of the most valuable along
the upper river. In the region just re-
ferred to, also large areas af best hay
land are to be found, and at the present
moment the Indians are busy cutting
and curing a good supply.
The topography Of the reservation
presents az its chief feature, a series of
benches of varying elevation and width
rising from the river to the final level of
the higher prairie, generally at the top
of the third bench, and at a maximum
distance, approximately, Of six miles
from the river. Large bends in the
latter greatly vary the width of the first
bench and contiguous bottom land.
The soil varies according to elevation;
that on the'upper bench, or high prai-
rie being much darker in color, and
possessing greater strength than the
soil of the first bench, while the bottom
lands are composed almost wholly of
rock detritus of recent deposit, very
finely ~pulverized and requiring an album
dance of water to render it a good crop
producer. The soil of the first and
second benches bears a great proper
ton of d~isintegrated rock and is much
inferior to the higher prairie for agri-
cultural purposes. Grass, however
grows with great luxuriance on all elias.
ses of soil excepting that known as
''gumbs," which is found in spots,
usually of moderate area, on all of the
benches. In times of extremely high
water portions of the first bench are
submerged, and the result is a fresh
deposit of sediment. Hence, as q rule,
the grass on these tracts is of thinner
growth, though of excellent quality.
The entire area of the reservation is
admirably adapted to stock raising. be-
ing, in fact far better suited to this in
dustry than to the pursuit of agriculture
as a chief means of advancement.
The present site Of the Agency is on
the north bank of the Missouri. at the
lower turn of a considerable bend, and
about two miles from the extreme
southeast corner of the reservation.
This site is nearly two miles below
the original location of the Agency,
which was made about 1868, and the
greater part of which establishment was
burned in 1894. Only the commisssry
building and the ruins of the log struc-
ture used as a traders store 10 re.
mains at the old post, which vas ad-
jacent to the great village of the Aricka.
rees, now also mostly abandoned. The
present agency was established immedi.
atty after the destruction Of the old one.
1t was the design Of those in charge to
rebuild at some point still lower down.
but this move was strongly opposed BY
the Indians, who finally, as their alti'
nation, designated a spot on the wesl
bank of y small creek (%un-named, az
the uttermost limit of removal; and the
governments gracefully yielded. The
objection of the Indians to the further
removal toward civilization of the white
mars local seat of government may
have been founded IN the suspicion that
he would unless restrained, finally en-
tirely move it off their territory. Al
present nothing would meet with more
appreciation from them than the re-
establishment of the agency nearer the
centre of the reservation.
AGENCY BUILDINGS.
The structural property OF this agency
is, in a word, discreditable to the ser
vice, being old and in bad repair.
Originally erected in q manner alto
gether 4unsuited to the mode of thii
climate. these buildings are now, after
Is years unihhabitable in winter with
any degree of comfort. As the winter
season is about one half Of our year the
importance Of properly constructed
buildings is apparent.
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