The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-09-27
ANNUAL REPORT.


ANNUAL REPORT.
FoRr BERrnoLD, N. D. Aug. 81, 1890.
Concluded from last weekly
AGENCY STOCK.
This comprises eight head of work
horses, one colt and two stations. With
the exception of span, the former have
long since passed the period Of efficient
service and fall short of the requirements
of agency work. The indiscriminate use
of the horses for any and every kind of
work has rendered most of them unfit for
road work of any kind. Out of the stock
on hand it is impossible tomake up a team
equal to the task of making the long jour
neys often imperative in tho transaction
of agency business. Bismarck, the rail-
road point most available for agency pur-
poses, is 95 miles distant, and five days are
required for the round trip. Minot, on the
Great Northern railway is nearly 70 miles
north of,here. There being no habitation
on the road the journey must be made in
one day in the warmer seasons, while in
the winter the route over the trackless
waste is too hazardous to be practicable.
1t is apparent that good teams are neces-
sary for these long distance drives, when
time is often an object. I have made this
matter the subject of n special letter.
Last spring I obtained authority from
the department to purchase two French
Canadian stations. Both were purchased
at a cost of $3.50. The stallion ut the agency,
when l took charge, was entirely o heavy
for service to the ;ony stock of tho In
dams, weighing loo pounds. Those new
ly PURCHASED are younger and lighter,
being three years old and weighing 1000
each. Much better results are expected
from these animals than were obtained
from their predecessor, who during four
years of service produced but one colt.
At my suggestion he was transferred to
Fort Peck. I have also authority from the
department to enforce the systematic cas-
tration of all pony stations ON the reser-
walton, a measure which is sure to result in
much ultimate benefit to the equine stock
of the Indians, which, by uninterrupted in
breeding, has become much degenerated.
CIVILIZATION.
The Indians of these tribes seem to take
readily to the white mans ways of gaining
a subsistence from the soil, and in the rails
ing of stock. During the period in which
they have received aid and instruction at
the hands of the government many have
acquired good ideas of methods and means
for pursuing a civilized life. Az a rule
they evince q desire to attain a better con-
dition through their OWN efforts. Many,
however, have not yet overcome their
early subsection to the medicine" remedy
for all troubles, from a sore heel to a dis
agreement in the family, and the latter is
now rarely settled, as in former years, by
the husband taking another wife.
The greater part of the Indians wear cit
liens clothing, and not a few have so fur
advanced rs to have their hair cut. In
cases of sickness they are not backward in
calling for the doctor, but it is often found
that they rely also on the Indian medicine
for aid. Houses of logs, and sometimes
partly of sawed lumber, are the usual hab-
itations, and are constructed in a very
primitive The chief fault in them
is their lack of proper ventilation, one door
for exit being usually provided, and the
family sleeping room being often in the
third compartment from this single out
side door.
In this respect these tribes compare most
favOrably with the best It the aboriginal
peoples, particularly SO the Mandans. At
present there are but four cases of polyga-
my, to my knowledge, on the reservation.
Divorce has been of frequent occurrence,
but I discourage such action except for
the most pressing reasons. The practice
OF men abandoning their wives at pleasure
has long obtained, though always discour-
aged by former agents, and a few cases
have come to my knowledge since my ar
rival. A case of dissatisfied marital con-
dition on the part of the wife recently came
before me, and an inquiry resulted in the
belief that the woman should return to her
husband, and she was directed to this effect.
An appropriate lecture OF the subject
caused her to reconsider her fiat refusal to
comply with the decision, and in the even
ing the husband and wife returned home
together. The former is one of the most
energetic and capable young Rees OF the
reserve, has been to school some time at
Fl. Stevenson, and has q fair knowledge of
English.
SANITARY.
Owing to the retirement of the agency
physician on the 14th of August, leaving
no report of his department, a detailed
statement under this head is impossible.
The present physician in charge has, how