The sun., 1890-03-12
TaE r0RrLs MopxrAix INpr1Ns
Vnee More They Are n Distress and sou,
Of Thsn Are Starving.

Ths T0RTLR GOUgTAIN INDIANA
Snee More They Ace ~ Distress and sons
Of Thsn Arc Starving.
WASHINGTON. March 1l.-Appeals are
made by Bishop Shan'ey OF North Dakota fol
the relief Of the Turtle Mountain Chippevas
he found on visiting the reservation a fort.
niRht ago that about one fourth Of the Indians
IecSNe monthly or semi-monthly rations OF q
'oN pounds OF Hour and much less of pork
WINS the remainder get nothing: that two In
oans had diod OF starvation. and that many
Hacked clothing and all comforts In intensely
cold weather
much OF this distress ia due to the failure OF
.he crops oil through that region. which has
Drought suffering alike upon the rcd mon and
the white. But the deplorable condition OF
this band, even in prosperous times has long
Deeh known to the Government, and certain
Grains which 1t holds to lands might properly
pe eNtlnguished by the payment OF larger an
D"ities. some years ago Congress approprl-
ated $4,000 ito establish 1t in permanent
MONIES or homesteads upon the public lnnds
anu TO purchase stock, implements and other
hecessaries." During tho two years following
the annuity WAS reduced TO 5000. and then "A
conbromise was made upon $1,000. But in
l6s6 this sum was found 50 small that $4,000
was added from the Indian distress fund
dhat addition was repeated two years later
ehu lasl year II was Increased to $4,Ssl, on the
representation ol their agent that this amount
rhls hyyctSSsaly 10 prevent starvation among
Them This emergency fund for Indians Ia
ulstress ls now exhausted, and cannot be re-
, nonou ntu congress takes action ior tho pur-
! pose. More than year and u half ago tho In
| teTler department made this suggestion In re-
| Shru 10 these Indians:
| Why should not the Turtle Mountain thinn.was h.
sDn Of RsJ ' o IN % Ne ,eIgrcpent tor assent TO ces
ysmoN@a yioN and seItsment upon tho White Erser
| DCC litoI Inv ttaul
prossht Ls Hr"ecs or slr clynlaon on their
iiefhaton5l in boundary line very dsrouraginE 50
tSsE SaE ssy 'hsS Shan ta n%, there sr%an demands
ana sSS;s ST "a H.n IL sss 'GSs iS.
pg.sa ,Ss5af UPON 10 OF t., G and viii In
bs no, emitted aon s and bounty o. they
pne m '' 1no1 inq@n o,n.S %.S but o .mensb to dsc
SSsGnS tss TsaGm Of ne sgthSrty o.
rSron. az tatons and Cxcitomsnt 10 disorder there re-
from tbs ss comned % wt ,sT GS
s%oms % GomrlGnt OF Injustice in their treatment by tie
on their lands " 'N@"'''-
,rdIS The Injustice thus spoken of caused some
.Iouple year nEo. and the troops at Fort Tot
which was threatoned By the attempt tt'tHe oi tie
tIneiiI IN ol Toilette county to collect taxes from
tne nan breeds living on the public lands bor-
dering I upon tho reservation That attempt in
nwnegs 1TF gFsT out 81 ihs genera question OF land
iembtna Chippewas now occupying the two
townships n'Td set apart for them by Executive
q, u
vast tract OF nearly 100000 acres. lying north
and northwest OF Devils Lake in Dakota Tho
9yiIenee o "i thls ownership or rather perhaps
" u united right oi occupation, is found In the
treaty OF 1868. to which tho Pemhina ChmIe-
was was were parties. aud which says that they
reserve Us hunting ground all the country
tS Test & OF ING running from Poplar Grove to
the head OF salt river" The repor, accom-
bands. who subsist by buffalo hunting, also
retain lor themsel Ives tract ol country claimed
- .ueul ehoi hclhg some OF the present favor
lte UdStuT1S OF that animal north and unrth-
west of Devils Lake"
At that time, as ever since the Turtle Noun
tam community consisted OF Il .ow tull-h!oJd
Chippewas. who alone were ',ade parties t.
the treaty. and many more hail breeds from
tahauu. VINO had married among them and
had acquired. by Indian custom. certain iil; Is,
"a | iSh3 he two bands, under Lite Chief and
i'eu Eear. numbered 3j2 Indians and G63 half
,hSlr agent estimated their numbers at 3i6
aggregate o! lJGG. Bishop Shnuley now speaks
OF Il tOtal OF 1880. Tho fact Is, according to
the lntcLiur Department. that they are row
2eyerrnn from TIM" TO time hy relations and
friends from the British pOssrssiuns VINO 20
t,nelc ,el to hare IL the yely limited 70 d supplies
IInrnished or the Indians on the rcserl atlon."
by u rather arbitrary decision the Ghippewas
proper were limited 10 coupIe of township
tracts large enough for them. but not ior these
related half breeds, who nccor'iimcly srttI@d
upon the adjoining lands, which were claimed
oy the Cmprewas, but Wore held by tho Gov
eEhincht TO be public lads. The local sheriff
accordingly p9unred unon these half breeds
lnr tmHe7; and yet we now hear agar. u, tre-
Il
Monntaln community lacking food t. say
hothlGG o. money Tor taxes. OF couiso. the rca-
son Why only one fourth OF the TeOp have Ia
tlohs from the tio,erhmrnt is THAI tho latter
reeGoEHi re es an obligation only t. tine Chppewas
Even admitting that the half breeds have no
ciaiM On the Government. Il very meagrc pro-
Vision Is made Tor tho subsistence Of the Fem ,
nm ,tha 'hiPicwaa proper. et. as has been seeu
thls band has at least a claim to about IO.WW.-
wv acres Of Iand. or more than the great sioux
pnrrhnse Just consumma ed. Probably the
GAIN Is not very well foundod. but n Board II
IT. M, oLs IN lSll rerWrted. somewhat indeInite-
" lhdt the urtle Mountain ands have long |
been their hunting ground ana have neyer
peen ceded to the nited stat So willie in 1850 !
me !ommlssi"ner Of the General Land on, e.
~ Wow ot lheir claim, refused to allow surveys
In the great tract thus covered. The next stop ,
Eas the introduction OF bills into Congress for !
~ a rep9rt from the ComnIss :onor OF indian |
Anars :, that it was entitled at least to coneid
account given by his successor dil not send /
That report 10 Congress:
me sSpt'Sa S%. the ?n 'I the claim Of these
IN ~ w., acres OF an already largely occupied by
amnm!iou claim 80 ~ 10 toaH exist it would Ce
ton to . s Sn o ahT @ TcFsT
on rcS ct ~ T. take ".i. 10 revoke ,e action by
oDsratl"n OF the laws granting stemc t rights ana to
Ing such I'D aus a. hve ave nS e GT4 % r
IRE attempting To- naAe rrrmaueEt Ior atons, and
snme ,imc a trAcr Of e country q by 4 nrr.s was
Ter o. Zee = - 1n .,abe sn hE%'nrEe ,rce
"lh ~ lines could be selected for TIE AMI Orcu
bamry or there Indians and by Executive order OF June
" al of mat tract except two townships selected
Tor that purpose was restored to the public domain
Accordingly, 1t is not likely now that the
claim OF the Turtle Mountain band to the vast
tract in North Dakota will ever be admitted
But at least the fact that 1t exists. and that tho
Indians believe in II. might well secure more I
generous dealing with them on the part OF
Longress hereafter rs well as prompt pro-
vision Tor the relief OF their immediate distress.
Some Fast Railroad Runs.
From th> PHtiaderhtG Hui,tm.
Tho following railroad records OF fast time
may prove OF interest:
nj % 5O4 g., miles in 2 N. So s.. 8 miles In
m. 80 g.. West Philadelphia 10 Jersey City.
:, sopt. A, 1879.