Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1891-01-11

situation and concluded wisely to
make no changes whatever among the
experienced employees. The Indians
had been knocked around by other
agents until they had grown moro 'e
and sulleb and exhibited no respect
other Ihan that Occasioned by fear, for
either orders from the agents office or
the agent in person. But when this
incompetent and cruel" Major Wy
man had been in charge Of their affairs
six months they observed a change in
their demeanor and now there is not
an Indian or the reservation who
thinks of disobeying an order from the
agents office, and all Of them treat
him with the utmost respect.
The former agents had oops antly
left In charge OF the clerks the direc-
tion of tedious routine business but
this agent looks SITTER everything in
person and in the event Of his absence
from the agency the business is so ar.
ranged that everything moves along
In the proper channels without let or
hindTance.
The Indians have for years been
anxious to freight the large amount of
flour, about $4,000 pounds, which is
used at this agency, but until recently
have been denied this privilege, ether
agents presumably wishing to favor
some pets among the white freiRhters. |
The transportation of the frs: -four
contrsct let after Major Wyman took |
cbargs Of the agency was by him J
turned over to the Ind ans, who were
greatly pleased, and performed the
work in a satisfactory ma3ner. not
one sack If -four out of the tremen-
dous number being lest or injured.
All the vehicles belonging to the
agency u-ed to be allow ed to stand out
in the weather, year in and year out.
With the same means at hand that
bad been available for every other
agent Major Wyman cansed to be
built a shed Of sufficient capacity to
shelter and preserve all this govern
ment proper y, and hes also made II to
The advantage Of every Indian to care
for his. individual wagons and imple-
ments in like manner.
From an eye witness is learned that
the condition II thegovernments school
v n deplOrable for some yeArs previous
y this agents administration, each
81 spgS a. 'he agency seeming 70 rem
der Gbs seho e worse aDd worse, until
under Briscos. Agent WymAn's imme-
date predecessor, the acme Of mIsfor-
tune wss reached, 30 far ss the sch Dols
obtained. In that deplorable condi-
tion Msjor Wyman found it. He bore
with fOrtitude the peculiar Ideas and
actions OF the most peculiar educational
force ever known, and at the end Of
three months fired the whole outfit
and put In teachers who exercised
some degre If honesty and honor in
tho discharge of their duties. The
school IL now q good ole and inp-ov-
Ing rs time rolls on.
Thirty years OF railroading have left
their impress on the msjor's character,
and he expects implicit obedience, but
yet lie not arbitrary, and is willing 10
take advice when he deems it sound.
He is the only agent who has visited
every portion Of the reservation and is
with the method OF each of
the five dietrict farmers in direction of
the Indians in civilized
ways. He made very many substau-
tial improvements. which speak for
:. and the most imp rtaDt Of
which will stand for many a dsy, that
Is the abundant water supply. The
attention of every agent has been di-
rected to This desirable Improvement
since the agency has been located in
This valley, yet none Of them ever sub
milted an estimate of the probable
cost or methCd for obtaining the wafer
rom the Little Horn. In less than
ninety days after submitting bis esti-
mate for this improvement Agent
Wyman had an ebundant supply Of
water running through the agency 10
very direction. and this most eOm-
nendable work IVES accomplished at
ess than half the cost ever conceived
y ssible by previous eecn ,.
In fact II may be stated without fear ,
Il contradiction that Major wyman's
'ighteen months administration At .
he Grow agency has been marked BY Z
lndoubted business ability and
Billings Gazette.