Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1891-11-20
THE CROW INDIANS.
Some Facts and Figures Regarding Their
Condition


Major Wyman agent II the Crow
lad ans. IL In town. aud in ihe cnUrse
II a half hours conver-a iOn.yesterday
gave a JOURNAL reporter an interest,"
ing chapter in regard 10 the prosperity
ofthe Crow nation. The Grows, be
said, are better fixed today than they
have ever been, there industrial opera
ions during the past re lson hasiDg
brought them a great Ceh of money
outside of government sources. or
these outside deals he mentioned hay
sJld, amounting to Sl7. 900; freight
hauled, amounting 10 $4,000 and coal
and wood mined, cut and hauled,
amounting to 81 500 In addition to
these items the Crows have raised 5000
bushels Of oats and 4,OC) bushels Of
potatoes, losing nearly 1000 bushels Of
potat' es by the early frost. The graz
ing tax brings the tribe $50 900 per
snnum, but this money goes through
the government channels, aud is used
for their benefit by the Indian depart
ment The other sums mentioned sre
paid direct TO the head men in hard
silver dollars and by them distributed
among their people. The outlook for
q large income from outside sources is
much better for next gear, says Msjor
WymAn, as an order is now in force
that all supplies suitable for use at
Fort Custer. that can be raised by the
Indians shall be purchased from them
In open maiket before any contract
supplies are taken. This will insure
them q good each market for every
thing they can raise. Civil Engineer
Graves. who has been at work all
summer surveying lines OF irrigatiBg
bitches has completed his work, which
eompresses two bitches on the Big
Horn and one on the Little Horn.
These are very comprehensive and
elaborate systems, a. may be judged
from ths estim ate Of their cost, which
l. figured 20 be S5OO,OoO. The tribe
now has 10 it, creoit for land ceded
and from other sources some S275 600,
aud the balance must b. rai-ed, just
how Major Wyman did not aay,
though IL was plain 10 the reporter
that the major had some idea Of hoS
IL was TO be done.
To addition 20 the $4,000 scho. 3
b, use erected this year al rhe mi sion
on the Big H Orn. Major Wymsn has
completed a handsome school house 81
the agency. costing $4,000. aud will
build a mate 20 it AZ SOM osasr polnt
on the reservation next year.
AS an instance of the indi-idual
prosperity Of the Grove, it may be
mentioned that Medicine Tail, one OF
the tribe, is now here for the pur pose
Of purchasing stock Of goods for
trading store. He has about s. 900 Ia
cash that he proposes 20 invest in this
way aud is possessed OF considerable
wealth besides IN hoTses and cattle.
Inspector Miller OF the Indian de
psrtment has spent three weeks with
Major Wyman In looking up the affsirs
OF the agency, and though inspectors
are not given TO making public the re-
suits of their labors, Maj Wymsn
feels satisfied that he Is highly pleased
with the conduct OF affairs at the
Agency. Msjor Wyman il .
thoroughly practical man, an excellent
disciplinarian and though be has made
come enlmies by his administration Of
affairs. Il Is much to bis credit that
the many Investigations ordered on
the complaints Of soreheads have all
resulted In the thorough endorsement
e - - = - a----.--.