Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-16

SHOES AN NJtriisF DONE 10 LlbSI. klSZlE
81 The WAR DEPARTMENT..
PI<E RIDsE AGESCY, s. D.. July Z, 1891.
st5h Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
Surprised and delighted are two terms that
may us, nov be truthfully applied TO the In
disns of Pine Ridge The lot OF these beings
has not been particularly happy ore for some
wears past. but they seem to feel a. though the
future holds for them good deal of bright
ness end promise. little more than a week
ago there came to this agency Gen. BIssey,
one Of the assistant secretaries Of the Interior
Department. Today the general departed,
bearing with him large quantity of useful in
formation of that character which dishonest
contractors and inspectors will wish he knew
not of. The general came to acquaint himself
with the true condition of affairs; to inspect
stores of all kinds; to see whether the Indians
were getting the goods which the specifications
called for and to satisfy himself as to the suit
ability or otherwise of the materials issued to
the nation wards. 1t was because of this that
the Indians were surprised and delighted The
general was they declared. the first Off
cial OF prominence that had ever come among
them to whether or not they were
properly clothed and fed and thev appreciated
his and the depar Iments interest In their
worldly affairs. Several Of the chiefs and head
men, as soon as they knew Gen. Bussey had
arrived. expressed desire to meet him in coun
OIL SO that they might I'LL him up with what
they believed to be just and reasonable COM
plants. Their request was acceded to and
then came the council and a consequent string
of grievances that had in many instances good
solid foundation First among the matters
they brought up was that of clothing The
question of clothes is in the minds of the
Ogala]ias, the serlous disturbing cause today.
and If trouble should arise here il will be be-
cause the Ogalallas believe they have been far
from fairly dealt with in this regard AT the
council which lasted nearly all day the greater
portion of the time was devoted to a debate
clothing. One Indian threw at the generals
feet a bundle of things which had been issued
to him at the last distribution OF annuity goods.
and he let them fall he said: Look at
these clothes which the Great Father gives
us to civilize us" Another Indian said: III
a white man in your country wore suit of
clothes like those you would want to get out
of his way; you would not associate with him."
Still another one. pointing contemptuously AZ
he little heap Of canvas garments. said: IF
that Is the best you can do. and If each suit of
clothes costs you 80 cents. why don't you give
Us the half dollar and keep the clothes Big
Road explained the absence OF a great many OF
the InGians by stating that most of them were
Sc poorly clad that they were ashamed to meet
any decent white man. Objection was made
to the appearance of the canvas suits; they
lacked all esthetic features. and the Indian has
but little use for garments that are wholly
WITHOUT decorative QudlltN- what tney needed
Was wooden clothing. and although that might
seem to some anunreasonable request. it should
not be forgotten that III a treaty made between
the United States and the Sioux in 1876 es-
pecial provision was made for WOODEN gar
ments.
In the matter of shoes n decided reform was
asked for. The rectangular shoes supplied the
Indian are almost valueless; they never we're
worth much anyhow. An Indians foot is
straight on the inside and curved en- the out
side. yet the shoes supplied this and every other
agency in the country look as though they had
been lasted on bricks of irregular, angular and
decidedly unfolding shape. Strangely enough
several of the speakers said they seriously OBJ
jected to the copper mails at present such con-
spicuoUs portions of the shoe soles- These
nails habitually protrude through the upper
surface of the sole and are the cause of con-
siderable discomfort to the four or five Indians
who wear shoes. OF course this fOot-gear
would cost q little more If the nails were
clinched, but the Ogalalla does not seem to
take that into account. What the Indians want
are such shoes soldiers wear and so made that
they will really ri their feet
There was a slight grievance in the matter of
shirts. One trm had supplied these useful
articles for the past eleven years. and through
out all this period the color and the pattern
have never varied. IF this shirtmaker would
only die" remarked one Indian, I'VE might
then get shirts of another color" So the en-
tire Sioux nation has for some time been en-
gagged IN feryent prayer. every petition having
Tor its burden the necessity for the speedy
decease cf at least one white man.
As to blankets the complaints were less Wig
orous than at any time for years. Closer
texture and increased wool weight were asked
for. but most of the emphasis was on the sub
ject of color In Sioux clothing black Is an I'M
Known hue. yet for years only black, or blue
black, blankets have been issued To them. After
little while they say land they produced the
blankets themselves eyidenceJ the black
turns 10 a rusty red and the result is n most
undesirable combination DIue, red, green
and white, or combinations OF these colors.
would please those who have TO wear them
AID no one here could frame any reasonable
argument in opposition 10 their desires. Per-
EaDs the governmental idea is that the Indian,
disgusted by the nionotony of black blankets
will drop them and wear civilized Sarb. Ex-
perlenee shows that he does nothing of the
Kind. He raises a'lit.le money. adds a dollar
or 50 TO II BY dispOsing II his Canvas garments
To some white teamster or farm labOTer, and
with the sum total purchases a fancy blanket.
lie may pay four times as much for il as the
government paid for his annuity blanket. but
u j. more economical. for IL Lasts him ten times
rs long. The average Indian is bound to look
bis prettest, no matter what The cost
The working Iudlans-how few such there
be asked for better gloves They admitted
that the wooden mitts furnished were warm so
long as they were whole. but they had no wear
ing powers. especially i'll rainy weather. Buck
eA4A wa tAi4t proper LltttTlAl. tLGN Sstlll-
On the subject Of beef the testimony was am
pie and Unanimous The supplies that have
been Issued durinf, the past six months were
sttisisetOry IN every way. Previous to last
February tire beef herd was largely composed
OF bIg-Iawed cattle, bulls. ycarlings and IN
understandable steers. but since the military as
snIned compAnd-since Capt. Penney became
agent-the cattle had all been o: the best
quality.
Gen. Bussey witnessed issues Of beef and
otner ration supplies. watched eve " thing that
Was going on, made the acquaintance Of the
largest possible number of people in the short
est possible period OF time and secured a good
deal OF information that ought TO be valuable
TO the department and profitable TO the In
dams / he general did not care to discuss his
discoveries with me. but IL was not difficult to
tednee Rom a stray remark or two that he
Noald make report that would have in it
some revolutionary but thoroughly honest
recommendations He inspected the supplies
In the ware houses and feel sure lie was thor
Oughly satisfied with the coffee Hour beans
and sugar-al are excellen;-but | wouId
almost wager a dollar on his saying something
more than sharp about seed wheat shovels
hay forks, sewing thread and tin ware In the
general accompanies nothing more he has al
least given mOmentary pleasure To the OEa-
laIlIs by his business-lIke inquiries into mat
tiers they had almost come TO regard as beyond
governnIe tai inqairy. Had some such inyes-
ugatiOn been made by such high official last
issii the mortality In this region would hardly
have been a. great as II was
-