Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-08-13
The Surveying Expedition.

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We publish below an interesting,
letter from E. L. Brown, narratine.
numerous events and giving full
description OF the country which they
are surveying.
LOST RIVER CAMP. August 1st, 1891.
EDITOR SHEAF The expedition to
inspect the government survey of a
portion OF the Red Lake Reservation
started from Warren on July 10Th
with l.. G. Wood as chief engineer,
and proceeded by the most direct
route to the point OF destination
south OF Clearwater River, where the
work was to begin.
AS this country is not generally
very we'll known, a brief description
OF places and things seen would
probably be Of interest. The route
east through the monotonous sand
ridge country was devoid OF unusual
incidents. South OF Red Lake River
wheat seemed to be a week or two
ahead OF that further north.
We had some trouble fording the
Clearwater River, but got over it
safely with the help OF an OK team.
We crossed the reservation line
through rich red-top meadow lands
and proceeding up the river made
camp on the bank and stayed there
over Sunday. That day a party of
Indians came in with pony carts and
OK teams and pitched their wigwams
about halfa mile further up the river.
They are here digging Seneca root
which grows abundantly and rank
on the dry prairie a mile or so from
the river. They make two or three
dollars per day At this work, and
also watch out for chance to sell
hay. We saw some bigsmokes which
the Indians said was hay stacks
which the settlers near the border
had cut on the reservation but re-
fused to pay for, at the rate OF fifty
cents per load, hence the blaze.
We visited the Indian camp and
saw them at work at their various
occupations. Old men smoking and
talking in the shade, and old squaws,
washing Snake root. cooking and
dressing deer and caribou hides, and
some OF the young squaws doing
fancy bead work. Some had been
hunting and we traded some bacon
for venison which made an agreeable
change in our camp fare.
Here is the true American in his
native land. We are apt to consider
that we are the s'great and only
Americans, but we are only the
United States. After all the real
American is the wild, red Indian.
We have not found game very
abundantly yet; occasionally we
start Il covey OF short-tailed or
pinated grouse, or pair of noisy
cranes; we have seen two fine red
deer dashing away with gallant
bounds; three lovely spotted lawns
have jumped out OF the brush close
to us and run off at q speed that
makes the flight OF a bird seem slow
We have seen some moose tracks
and different places where they have
laid in the grass, but have not seen
anything OF the great mysterious
brutes themselves.
There is good country adjoining
the Clearwater River, grassy prairies
intersected with groves OF poplar,
oak and ash, with a dense growth OF
| wild pea-yine covering the ground.
Passing south from the Clearwater
River we crossed wide, dry, worthless
wire grass marshes. Talking about
grasshoppers; here is the home and
breeding place of hosts OF the vermin.
1t appears to be three SPECIES here,
the injurious SPECIES being very
numerous; they have grazed the
grass off pretty closely and the
ground is covered with the debris.
Cranes, grouse and many small birds
are fattening on them.
There are fertile oak ridges all
through the marsh country and fur.
ther down we discovered Jhe fine rich
valley Of Lost River, which is a mar.
row stream Of clear running water
flowing into the south fork OF the
Clearwater River near it's mouth,
There is a big herd of cattle ranging
here, and number Of settlers from
across the border were making hay
along the river. There is a chance
for a good colony Of settlers here
when the reservation is opened fol
settlement. Southwark about four
miles we can see the Everlasting
hills looming up, reminding me o.
the friendly bluffs Of Wisconsin.
Our work is progressing in gooG
shape in spite Of mosquitoes and
other drawbacks. We are all ole
campers and know how to make our
selves at home in the woods. Some
times in making our way through
thick brush where the tangled pea
vine is waist deep, the villaneous
mosquitoes goes at his bloody work
making life q burden, but as the chic
says, /" Sicker children than we have
lived !, and We must be pretty tough
as we are all thriving we'll. There
are four kinds Of mosquitoes here
and each one is o little worse thar
the other. One is q big husky grey
fellow with brown spots on his hump