Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-10-05

"aAaoA "AuuS Ato way GurOuku
the center Of the reservation, is beauti-
fully wooded along it's banks, extending
on each side Of the river, from one.
eighth. to n mile; while Nesting IN the
bosom of the stream, are numerous isl
ands, ranging in size from 10 to 500
acres in extent, covered with dense
brush and timber, the whole forming a
picture which would be difficult to match
on the famous Rhine. On the east bank
OF the river, a the junction Of the
Little Missouri, are some deep, woody
r~avines, where
Boon nature scattered. free and wild:
Each plant, or flower. the mountain's child.'
Stretching along the left bank Of the
river, are to be found the comfortable
homes of the noble red man, in all his
sprestive glory; and the dusky maiden of
the forest can be seen culling the wild
fruit which grows in abundance in those
Elysium fields.
There are three tribes of Indians on
the reservation-the Gros Ventre, the
Rees, and the Mandans, numbering in all
about 1000, all of whom have been on
good terms with the whites for years.
The Sioux Indians are hated by them
very much. One Indian, who bore the
marks of having went through the "sun
dance,' boosted of having killed two
Sioux, while another has a scalp which
he took from a Sioux, and recently re-
fused S12O for it.
I was astonished to find the progress
they had made IN farming. They have
taken up agriculture with a spirit which
some of the Dakota farmers would do
we'll to emulate. This year, they have
crops of cereals which are considerably
above the average of that grown on the
outside of the reservation, and a spirit
of happy contentment seems to reign in
their midst. The government encour-
ages them IN every way, by purchasing
agricultural implements of the most i'm
proved pattern, and where once the
wooded dells and %ravines echoed back
the war cry, can be heard the busy hum
of the thresher, and peace and plenty
smiles upon a contented race.
The spiritual and educational welfare
of the different tribes are ably looked
after by Mr.. Hall, representing the Con-
gregational mission, and the sisters who
are equally interchangeable in the Catholic
mission, the result of whose united eff
forts has been that the rising generation
are all able to read and speak English
we'll. Mr.. Hall has labored assiduously
in their midst for 18 years, and has seen
the fiery Sioux on several occasions come
in from their scalping raids. M. Hall is
worthy of all praise for his efforts in the
cause Of education, indeed but few men
would have cared to be shut out from the
civilized world for such a length of time,
even though self exiled. I had several
interviews with Wolf Chief, who is a
bright and intelligent Indian, a !. shrewd
man of business and is looked up to as a
counsellor and adviser for his tribe. I
also met Grow Fly High, but had no
conversation with him. He was on horse
back, and although now an old man is
full Of the dignity and bearing of a
Roman emperor, and must have been in
his young days a fine specimen of man
hood.
Major Clapp, the Indian agent is a
gentleman we'll qualified to fill the posi-
ton he holds, courteous, obliging and
thorough business in all his dealings
He is doing a great deal for the Indians
in the way of having a system of schools
established over the reservation at con-
venient' points to the settlement where
the children can attend school without
having to make long journeys in inclem-
ent weather.
MI. W. l.. Grady has been busy all
summer alloting land to the indians.
each head of a family get 100 acre, while
every child has 40 acres which when
taken up and fenced off will form a very
compact and comfortable homestead
and the fact of their knowing the boun-
diaries OF each claim will be an induo-
ment for them to take a greater interest
in farming, in course of time become
self sustaining without the aid given by
the government.
l think, probably if the government
we're a little less liberal in giving rations
to the young men, that they would bs
doing them a kindness as they would
then have to hustle for themselves. and
the excellent soil on the reservation. NO
man who is willing to till the ground
could starve in this eden of the West"
H.
l City Council.
The city council met Monday night.
last.
The claim of Mrs. John Z. White
which had been formerly allowed on
penalty and interest fund was re.allowed
on contingent fund, and penalty and in
terest warrant. ordered cancelled.
Report of city justice was read, re-