The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-01-14
Che 9eil1orrat.
A Dakota Letter .

EIBowooDs N OAK. December Is, 1897.
To THE EDITOR:
Havlug spent three years in this
st, :. and heing one Of the few Orege
ian- " thin it's borders, and perhaps the
ONLY constant reader of your esteemed
papsl within its bounds, take pleas
urs i, giving you herewith description
of my observation and experience since
leaving WeSfoot, and If In your discre.
tion on deem them worthy of publ.
cation YOU may give them to your many
readers through the columns Of the |
DEMooRAT.
l am much interested in Oregon, it's
people, and future prosperity Of the |
state, for several reasons; lst many
years of my life were spent in "Oid
Linn" within few miles of Albany; l
am yet citizen of the state. and hence
it is my home; 2nd, 1t is the grandest
state in the Union all things being con-
sidered and its future welfare has q
brilliant outlook. The people are gen.
erous aid progressive; 1t is the land
of abundance, and the climate perfect
aud healthful, therefore never fail to
speak good word for Oregon whenever
opportunity offers.
For number of years before coming
here was engaged in teaching in the
pubic schools of Linn Co. Or, and onl,
gav. up that work in order to accept an
appointment under the Civil Service
ruies, as teacher in the Indian Service
a. this place; Therefore my main object
is to give the true status OF things as I
Ind them today among the Indians. TO.
gether with description of the country,
climate etc. as I have seen them.
We have just passed through the
Christmas tetivlties on the reservation,
and as viewed by me, they were OF an
elevsting and ciyilizing nature. of which
any white community might well be
proud. These Indians are most loyal On
such occasions as Christmas and Four ia
o. July, when they take pride IN making
these events surprising success. and
are proud Of the privilege by which she
can show their enlightenment.
1 Ialtended the Christmas exercises =
the Catholic mission conducted whc,iy
by Indians, was favoraoly impressed
throughout the exercises by hearing
familiar songs being. rendered in the
English language by Indians Of all ages.
I Iooserved but few who were not dressed
IN eitizsns apparel, and most of them
very neatly attired in dress suits, and
English dresses was evidence sufficient
TO convince me that these Indians are
adopting the customs Of civilized nations
81 rapid rate. made visit to the
their Christmas feast, there I beheld
long tables nicely arranged set tastiiy
with dishes, and almost filed to oyes.
hoSing with eatsbles. al well cooked
and inviting, noticed there were light
rolls, corn cake, fat pies, sliced beef
soup, tea, coffee and variety of canned
fruits and fresh apples. Such q feasi
would be enjoyed by any people, and
the advancement being made in domes.
tic duties by the Indian women i. .
noticeable fact.
There were FIVE trees gorgeously dec
GRATED in streams Of red, white anC
blue, and highly illuminated with wax
candles, all loaded to their utmost with
toys and presents of every description
from five cent jumping jack to a fifteen
dollar cashmere shawl, and for ovel
three hours the distributing Of present.
continued, while at intervals Of every
twenty minutes during this time a wei
equipped brass band OF fourteen Indiar
boys interspersed the exercises Will
some well rendered and pleasing music
and during the whole program venders
were continually passing through the
crowd bestowing free gif's of candy and
apples 70 all. This was my experience
on Christmas day 1897, among the Rec,
Gros Ventre and Mandan Indians, and
for generosity and grand display it would
be difficult to equal Trees and exer.
cises conducted by other religious fo-ie.
ties l have been informed were 9 great
success.
The winters in North Dakota are u.s.
uaily quite severe as have found since
coming here and generally from Nov Ist,
to April 18th "The Frost King" feigns
supreme, and holds every thing 10 his
iron grasp. This winter however has
been mild so far. az vet we have had no
snow worthy of mention, and stock of all
kinds are farire well on the range requir
ing no feed, up to this time. Stock
raising Is great industry OF this state,
and The natural grazing advantages are
not surpassed anywhere, and as wild hay
lie abundant winter feeding in this sec
tion is net very expensive. These In
dams have over three Thousand head of
cattle and for some time have furnished
their beef supp'y for which the govern
Inent pays them Elk cents pei. lb. net.
and then issues them the beef.
Ah'0 cIoIc q nh clcbdteO psateau o!
considerable hight, and consists of roll
ing prairie land and sandy soil which
yields cereals and vegetables of good
quality and quantity. when the season il
propItious. The coutry IN appearance
reminds me much Of eastern Oregon and
easter Washington, but in general char
aeteristics it is vastly different. My
location here is only a stones throw from
the Missouri River and during the sum-
m-r months, | enjoy great sport in
Catching the monstrous c1sfish with |
which itg muddy waters abound. FL
frozen over now, and has bsen since |
Nov l5tb, [ went down to day and |
measured the ice, which by actual meae-
ufenent was 20 inches. How would that
strike an Oregonian, fresh from Webfoot /
We have had some cold weather, but one
OF TIE coolest daye, when the mercur,
was % degrees below zero, drove 20
miles facing cutting north wester, ali
the way. (WelI it wasn't pleasant, but
soon thawed out, when got cloe be.
side red hot stove.) The temperature
here is very changeable, one day itmigb,
be o. above zero, and the next, 30 below
Tho on I.<.-...