The Press., 1898-01-27
NORTH DAKOTA LETTER.


it in my mind to give some account OF the
Indians, who are our neighbors to the
east of US. The DEVILS Lake reservation
lies ON the south shore of the lake of that
name. The lake forms its northern
boundary; It's southern boundary is the
Cheyenne River. 1t extends east and
west about thirty-five miles, and from
north to south from eight to eighteen
miles. There are about one hundred and
sixty-six thousand and four hundred acres,
one half of which is fairly good agricul-
tural land. The rest Is timber land, hills
and meadow. The country around Fort
Totten Is very pleas mt; indeed, there are
some views worth going far to see. AS
late rs the summer of 1895 the number of
Indians on the reservation were, males,
498 females, 523; total, 1921 males
over eighteen years of age, 287; females
over fourteen years, 378; school children
between six and sixteen years, males, 102;
females, SO. The total population is 80
less than two years before. The general
opinion is that there is nc increase, but
rather gradual decrease in the popula-
tion year by year. The death rate is un-
usually large, being nearly seventy to the
Thousand for the two years preceding 1896.
The main cause has been want and desti-
tuition.
The Indians have allotments in lands,
prairie and timber. When the allotments
were made the government furnished the
Indians certain number of cattle, hogs
and horses, and some farm implements,
but the Indian Is not farmer, or the son
of farmer, and has to learn everything
about agriculture. While he is learning
this he has to live, and for his living he
has to look to himself. He likes to eat,
and when he has anything to eat he eats
it. He gets hungry while he is trying to
raise something which he can convert into
bread and meat. His cattle to farm with,
his COWS and his hogs, it was convenient
for him to kill and eat. OF course, when
he had eaten them he did not have them
to work with. His farming operations
sold or used up. So it came to pass that
he can't farm It. He has nothing to farm
with, and yet he must provide his own
food. Formerly he hunted and fished,
but hunting and fishing are in the past,
and exist only in the memory. Since
have been here the government has help
ed them very little. They have had
seed furnished them once or twice, and
believe little meat. There are few
who are doing quite well as farmers. In
1895 there were A, 700 acres of land under
cultivation, of which 5000 were sown to
wheat. The rest was divided between
oats, barley, potatoes, corn, and few
other small seeds. Indians-a number of
them-have been known to bring this
seed wheat furnished them into town,
sell it, take the money and buy something
and use 1t up at once, thus reaping quick
harvest, and as quickly disposing of it.
They need con tant watching. I have
seen very few cattle on the reservation
do not now recall ever having seen a COW
but ponies, all the Indians have. There
is quite class Of young men who have
grown up since the land was allotted, but
they are not able to get living off the
land because they have no machinery or
tools whatever to work the land, and no
means to get them. If they ever have
tools, machinery or cattle, the govern
ment will have to help them; but the
government does not seem disposed to do
1t. 1t must be said of these young men
that they are disposed to work, and apply
to the agent for it. But their opportu-
mites for work are very limited. Their
best time is in harvest AMI threshing, but
the period is brief, and the openings few
In the summer, and in fact the year
around, we have them coming into town
frequently with wood, and, in the season
of it, hay, which they are glad to sell
Usually they have no trouble in disposing
of all they bring in. This, wonderfully
open and snowless winter, enables them
to market considerable wood and hay
and that is all they do now. But the
wood is, much Of it, young timber, which
should never have been cut. In a few
years there will be none to cut. A hun
cry, starving Indian Is very human, anC
will have a care for his stomach, and viii
put young, growing trees into it. Every
year theIe is much suffering among them
every year their condition grows worse
You may see the squaws about thu
town every little while searching care
fully around the houses and stables, ev
erywhere in fact, for anything that ma!
be converted into food, or be used in In
dian housekeeping or out. They ar,
good natured creatures, and bear uncom
plainingly their hard lot. In their semi
civilized state they are worse off than il
their former wild condition, when th
chase ard the fishing was sufficient Il
supply them with food and clothing
How little food they get now; hoV
poor is their clothing. No wonder 81
many die OF pulmonary diseases and des
titution. Having taken their hunting
and fishing grounds from them, the gov
ernment should keep them In comfortabl,
food and clothing, to say the least. How
can 1t expect to make farmers of them Ii
q day? AS for the reservation schools
and some personal experiences will
some of them, l shall have to reserve fol
| annfho. D