Evening journal., 1899-01-04
EVENING
PINE RIDGE FEMS
When Completed Will Be Seventy
Miles Long.
Is to BE Erected for the Purpose OF
Keeping cattle Out of the Reser-
walton and NYn lie n Dur
able Structure.

The mammonth government fence
slong the entire northern border OF the
Pine Ridge Indian reservation, which
has been projected for several years, Is
finally being constructed, and will be
completed in a few days. The fence
is one of the longest in the west, hav-
ing a total length Of nearly 70 miles.
Before the construction Of the fence
The reservation and the ceded lands
were divided only by the White river,
which, when frozen in winter, formed
no effective barrier against the invasion
OF cattle belonging to white stockmen.
They drifted with Billiards to the res
eryation. This resulted In friction be-
! tween some Of the Indians and the cat
tiemen. Only last year nearly loco
head Of cattle belonging TO members
cf the Western South Dakota Stock |
Growers association were found on the |
reservation. where storms had driven |
them. They were seized by the Indians |
and held to enforce the payment of one |
dollar head for their care during the |
interval pending their voluntary re-
moval by the owners. The services Of !
South Dakota's congress delegation in
Washington were required to secure
the release of the cattle without the
necessity of paying the amount de-
manded by the Indians.
Since then the friction between the
cattlemen and the comparative handful
OF Sioux who were disposed to make
them all the trouble they could reached
{ an acute stage. and the construction OF
the fence was finally determined upon.
At one time. since this course was de-
cided upon by the commissioner of In
dian affairs, II was believed seriously
! that a faction of Sioux at Pine Ridge
/ agency. led by the celebrated chief
I Red cloud, who was opposed to the
= building of the fence, would resort to
r fierce to prevent its construction. and
the Washington authorities even went
, so far as TO intimate that United States
troops would be detailed TO protect the
= contractor and his force Of men. How
ever this element contented itself with
: holding a council, promulgating a pro-
!. test 10 the Indian commissioner and Sc
- lecting q representative to go to Wash
. inRton to lay their objections before
= the federal Indian commissioner. Their
/, chief objections were that the money
II 10 be used in the erection Of the fence
- which cost about 5000 a mile. was taken
a flom the funds deposited TO the credit
Z OF the tribe in the United States treas
% urv at Washington, which money wal
n intended by congress for educatona
m purposes only, and that to put 1t to th'
Ia Vi
n law and their treaty rights. They fur
ther said that they were on good terml
with the whites, and did not wish Il
shear the consequences Of the revenge
rul spirit Of the band Of selfish erea
lures within our borders"
d" United States Indian Agent Clapp, o
the Pine Ridge reservation, and Jane
Mclaughlin, the well-known India
INSPECTOR, were both severely dt
ey nounced for favoring the erection OF IN
ed fence. It was also pointed out tina
he while there we're nearly million hea
he or cattle on the ranges In the ceoe
Je, lands directly tributary to the flr
ut Ridge reservation, In one winter on
yn goo head drifted to the Indian land
lis and that this comparatively small nun
at Der did not Justify the construction
vn m EXPENSIVE and useless fence, especia
" when it was decided TO charge u
lis expenditure to the Indians account
'er The new fence does not closely folio
lp- the White river, but runs as close 10
tu- as is permitted by the dense grow
oc- of underbrush along that stream. {
he the Indinn side of the line live maj
for Sioux, who have in the aggregate
cir large number of cattle OF their o"
S a These. II is expected, will be abie
ng nrocure abundant supplies OF wat
OF from the "draws" running back FRO
the river TO the Indian side OF the fene
ley The structure has five wires and is We
Of durable. the posts being of iron al
ven cedar. placed alternately, so that
err rrnirie fires destroy the cedar posts 4
ygy iron posts will still maintain the zen
to in rood condition. Gates are placed
md intervals to be used in emergenci
At when Il is ecessary TO get to the rlV'
. TO The gates are securely lockeu unu
leir one will be permitted to nave Keys
the them except a white government (
Move known as the "boss farmer
rest The Indian agent himself. The fer
nth will be under the direct PERSONA sui
Ives vision of the boss farmer, who VIII
ing held responsible for its condition 81
the agencies, under the charge OF Wh
ldy, employees, have been established at
his tervals of about IS miles along the
With tire route of the fence, and at these
less, Indians living in the neighborhood
that ceive their supplies Of beef bacon, c
had fec. tea. sugar and -four at stated
one iiods. II will be seen that the lei
and does not run through an unlnhabi
ASS. part of the reservation, and that 1t
not be serious task to maintain
watch upon It similar to that ma
tnined by railroad section men for
pic purpose of keeping tracks in good
d be pair.-N. Y. Sun.
nade "
! ap- steamed Oysters with Sauce.