The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-25
TREATING WITH INDIANS
Commission Endeavoring to Sc
cure Agreements.
JONES' ANNUAL REPORT
School for the Northern Cheyennes Hung
Up - Irrigation System for the
Crow Reservation-A Plan
for Education.
WashingtonBureau of the Standard
No. 1145 G. Street, n. w.


Commissioner Jones says in his annua.
report. submitted this week, that the
Grow and Flathead commission has d.
vided its time during the past Il months
between the Grow and Flathead reserva-
tons in Montana and the Yakima reser-
walton in Washington, endeavoring to Sc
cure agreements with the Indians thereof
for the cession of portions of their re-
spective reserves. Negotiations with the
Indians of the Flathead and Yakima res
ervations have not yet been successful.
He believes 21,000 acres of the tract coded
by the Crows should be deducted to COW
er railroad rights of way and presen.
allotments. thus leaving the net acreage
coded 1116,50o. OF the latter area 100000
acres, lying along the Big Horn and yell
lowstone rivers are said to be susceptible
of irrigation, the balance being excellent
grazing land and containing some timber
The Crow agreement provides for the use
of about one-haf the purchase money
for the completion and maintenance of
the irrigation system, purchase of stock,
cattle and sheep. for hospital and main.
tenance. for schools fencing. mills etc.
The agreement must, of course, be ratl-
lieu ana COHEFmeu Dy congress DP1OTe IL
becomes effective, but that is probable
at this winters session.
The commissioner recounts the perm.s-
sion granted by him last April to
E. c. Waters, president of the Vel
lowstone Lake Boat company. Yellow.
stone National park, to locate one or tive
tepees or wigwams of Indians on Dot is
land, in the Yellowstone lake, from June
Is to Sept 15 in order that tourists
might be able to see Indians in their ma
tive surroundings: provided that the In
dams should be entirely willing to go and
the company should make satisfactory
arrangements. This permission was the
more complimentary to Mr.. Walters in
view of the fact that Commissioner Jones'
is strongly opposed to the exhibition o.
| the Indians
Arrangements are being made by the
| commissioner to put a large boarding
school on the Flathead reservation nexi
year. The commissioner reports that the
| agency school plant on the Blackfeet res
ervaton is old dilapidated and not
adapted to its purposes. He says the To-
| cation was an unfortunate selection ann
| 1t must be moved to one which Is Suita-
| BILE. Plans have been perfected therc-
| fore. for that purpose. SO that at an ear
ly date new school will be desrably To-
| Gated and erected.
| The commissioner reports that pend.
| ing the final consideration of the agrees
| ment made by United States Indian In
spector James Mclaughlin with the
Tongue rivers nothing can be done looR.
| ing to the erection of a boarding schoo,
on the Northern Cheyenne reservation.
| This is because the whole matter has
been hung up. Mr.. McLaughlins reporl
| and recommendations were submitted to
! the house of representatives last Jan
uary and an amendment was placed by
the senate upon the Indian appropriation
bill which provided for establishing the
| boundaries of the reservation and made
| appropriation for purchasing the lands
and improvements of the settlers. pur-
| chasing cattle, fencing the reservation,
etc. as recommended, but the amendment
was not agreed to in conference. A bill
offered by Senator Mantle, containinA
| provisions similar to the amendment,
passed the senate but failed in the house.
McLaughlin's recommendations, in all OF
which Commissioner Jones announces his
concurrence, were:
First. that the reservation be extended
so as to furnish the Indians with an am
| pie supply of water and grazing lands.
second, that the lands and improvements
of certain settlers within the original res
ervaton and the proposed addition be
purchased at valuation of s151, 595; thirc,
that in case the reservation boundary
should be extended the same be fenced OF,
its north and south boundaries at a cost
not to exceed $7150: fourth. that bulls
and heifers be purchased for the Chey-
ennes a cost not to exceed $2S, 200; fifth,
that an appropriation be made for this
erection of new buildings at Tongue
River agency and repairing old ones, not
to exceed $4,000: also for the establish
ment of a. sub-issue station, blacksmith
| shop and farmers residence on Tongue
| river al cost not to exceed $3.055-tht
entire appropriation recommended being
$500 900
, The report also gives the full text OF the
agreement concluded between Inspector
Graves of the department and the Grow
Indians for the completion OF their irrlga.
ton system. By this agreement 800, O0t
of the grazing fund of the tribe was se,
system and Walter B. Hill was appointed
to superintend the work. Mr.. Hill re-
ceipted for the property used in the con.
struction of the irrigation works and en-,
tered upon duty in August last.
During the year covered by the report
$3.50 was expended in improving rriga
ton on the F1athead reservation.
The report contains an extended review
by the commissioner of the plan of In
dian education. He says:
I'm pursuance of the law of destiny
the Indian was forced to yield as tn,
borders of civilization and progress wer,
| pushed further and further westward
until they have finally encompassed ever!
tribe and surrounded it with the power
full evidences of the foremost civilization
! of the world. Once the proud possesses
of this boundless territory, the Indian has
been forced to yield rather than misera
bly, perish. AS his power and forces o
resistance decreased those of his adver
saries increased. Recognizing his jus
claims to consideration, he has been ia
ken under the protecting influences o
| the government. and while in many case
confined upon diminished areas. supper
and subsistence have been allowed in lie,
of that which the wild fertile fields of tn
past gave him for the mere asking. bu
now he must follow the Interchangeable de
cree of life and learn to labor for tina
which formerly came without effort. l
was not a mere sentimental polio.
which actuated the government in fur
nishing supplies and subsistence to thes
peoples, but it was simply a recognition
of the justice of their claims to be givel
a support by those who had taken fror
them their means of existence. Such
| policy however, is not a perpetual ons