The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26
SENATOR MAhTLE'S BILL
For the establishment of an
Indian School.
FORT KE0GH THE PLACE
A Favorable Report Upon the Measuree
by Indian Commissioner Jones.
Irrigation Will Be
Necessary.
Washington Bureau of the Standard,
No. 1145 G Street N. w. I

washington Bureau OF the standard,
No. Has G Street n. w.
Washington, Jan. 23.-In support Of
Senator Lee Mantle's bill for the es-
tablishment of an Indian school at Fort
keogh, Indian Commissioner jones has
made an extended favorable report. In
this report the commissioner says:
1.-The Fort keogh military reservation
is located in the southeastern part of
Montana, embracing a territory about
nine miles square, being bounded on
the north by the Yellowstone river and
on the east by Tongue river. The fort
is situated on level and weil-selected
land in the northeastern corner of the
military reservation, about one mile
south of the Yellowstone and about two
miles west of the Tongue river. AS to
climate and location, Fort keogh has
dry and very healthful climate and tie
drainage of the land is a gradual slope
to the Yellowstone on the north. There
are about 40 small buildings that would
be of no value to an Indian school.
They are, most of them, small and I'M
serviceable buildings, unsightly, and of
no value whatever to an Indian school,
and would need to be removed were
school established. There has been no
sewer system put in at Fort keogh.
However, about a year ago Lieutenant
wilkins, then quartermaSter at Fort
keogh, made an estimate OF the cost
of complete system of sewerage, which
was about $4,000. There is said to be
pump house, containing two steam
pumps and the necessary boilers. There
are also a tank house and an elevated
tank, with necessary water mains, hy-
drants and connections. They have re-
Gently been put in, are in good condition
and would furnish supply of good
water for all the buildings Of the fort;
but the wells from which the water
supply is pumped will need to be re-
paired, as they have been simply board
ed up.
I'm order to teach any farming or
gardening a system Of irrigation must be
constructed. There are two sources of
water supply for such system, name
ly, the Yellowstone river on the north
and Tongue river on the east. 1t is es-
timated that the irrigation ditch from
the Yellowstone river would cost $44,S4S.
The other plan would be an irrigation
ditch from Tongue river which would
cost about $4,000, in addition to which
would be the water right and annual
water rent to the Miles City Canal and
Irrigating company. The regular
charges of this company are from so
cents to 81 per acre, according to the
land and kind of crops raised.
I'm order to establish an Indian school
at this place it would be necessary to
practically discard the present buildings
and a large proportion of the water
mains running to these separate build
ings OF course, a few of them might
be utilized for stables, outhouses and
possibly employees quarters. l would
estimate that, in order to put up a
first-class non-reservation school with
a capacity of $50 pupils, which should
always be the minimum capacity for
such institutions, it would necessi-
tate at least two dormitories which, of
brick. with modern improvements
would cost not less than $4,000 apiece:
a school building, to cost $4,000, would
also be necessary. a mess hall, dining
hall, kitchen, laundry. etc, which would
require about $4,000 more: fencing. i'm
provements, etc, about S., 000 making, a
total of $50, 900, to which should be added
the cost of the irrigating ditch, either
900 if the Yellowstone river source
is selected or $1,000 and also the annual
expense of water right and rental.
"As to the desirability of such an in
stitution, I am satisfied that at present
there is a sufficiency of non-reservation
schools The effort of the Indian office
has been to render more effective and
more efficient those already in exist
ence rather than the establishment Of
new ones. However, should congress
see fit and proper to make the eXpendi-
ture necessary for the construction and
maintenance of such a school, this office
would endeavor to fill it to it's capacity,
although there is strong prejudice
among the Indians on the reservatio
against sending their children off of the
| reservations to school. With proper
compulsory school laws there would be
no trouble in filing such a school if il
We're established HOSFORD.