Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-01-14
PINE RIDGE FENCE.
when Completed Will Be Seventy
Miles Long.
10 60 BE Erected for the Purpose OF
Keeping Cattle Out Of the Reser-
walton and 'ill be q Dur
able Structure.

9long the entire northern border Of the
Pine Ridge Indian PRESERVATION, which
has been projected for several years. is
finally being constructed. and will be
competed i'll few days. The fence
is oIe of the longest in The west. Eav-
ing a total leng'h of nearly 20 miles.
before the construction of the fence
the reservation and the ccded anGs
were divided only BY the White river.
which. when frozen in winter. fern, q
nc effective b. rr:r aGairs; the invasion
OF cattle belonging - white stOck:icn
Ihey driftcd with biiX::!yt;, To III, res
ervation. This rcsuhss; III friction be-
tween some OF tie Indians me lht. cat
tiemen. Only last year nearly 1.C,'G
head of cattle belonging 10 members
CT the. Western South Dakota Stock
Growers association WIRE ;3und on tic
reservation. where stCI,:s lad CIriv. =
them. They were sciZcG by ihn IN lars
and held 10 enforce the Payment Of Gre
dollar heal for their care during tic
interval pending their volmiilr, re-
moval Ey the owrcrs. The services Of
Mouth .Da!ota'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
cattlemcn and the comparative handful
Of Sioux who were disposed 20 make
them all the trouble they ccuiG reached
m acute stage. ard Tie c3n"rruction Ct
the fence was finally determined upon.
VI one time, since this course was de-
cidcd unon by the commissioner IF IN
dian affairs. it. was believed seriously
that n faction Of Sioux al Pine Ridge
agency. led by the celebrated chief
Red Cloud. who was opposed to the
builGiEc Of the feTce. you'd resort TO
force IN rrcvcnt its coHc cuc1ion ard
the Washington authorities oven vert
so far as o intimate thar United States
troops would bc detailed 10 protect the
ccrirnctCr and lis force of men. How
ever. This element contented itself with
!.nlding a council. PromulgatiEg a pro-
trst. to the Indian commissioner and Sc
!cct;CG representative o TO 10 Wash.
!n~ton TO lny their objections before
The federal Indian commissioner. Their
chief objections were that the money
20 he used in the erection Of the fence,
which 90 about 5000 a mile. was taken
from 1!ic funds deposited TO the credit
~ the tr''>e in the United Stntes treas
Ivy AT Washington. which r~oney was
Intended by compress for educational
PURPOSES only. and that 10 Put it to the
Use PROPOSED would be a violation of
law and their treaty rights They fur.
thrr s"'h that they were on good terms
with the whites. and did not wish TO
"bear IT," consequences Of the revenge
mi spirit Of the band Of selfish crea-
lures within our borders"
United States Indian Agent Clapp. Of
the Pine Ridge reservation. and James
Mclaughlin, the well-known Indian
inspector. were both severely de-
Lounced for favoring the erection of thc
fence. 1t was also pointed out that
while there were nearly million head
o. cattle on the ranges in the coded
lands directly tributary TO the Pire
Ridge reservation. In one winter only
600 head drifted TO the Indian lands.
and that this comparatively small num-
her did not justify the construction Of
sr expensive and useless fence. especial
l! when II was decided to charge the
expenditure to the Indians account.
The new fence does not closely follow
the White river, but runs as close TO IL
az Is permitted by the dense growth
Ct underbrush along that stream On
the Indian side cf the line live many
Sioux. who have in the aggregate q
large number Of cattle Of 'h"ir own.
These. it is expected. will br able to
procure abundant supplies Of wnter
from the draws" running back from
bhe river TO the Indian side Of the fence.
The structure has five wires and is very
durable, the posts being Of iron and
cedar. placed alternately so that 81
prairie fires destroy the cedar posts the
iron posts will, still r1niutnin the fence
In good condition. Gates are placed at
intervals. to be used in emergencies