The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16
an INDIAN QUARRY DEAL
Purchase by the Government Of a
Tract in Minnesota.
Red Men Part With n Portion of the
Land From Which Their Pipes Are
Manufnctured-Sofl They Thought
the Great Spirit Intended to He
Used Only for Smoking Utensils.

The Pipestone Quarry, at Pipestone,
Mimi, which has been the property Of the
Yorktown Sioux Indians since 1858, has
been purchased from that tribe by the
Government for the sum Of $4,000. The
Indians are permitted, under the terms
of the agreement, to stake on portion
of the quarry sufficient for the manu-
facture Of their pipes, and this will be
retained for their use and will be viz
tualiy in their possession.
The red stone yielded by this quarry is
unique product, being variety OF
steatite (if, indeed, it be steatite) differ
ing from that Of any known European 10
cality, as well as from any other place in
America.
As late as 1910 the site of the quarry
was unknown except to the Indians them
selves. who described it as spot Of great
Importance to the red man, as given to
them by the Great Spirit for their pipes.
and strictly forbidden to be used for any
thing else.
The Indians were accustomed to shape
out the bowls of their pipes from the
solid stone, which is little softer than
marble, with nothing but a knife. The
stone, which is of cherry red. admits Of
beautiful polish, and the Indians made
the hole in the bowl Of the pipe by drill
ing into ii a hard stick. shaped to the de-
sired size, with a quantity Of sharp sand
and water kept constantly in the hole,
the process subjecting the operator to very
great labor and the necessity of much
patience Yet not only has this primitive
labor yielded thousands Of beautifully
made pipe bowls, but they have been
carved in most artistic and wonderful
manner.
The shafts or stems of these pipes were
made from two to four feet in length,
sometimes round. but most generally fiat,
of an inch OF two in breadth, and wound
half their length or more with braids Of
porcupines' quilts, and often ornamented
with beaks and tufts from the woodpeck-
er's head, with ermine skins and long
horse or buffalo hair. These stems were
carved in many ingenious forms, and the
manner in which they were perforated
through the centre for long time .puz-
zled the white purchaser, until he learned
that they were invariably made of the
stalk of the young ash. which generally
grows straight and has a small pi;i
through the centre. which is easily burned
out with a hot wire or piece of hard
wood. by much slower process. .-@..
There were two kinds of pipes in vogue
with the Indians. the ordinary pattern
made and used for the luxury of smoking
only. This kind every Indian was per-
mitted to own and smoke when he pleased.
Then there was the calumet; or pipe OF
peace. ornamented with theswar eagles
uuills This was sacred pipe. and never
allowed to be used on any Other occasion
than that of peacemaking, when the chief
brought it into treaty and. unfolding the
many bandages which were, carefully kept
around it, kept it ready to be mutually
smoked by the chiefs after the terms of
the treaty were agreed upon. as the means
of solemniZing or signing, by an illiterate
people. who could not draw tip an instru-
ment and sign their names to it as is
done in the civilized world.
The mode of solemnizing was by passing
the sacred stem to each chief. who drew
one breath of smoke only through it. there
by passing the most invioiate pledge that
they could possibly give for the keeping
of the terms agreed upon.
The sacred pipe was then carefully folded
up and slowed away in the chiefs lodge
until similar occasion called it out to
be used in similar manner
The luxury of smoking WIS known to all
the North American Indians in their prm-
tive state. and that before they had any
stituted various weeds. leaves. and banks
OF trees, which, though narcotic, in char
acter. wre much less injurious than mod
ern tobacco. These parks. etc. the In
dians pulverized and called knick knock.