The Minneapolis journal., 1901-11-02

nesota's 5000 reservation Chippewas now
beautiful region.
An Indian Paradise.
No one can say that Uncle Sam has been
needless of his Chippewa wards or un-
mindful Of their claims as the original
owners of all northern Minnesota, after
he has seen this reservation. Here In the
heart of the state thirty-six towns partly
covered with pine; partly with hard woods,
partly mixed brush and prairie and al
most half rich, black, rolling prairie
land, the superior to which cannot be
found in this great state, were set aside
for the homesteads Of the Indians. It is
land of tall grasses, beautiful lakes, rapid
streams of clear water, big and little
game, numerous fish. 1t is on the height
of land between the Red river and Mis-
sissippi water sheds. Emerging from the
timber region of the state, the boundary
line between which and the prairie sepa-
rates the reservation almost in half, the
traveller looks out for miles and miles
over a great sweep of fertile country
dotted with lakes, threaded with streams.
Behind him is the forest with its great
trees, its dense underground, its sugges-
tion of wild life and mystery. Remem-
bering the fine woodlands through which
he has Travelled and viewing the beautiful
panorama of prairie spread out before
him, far away toward the Red river,
he sees at once that this is a veritable
chosen land.
Indians Progressive.
Virgin as most Of the reservation is, 1t
is by no means a wilderness. Substan-
tial houses stand out on the prairie land
scape or nestle in the timber, and at this
season of the year countless stacks Of
grain and hay may be seen on the prairies
and, now and then, herds of fat cattle.
Four fifths of the Indians on this reser-
vation are of mixed blood. and many of
these mixed bloods have profted by the
governments generosity in farm machin-
cry and tools, and have become success
full farmers Each Indian man, woman
and child was given eighty acres Of land,
and those who broke forty acres within
a specified time were permitted to take
100 altogether. Thus an Indian family
may own thousands of acres Of fine land.
Some of it, perhaps, they took in the
sugar sbush,s some perhaps in a favorite
hunting region or on a@lake or river and
the rest on the prairie. These Indians
were no fools in picking land, and 1t may
be safely asserted that their allotmen
cover the cream of this most fertile and
beautiful region. With free land and free
machinery, 1t was easy to make a living
and not difficult to do far more. The pa
ternal government cut and issued lumber
to them according to their needs, so that
to-day the Indian family that has not a
frame or log house is rare indeed, though
some may prefer the wigwam for the most
of the year. Moreover, the reservation
blacksmith and carpenter shops repair the
wagons and machinery, the warehouse
supply stoves that heat the houses and
cook the food, rations are issued to the
sick and feeble aged and. the children are
educated and boarded free Of cost in the
Indian schools.
No More PaternaliSm.
For those who have enough white blood
to be progressive, eager to get rich and
desfrous of better things Uncle Sans as
sistance has been very valuable, but they
are Of the class who would have got along
anyway, with just little help at the
start. There was and is no reason why
they should to-day have any more assis-
tance from the government that the white
settlers of Becker or Norman counties,
within which this reservation lies. These
prosperous Indian fairness are citizens.
They vote for congressman and state Of
fcers, but instead Of paying taxes they
receive help from the government They
are well governed, peace and order are