New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
INDIANS GRANT A CATTLE TRAIL.
AN AGREEMENT MADE FOR ONE ACROSS
THE CHEYENNE RESERVATION,
SOUTH DAKOTA.
SOUTH DAKOTA.

Sioux Fails $. D.. March % (SpecaD.-The Chi
cago Milwaukee and ST. Paul Railway Company
anticipates large increase in cattle shipments
over Its lines from the great ranges of the State
this season. Tho recent extension OF it's Bowde
Branch Ia the town OF Evarts. on the Missouri
River gives the company the best OF opportunities
TO the bulk of the cattle shipments from
ranges west ot the river. the line gives
II two outlets-from Evarts and from Chamberlain.
The Cheyenne River Indian reservation extends for
a distance OF about seventy-ive miles west OF
Evarts, but Of that is wide extent OF public
domain. embracing the counties of Ewing, Harding.
Martin, Wagner, Choteau. Rhinehart. Delaney and
Scohey, which afford rich grazing grounds and n
nually send 10 market many thousand cattle Many
"squaw men, living the reservation are also
tensively engaged I'm cattle raising and send large
numbers Of cattle TO market each year. The Mil
waukee company expects 10 secure the bulk of the
animals from that region for shipment over it's
line. and some months ago. with this object in
view, secured permits from the Indians on ths
Cheyenne reservation and from the Interior De-
partment az Washington for a cattle trail across
the reservation tc a point the Missouri River
opposite Evarts.
Although many attempts had been made to in
duce the Indians on other reservations in the State
10 consent 10 granting cattlemen a trail across
their lands. SO that it would be necessary to
go so far TO drive cattle TO the nearest railroad
points for shipment TO Eastern markets this is
the first roadway OF the kind the Sioux Indians
have ever granted for the benefit of white cattle
men. some years ago efforts were made in the
interests of the stock industry OF Omaha to get the
Indians consent TO the driving OF cattle from
the interior Of the ceded Sioux lands across the
Pine Ridge reservation. but the Indians protested
against and defeated the movement. Had they
consented. IL would have diverted TO Omaha many
thousands of head of cattle which annually
shipped to Chicago.
The new cattle trau across the Cheyenne reser-
vaton is six miles wide and extends along the
northern boundary of the reservation. II will be
marked by posts, similar 10 those which mark the
boundary line between States The posts will be
substantial. about mile apart. and closer where
the land is rough, the intention being 10 place the
posts close enough together that one may be
from another, there will be no excuse for
permitting cattle to wander the line to the
reservation.
The Indians at first demanded that the trail be
fenced. but the post plan accepted as a com
promise. AS return for the OF this trail the
Milwaukee company agrees pay the Indians a toll
certain amount Tor every animal driven across
The sums thus collected viii go into z FUND out of
which Indian policemen, whose duty Ii will be TO
guard trail and title driven across do
wander to the lands of the Indians, and 10
prevent reckless employees of the cattleulen from
'rustlins' cattle belonging the Indians. will be
paid. The surplus of this fund above the payment
of the Indian policemen will be divided pro rata
among the Indians the reservation.
y force of men has Just begun work series
of huge reservoirs along this trail They will be
completed before the spring rains. and the water
stored during that period viii be preserved In the