Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-09-29
INDIANS |||.|||A| AND AGRICULTURE.
What the Census Returns Show as
to the Extent of Agriculture
Among Indians.
What the Several Bands of Indians
on Reservations in This State
. s.s Have Done.


. a.t Have Done.
Acres Of Land in Crops Among the In
dians and Report on the Yield
Of the Crops.
4 recent census bulletin gives some
interesting details of agriculture on the
Indian reservations in North Dakota.
as follows:
North Dakota contains four Indian
reservations: Devils Lake, Fort Ber-
thold, Standing Rock, and Tuntle
Mountain. The larger portion Of
Standing Rock reserve lies in South
Dakota, but as the agency is located in
North Dakota the reservation was re-
ported in that state. Agriculture is
very uncertain on these reserves on ac-
count Of the hot winds and irregularity
of rainfall during the summer months
The census year, however, was favor
able, and their crops were raised on
all the land cultivated. The land, IN
general, is best adapted to stock rails
ing. and this occupation is receiving
much attention, especially on the Fort
Berthold and Standing Rock reserva-
.tions, which have extensive ranges and
hay lands.
With the exception of the Turtle
Mountain, the Chippewa, and the Ari-
kara Of Fort Berthold, these Norm
Dakota Indians are all of Siouan stock.
Only small per cent can speak Eng
lish, and government rations still con-
stitute large pant of their subsistence.
The larger number wear citizens
clothing, are industrious, and seem de-
s!rous of becoming self-supporting
DEVILS Lake RESERVATION.
Devils Lake reservation, comprisi lg
an area of 360.4 square miles, is situat-
ed in the northeastern part of the
raising, the upland prailfes furnishing
Tho land Is high and rolling and ,hn
scdl is light sandy or gravelly loan
which dries out very rapidly Failures
of crops from drought have been so
FREQUENT in recent years that few of
the Indians cultivate as extensively as
they would if they had greater assur-
ance of a harvest.
The population of the reservation,
June 1, 1900, was 1,26S, of whom 100
were farm operators, cultivating from
20 to 50 acres each.
Flax is the principal crop, closely
followed by wheat, while oats, barley
and corn are raised to some extent
Wild grasses furnish the entire crop
CT hay, which is generally larger than
lie Indians can manage with the i'm
plements at hand Most farmers cul-
tivate small areas of potatoes, and a
number also raise dry beans and other
garden vegetables. Few of them have
any cattle, and their horses are Indian
pony stock, too small ito run the gang
ploWs and other heavy machinery re-
qired for prairie farming. A few own
dairy cows, swine, and chickens.
a1RT BERTHOLD RESERVATION
Fort, Berthold reservation is located
in the west central part of North Da-
kota, on the Missouri river, and COM
prises an area of 1,5OS square miles
This region is we'll adapted to stock
raising. the pland prairies furnishing
ample range throughout the year. On
account of the hot, dry winds and ua-
certain rainfall. agriculture is not car
ried ON extensively, although the land
is fertile and in seasons of sufficient
moisture produces good crops.
The three years preceding 1899 were
so discouraging that many Indians at
Fort Berthold did not plant their usual
crops in the census year, although tho
season proved to be g favorable one.
OF the cereals. wheat and corn were
raised most extensively, although
many tanners also sowed oats Nearly
all had several acres of potatoes under.
sF IL I - ( ? "a aR
cultivation in addition to small
patches Of melons, onions, beans, peas,
cabbages, and other vegetables, The
majority Of the 239 farmers cultivated
from to 40 acres, besides cutting
large la areas Of prairie grass.
Stock raising is growing rapidly in
Importance and will eventually place
the people Of this reservation ON self:
supporting basis. The last issue OF live
stock was made to them in 1895 and
consisted OF 1000 heifers and 40 bulls.
Nearly al Indians now own a number
OF cattle, while some have large herds
Although in recent winters severe
storms have scattered and killed many
of their CATTLE the majority reported
sales OF live stock In 1899 ranging from