New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
STOCKMEN AND INDIANS.
HOW POOR 10 IN THE DAKOTAS COMES
TO BE INTERESTED IN THE OPER-
ATIONS OF THE BEEF TRUST.

ATIONS OF THE BEEF TRUST
The proposition to lease lands in the Standing
Rock Indian Reservation for grazing purposes has
excited much opposition the part Of the Indians
concerned. one of the missionary organizations
working among the red men sent representative
o report the conditions of the lease. and the
result Of his observations is here given:
THE first public move in the history of the case
council held early in May 1901, at Standing
Rock. At this time the party appearing to ask
lease privileges the Chicago and Milwaukee
Railroad Company, represented by its agent Mr.
Hunter. The department did not then 10
press the matter. standing rather leaving the
case TO decision by the Indians themselves. The
proposition was made IN somewhat indefinite form.
asking that the Indians authorize a lease Of
reservation land, represented a tract in the
western portion Of the same. but understood by
the Indians including all that part of the
reservation south OF Grand River. This they
jected there being vote in favor when asked
10 accept.
Again in the latter part of May there
council held. Again the railway company ap-
peared in the person of MI Hunter. asking to
lease certain portions of the reservation and other
privileges. This proposition was strongly urged by
Agent Bngenheimer, and had further the indorse-
ment by telegram of the Indian Ofce at Wash
ington. This second offer rejected. there be-
ing no vote asked taken because of the almost
unanimous expression of opposition 10 il.
Later. in October the Indian Office offered
pre-tositiOn for leasing reservation lands by the
oepartment-the proposed lessees not appearing
which favorably considered This proposition.
as presented to the Indians and accepted by
them, was that a tract of land thirty miles square
OF its equivalent twenty-five townships in the
northwest corner OF the reservation should be
leased. The Indians accepted this. subject to two
conditions, l. that this tract be located on un-
occupied lands conflict with
rights Of Indians and that this tract be first
definitely marked by a committee of three
Indians (chosen by themselves and the agent.
These two conditions were an essential part of the
agreement. and separate from these there was no
agreement made On this question there is alb
solutely variation in testimony given. 1t would
appear, however. that in the written form, sub
mitted for the Indians to sign, these essential
conditions left out, and whereas the In
oians supposed this 10 be the Identical agreement
they had made in council, it covered only the
bare fact Of their consent TO the leasing Of the
lands
a further interesting bit of history is the fact
that previous to this October agreement a party
OF cattle men, railroad men Chicago Milwaukee
ana St PauD and local representatives of the
Indian service went out part of the reserva-
ton, and. il is SAID, came TO understanding
among themselves. portionng off all OF the western
fwo-thrds Of the reservation in strips of twelve
and six miles wide. lines running north and
south, these strips to be fenced on such lines
regardless OF the Indian occupants This was prior
10 the present proposition TO lease and presum-
ably proposed modification of the permit system
or u head order OF the department.
II one trusts TO the record Of the hearing OF
tnls case before the Senate Committee, there
seems 10 be no definite understanding on the part
of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs Agent Bin
genheimer or the proposed lessees of lust where
the lines are TO run. I do know appears far
TOO often. The call for proposals issued by the
Indian Office, under date December 23 1901 offers
10 Dloders tract covered by "a distance of about
hfty-siX mes-the entire width of the reservation
eastward from the western boundary of the reser-
Fauoh 10 the range line between Ranges 26 and
Y In South Dakota and the range line between
Ranges 81 and 81 in North Dakota II may he here
remarked that in South Dakota the government
surveys are made for that part lying west of the
Missouri River from the Black Hills meridian.
ranges running eastward instead of 10 the west
ward, as for localities Of the river In North
Dakota the survey continues the system uniform
OF ranges running to the westward ascertaincd
from the survey stakes that the range line he
tween Ranges % and p, crosses Grand River I'm a
general direction nearly at right angles al a
point about two and one-half miles west Of the
Grand River Government Boarding School This
fact surely should not have escaped the knowledge
OF Agent Bngenheimer.
Under the modified form and according TO the
leases known as the Lennon and the Walker
leases, the eastern limit of land proposed to he
leased is moved one row of townships six miles
10 the westward of the original proposal includ-
ing all west of the range between Ranges % and
e. and from there due north through the lands
surveyed under eastern meridian This nIacas
the line eight and a half miles west Of the Grand
River school at its point OF crossing Grand River
Or some two miles westward Of the mouth of IittIe
Oak Creek, which comes into the Grand on the
south with long westerly slant from the south
west All this is a simple matter of r1nning o,.
the lines Of the regular government survey. Inst
where this line extends through North Dakota
and down into the valley Of the Cannon Ball was
not able to take time to ascertain 1t presumably,
lies little to the eastward of the sub-ap perc,. ~,
the Upper Cannon Ball It certainly lies from six
10 eight miles 10 the eastward of the sub-agencv
on Grand River known as Bull Head Station