Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-09-29

= B.. 1885,.
Indian from this source amounted to
S3,415. The larger number of their
horses are Indian pony stock, but
few have a good grade of American
horses. Dairy COWS and chickens are
found On but few farms.
Only "a per cent know enough Eng
hsh for ordinary conversation, and gov
ernment rations still constitute 90 per
cent of their subsistence.
STANDING ROCK RESERVATION.
Standing Rock reservation lies on
the west bank of the Missouri river,
and contains an area Of 4,176 square
miles Of which approximately three
fifths are in South Dakota.
This reserve is the home OF the
Blackfeet, the Hunkpapa, and the
Lower and Upper Yantonai bands Of
the Sioux, numbering in all 1856.
The reservation is best adapted to
grain. but, although the soil is in gen
eral deep, rich loan, the hot winds
and insufficient rainfall often prevent
crops from maturing. Consequently
stock raising is the principal pursuit
Of the Indian farmers. although most
OF them grow few crops and in addi-
tion cut large quantities Of wild grass.
They are beginning to realize that
from their cattle must eventually come
their support, and are giving them
much better care than formerly.
Their cereals, planted every year in
the hope Of harvest, rarely yield more
than the quantity seeded. The season
of 1899, however. was favorable one
on the Standing Rock reserve and the
Indians Ing ans harvested considerable quanti-
ties of corn and oats. Individual
acreage in these crops was very small,
usually from 2 to 10 acres. Vegetables
did we'll and nearly all farmers raised
potatoes, while many had small fields
of melons, pumpkins, pease, beans, and
onions. 4 few grew sugar beets which
have been found to be we'll adapted to
this soil. Wild hay. however, is the
most important and extensive crop,
and besides making enough for their
own use, the Indians sell large guam
titles to the agency, military post. and
traders. The improved area of the
farms OF the majority of the 7S0 Indian
farmers ranged from 5 to 40 acres.
Most Indian farmers have made a
stant IN stock raising, and some already
nave substantial herds The majority
reported small sales of live stock. the
annual receipts ranging froms s25 to
5000. Indian ponies constitute the
greater part of their wealth in horse
flesh. flesh. although some have horses of a.
oetter grade. Swine and chickens are
found ON number of farms.
Approximately 9S per cent of these
indians wear citizens clothing and %
per cent speak English. Government
rations constitute 50 per cent of their
subsistence.
TURTLE MOUNTAIN RESERVATION
Turtle Mountain reservation, the
nome of the Turtle Mountain Chip
peWa- is situated in the extreme north
central part of the state. in Rolette
county, and contains an area of p
square miles. Less than one-third of
this tract is cultivable. lakes and Tim
Der land comprising large part of the
surface, while the southern half is
prairie, while the southern half is a
rough, stony, rolling, and containing
but little good farming land. Most of
the soil is poor. and innumerable fail
llres of crops have greatly DISCOURAGED
the Indians and kept them in poor cir
cumstances. The timber supply,
which is rapidly decreasing, is their
only resources when crops fail. The
number of Indians. 1898. is too large
to find subsistence on the reservation,
and many have taken up claims beyond
the borders.
The principal crop of the Turtle
Mountain Indian is wheat. although
oats, barley. and fax are generally
grown. Their hay crop consists of the
prairie grass. Nearly all Indian farm
ers raised potatoes. but no other vege-
tables We're reported. The season of
1899 was a favorable one and all crops
did we'll, the majority of the g. Indian,
farmers cultivating in that year from
20 to so acres. Nearly every farmer
had a few cattle in addition to his
ponies and work horses. but none
owned any considerable number of
range cattle, or raised beef for the
market. Many had dairy COWS. and
hic chickens We're found on most ear1rs.
Government rations constitute but
% per cent of the support Of this band,
81 per cent wear the garb of the white
man, and 50 per cent know enough
English for ordinary conversation.