The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-26
HUGE IRRIGATION SCHEME ON
sLAckFEEr RESERVE
WILL RECLAIM VAST AREA
Another Step by Government to Place
Its Wards on sen.support.
ing sasis.

to begin reclamation OF q large area
in the northern part Of the state and
adding to the total area OF cultiva-,
BILE lands in Montana and thereby
providing homes for many hundreds
OF thrifty agriculturalists, it is not
overlooking the needs OF its red
wards in that regard in the
same section. In fact, it may
be said that the Indians have
a little the best OF ii, for instead OF
merely doing that which may be &C.
cepted as an earnest OF it's future in
tentions, the government has begun
actual construction for their benefit
OF what is considered to be the lar
best irrigation scheme in the state,
if not in the entire west. OF course,
the st. Mary's lake project, is not in
cluded in this statement, for that has
not yet been begun.
Major Monteath, agent of the Black
feet reservation, was at Helena a few
days ago and told something Of what
the government is doing to place his
Indians on4a self-supporting basis. He
said that since last fall work had
been under way on a canal that will
supply water to about 10000 acres
OF land on the reservation. The water
will be obtained from Cut Bank creek
and to conduct 1t onto the lands a
ditch 13 miles long will have to be
built. It will be three feet deep and
16 feet wide at the bottom. The de-
partment figures, he said, that with ir-
rigation a great. deal OF grain and
hay can be raised by the Indians
and homes made for themselves upon
which they can support themselves.
1t is with the idea Of putting thjs
belief into. practice that the ditch is
being constructed. All the work is
done by Indians and teams belonging
to them are the only ones employed.
The government pays the men slips
a day, while $3.50 is paid for a team
and driver. Eight hours constitute a
days work. and it is said that the
Indians are learning fast and seem
to like the work. Only plows and
scrapers are needed, no rock work
being necessary and because of the
speed that can be made it is hoped
that the canal will be almost wholly
completed this year.
No More Monopoljes.
In addition to conveying the cheer
full intelligence that the Indians on
his reservation will, and do work, Major
Monteath also gave other information
showing the different manner in which
the government is dealing with he
Indians as compared with former
times. Under a law passed by CON
gress last winter the commissioner
of Indian affairs is now permitted to
issue traders licenses to as many
persons as he pleases, conditional up
on giving the required bond to obey
the regulations OF the, reservations
on which it is intended to engage l.
business. Heretofore traders have
been limited to n or two for each
reservation, but under. the new sys-
TEN as many merchants as may de-
sire can open stores, all that is ex-
acted for the privilege being the i'll
ing of the necessary pond.
During the present month, the ma
jor stated, a new store had been start
ed on his reservation and now the
Indians had three such concerns at
which to do their trading. In conse-
quence of the increased competition
prices have gone down wonderfully
and the Indians are the gamers. Not
withstanding that it would seem that
three stores are about all that were
needed, the major said that another
would be opened during the summer.
The trading is done as with SO many
white people and the traders, it they
give credit, must take chances on
receiving their pay. In respect to
the payment Of debts, the major is
quoted as saying that the Indians av-
erage pretty well with their white
brothers, in fact they are a little more
honest and prompt. if anything.
Few Get Rations.
"The cutting off of rations from
all the mixed bloods and the greater
number of full bloods," said the ma
jor, " caused a great deal of dissatis-
faction at the time the order went
into effect, though now it is looked
upon differently than then. We are
allowed now to issue rations only