The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-11-09

0. B. TurreIl's Inspection Of the Evolution
Of the Indian There.

| nOlQ lndlan reservation on the MIS-
souri, river in central North Dakota
has history, and is carrying on a
work in the development of the In
dian problem and evolution of the
Indian that calls for more than a
passing notice.
The heavy border on the map en-
closing the reservation and its name
may mean very little, but is sug-
gestive Of possibilities of import
ance, and my curiosity was further
aroused on finding in taking drive
that the reservation was fenced up.
The reservation contains a little
over million acres and lies on both
sides of the river, and by it's loca-
ton and general characteristics, is
well adapted to the purpose to which
it is set apart. The most of the land
is rolling prairie ofgreat productive
capacity and when it shall be OPP
ened to settlement will prove of
great value to the productive area
of the state.
There are heavy bodies of timber
along the river and many small
streams and coulies that help to
make the location congenial home
for the Indian. Fort Barthold was
originally occupied by the Ameri-
can Fur Co. in the early years of the
last century and was first used by
the government as military postin
1915, and for a considerable time
was headquarters of the reservation
after it was established. At later
date buildings we're erected at Ell
bowoods, twenty-five miles up the
river, the present agency head
quarters. The work is in charge of
Maj. A. w. Thomas who, with six
employees, has entire charge. There
are about 110A Indians, about equal
| ly divided between Mandans, Gros-
ventures and Rees, and to these
three tribes the whole domain be-
longs. There are no claims and no
draw backs. If the land is estimat-
ed at 81 90 an acre the price put on
the DEVILS Lake land at the recent
sale, it would give each Indian, old
and young, about "a, 100.
There are about 275 families and a
division on this basis would give
each family over SIG, 1000, or if given
the land, would have $500 acres.
An allotment in severalty would
give each papoose over 900 acres of
land. Nine townships have been
surveyed and allotted to families as
far as they have desired to avail
themselves of the division. The
original plan of giving rations and
generally treating the Indians as
dependent wards has been modified
and system calling for more initi-
alive and forethought on their part,
adopted.
Each family, according to it's need
and capacity, was some years ago
furnished cattle, horses and nipple
ments, and placed in position to
become self supporting. The cattle
thrived until the past hard winter
when the system of letting them
rustic had set back. The losses
from want of shelter and feed were
very heavy. About 1000 acres of
land was broken up, but the natives
are not yet near enough civilization
to take kindly to tilling the soil.
The cattle cannot be sold nor
butchered without consent of the
agent. Does the reader ask how
these lands and cattle belong to the
Indian if he cannot sell them and
spend the money as he pleases? Be-
cause he is not far enough developed
to be able to take care of himself
his relations TO the government be-
long about the same as that between
minor and a guardian. Work done
for the government is paid for at
$l.25 day and the Indians are al
lowed to haul off wood and fence
posts for sale. They can go off the
reservation to work or trade and be-
tween the cattle and crops and their
earnings in the ways just named,
they appear to get a good living, at
least they are properly clothed and
have the appearance Of having plen-
ty Of food.