New-York tribune., 1905-07-16
RICH CROW INDIANS.
Hon Their Money Is To Be Spent
for Theml-Weird Burial Customs.

Z
ground are ready for settlement under the Home
stead and other acts by which a citizen of the
limited States, though poor. can acquire an es-
tate The land is a part Of the hunting grounds
n the Crow Indians in Southeastern Montana
which were years ago made into reservation
for the members of that tribe The government
beran negotiating with the Indians for this land
IN 1896 and so many delays have there been that
II looks now as il it VIII be next spring before
the reservation VIII be actually thrown open for
settlement
In the bargain for that part of the reservation
FOR which they have use the Crow Indian
chiefs have shown themselves to be masters of
high finance Not for kegs of brass tacks, red
blankets and barrels of rum did they barter
away the lands of their fathers as did the At
lantic Coast Indians IN the days when Manhat-
tan was being settled Pretty Eagle Two Leg
gings Medicine Eagle and the other chiefs were
entirely too up TO date" for that They saw to If
that the government paid the tribe S1I5OOOO for
this surplus acreage. and by this one deal they
made themselves the richest Indians in the
world.
The last census OF the Crow tribe showed that
there were only 5l6 men. and among this num-
Der the purchase money would have gone long
way. There would have been about s.. 300 for
each adult Indian The government decided
howeFer. that il would not go far after all if the
Indians spent II in their own way. It would have
been case Of hike" for Billings. or ToIuca
OF Pryor. or some Of the other towns on the rail-
road where they would have purchased all sorts
OF curious things. from plume bearing hearses to
silk hats. and without doubt they would aIso
have Laid the foundations of a monumental
Tag They would have returned in a week or
so 70 their restricted reservation with terrible
headaches, but with little to show for their
money.
Knowing all this from sad experience. Uncle
San decided to be q real uncle 10 mis- Cow
wars and the agreement as to the Davr,ent of
TIE I-Echlise money has been as well surrounded
with -nIl-squandering safeguards as the wills
OF maiden aunts who never left New-EngIand
or the endOwments of modern hero funds The
Indians WLl not get enough in actual cash to
celebrate the Fourth Of July or quench a mid
summer nights thirst.
The first $4,000 of the S1.IJOOOO which the
Indians are TO receive viii be spent by the sec-
retary Of the Interior in improving the irrigation
system "li-h the government is constructing on
that section Of the reservation which the Crows
Still hold The sum of $4,000 goes to the exten-
sion 0f tLe l--ches Of Individual Indians Then
the whole irrigation scheme is endowed with the
sum Of 100000 the fund to remain in tba
United States Treasury and draw interest at the
rate OF Der cent In fifteen years. it is exnac+ad
the irrigation scheme VIII be self s7ypnor+
inc, and The Indians and the Secretary viii then
ger together on a further disposition of this
money
The Secretary 0r the Interior through his ca+
lie buyers. w-U also spend S240OgO PURCHASING
two-year-7l6 southern heifers These animals
vii 6e placed Oh the reservation as mart of the
herd which the tribe owns IN common.
The appropriation for jackasses which Con-
gress provided was $1,000 for two-vear-oIs
ewes $4,000 and for fencing the reservation with
Sly strands Of 1arled cattle wire $4,000
For The erection of school buildings the gov
eminent SET aside 100000. a hospital is being
bulk al 9 cost Of $1,000 and II is endowed
with The SUN OF $4,000. The balance of the
purchase money is 20 De placed in the Treasury /
O. me United States as 2 trust fund for the |
Crows. Il VIII bear interest at the rate Of i Der
cent and our Of il an annuity Of SO q year viii
De PAID 10 every man, woman and child on the
reservation II this way the weIIbeing of the
Crows VIII De provided for in the times to come.
Il The tribe grows smaller there will be more
reservation lands TO be sold TO the government
and fewer Indians among whom to divide the
proceeds There are members Of the tribe. how
ever VINO declare that il VIII not decrease and
lnaI the education and the comforts which the
government promises them viii cause a grad
uai increase but that VIII be against all Indian
precedent
There stiH lives or the reservation the only