The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-06-28
EBfIz1hll
lgz'!z;'ss,z,!ss,llN'I1IEaI.


Indian Rights Association, has been
making an inspection tour of a num-
ber OF reservations and has issued an
interesting report At Pine Ridge
reservation, in this state, where he
has just been, he finds that the pro-
cess Of irrigation is progressing we'll
The irrigating ditch at Wounded Knee
and various other reservoirs, which
are designed to preserve the natural
water and restore the rain fall, are adj
mirably built and so far have not been
affected by spring freshets. The In
dians are also taking advantage OF
this irrigation project, not only as II
serves to furnish water for their
stock, but also as IL Is a means of bet
ter3ng their crops, The agency physf-
clan at Pine Ridge reports that while
the death rate five years ago was SO
per thousand, 1t haG now dropped to
80 per thousand, and that the Indians
are so much interested in this problem
that they have invited the doctor TO
meet with them and instruct them in
hygiene, and also have pamphlets on
the subject printed in their own Lam
question is also of interest Several
lawyers in the vicinity of the reserva-
| ton have charged $50 for the securing
of divorces and the Indians have come
70 think that the payment of the $50
Is all that is necessary to free them
/ from an unpleasant matrimonial ali-
ance. They enter upon the marital
! duties usually as lightly as they would
! lay them aside, and 1t is not uncom-
mon now for the district farmer to
bring before a minister young couple
who have dispensed with the formali-
/ ties of the marriage ceremony.
| A telegram has been received in
/ Pierre announcing that President
| Roosevelt has signed the bill for the
/ relief of the settlers on the forest re-
serve and 1t will become law imme-
/ diately. This is the best of news to
| many farmers who, according to the
| law formerly in force, would have
been required to tear down their
fences and to abandon the little homes
| which they had been improving.
/ When the order TO tear down
fences came a year ago the
Black Hills Forest Reserve Home
| Protective Association was formed.
| Affidavits were then secured for those
| for whom relief was desired and a
very good showing was made. The
matter was first brought before con-
\ gress in the shape of an amendment
| to the Lacey bill then pending, which
/ would cover such conditions in all
! forest reserves. So much opposition,
| however arose to this bill that sep
arate bill was framed pertaining only
to the Black Hills forest reserve. This
/ bill just passed permits qualified
| homesteaders who settled on agricul-
| tural land In the Black Hills forest
reserve prior to Jan. 1, 1905, to enter
/ such lands under the homestead laws,
| and, further, grants to all bona fide
| settlers who did not have homestead
J rights the privilege Of entering these
! lands by the payment Of $3.50 per
acre The lands are to be listed by
the agricultural department! This
! places the agriculturists on an equal
| footing with the miners, as the price
1 of $3.50 an acre is that rquired for
placer claims.
| Down about Salem, In McCook
| County, they are beginning to tile
| drain their farms. and as far north as
! Iroquois, in Kingsbury County, they
/ are discussing the erection OF tile fac
| tories as paying propositions. Only
/ few years ago in these same sections
the question which received the great
| est amount of agitation was a cheap
and effective method OF irrigation,
and means of holding water on the
lands, and the rain-maker found many
who were willing 20 pay for his serv-
ices. The situation was such when il
! was decided that ditching was neces.
sary in the southeastern part of the
state few years ago, It was learned
by those who desired TO do such work
the state had no laws which woufd al
4 low comprehensive system Of drain
ing to be carried out. and only the last
legislative session cured this lack. The
fact may exist, as Is claimed, that
there is no increase OF rainfall In
the state, but the breaking of the prai-
ries has allowed what does come to
soak into the soil instead of running
away. and when the subsoil has taken
/ certain amount of water, provisions
must be made for getting rid OF the
surplus, and tiling is now a necessity
where more water was wanted a few
wears ago.
The first Of the seasons wool has
J begun to arrive at Pierre. but buying
is not active. The prices appear to be
too uncertain. While some of the WOO
+ growers contracted this years cir
last fall at 25 cents, those who did no,
, do 90 are holding for as much on more
. while the buyers are attempting tc
, bear the market. The chances art
that the season will open with prices
about what they were last year. bu
; whether they will hold up ito that h
vet question. s.sf