Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-06-29

IlOll. !" ~ oIllllll, ScLlclui L 'hc
ndian Rights Association, has been
making al inspection tour Of a NUM-
Der 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 i~rrigating ditch at Wounded Knee
and various other reservoirs, which
are designed to preserve the natural
water n restore the rain fall. are adj
mirably built and so far have not been
affected by spring freshets. The In
dams are also taking advantage OF
this irrigation project, not only as it
serves to furnish water for their
stock, but also as it is a means Of bet
tering their crops. The agency phNSi-
clan at Dir Ridge reports thai while
the death rate five years & was 81
per thousand, it has 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 w Ian
Euage. Their attitude on the divorce
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
to think that the payment of the $50
is all hat is necessary to free them
from an unpleasant matrimonial alli-
ance. They enter upon the marital
duties usually as lightly as they would
lay them aside, and it is not uncOm-
mon now for the district farmer to
bring before a minister a young couple
Il. lo,,a l;.,.~~al with, tLo Pn,r,oi-
ties of the marriage ceremony. :
r,Tr
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 it will become a law fmme-
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 6 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 a 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. /. 1906, to enter
such lands under the homestead laws,
and, further. grants to all bona fdc
settlers who did not nave homestead,
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
Of 80 so 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
a 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 to pay for his serv-
ices. The situation was such when it
was decided that ditching was neces-
sary in the southeastern part Of the
state a few years ago, it was learned
by those who desired to do such work
the state had no laws which would al
low a 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 above what does com" to
soak into the soil instead of running
away, and when the subsoil has taken
a certain amount of water, provisions
must be made for getting rid ~ the
surplus, n thing is now a necessity
where more water was wanted a Few
years ago.
The first of the seasons wool has
begun to arrive at Pierre, but buying
is not active. The prices appear To be
too uncertain. While some of the WOOL
rover contracted this years clip
last fall at 25 cents, those who did not
do so are holding for as much or more,
while the buyers are attempting TO
bear the market. The chances are
that the season will open with prices
about what they were last year, but
whether they will hold up to that is
yet a question.
The Chicago and Northwestern
Railway filed with the secretary of
state a resolution of extension of its
Gregory County line thirty-one miles
in a northwesterly direction from the
present terminus at Bonesteel. A line
thai length would practically carry
the new trackage to the Trip County
line, on the route which has been Sc
lected by way Of Herri%k, Gregory
and Burke. -a-
The state university of South Dako-
Ia will soon be without a president
and unless the regents make an APP
pointment of vice president the lnsti-
tuition will be without a head of any
sort. According to the decision of the
board in allowing Mr.. Droppers to re-
~ - 3 .,~{{1 fIo 1-1 ,f H. raor after