The Dickinson press., 1908-06-13
For Standing Rock Indians.
Prominent Dickinson Men In.
terested in Government Con-
tract for 1852 Mares
Over Half of Which Are Taken
From This Locality. Aproxi-
mately $4,000 Put Into Cir.
culation. Delivery Com
menced This Week.

A large sum Of money has been put
into circulation locally the past few
weeks by A. H. Arnett, w. L. Richards,
Geo. M. Frye, w. S. Parkin and w. C..
Badger. who secured the contract last
month for supplying 1852 broken mares
for the Standing Rock Indians. The
contract was in reality for 1852 head,
but it was agreed that the Indians of the
reservation should have the privilege of
supplying 200 of the required number
of horses, the government taking all re-
s%ponsibility in the matter.
The money consideration of the ON.
tract is approximately $4,000. but the
government pays nothing until the
horses are actually turned over and in
the meantime local banks are doing
most Of the financing.
The Dickinson-M andan men are
under 100000 bonds for the ful6llment
of their contract, and in offering their
bid it was accompanied by a certified
check of $4,000, and Mr.. Badger made
a trip to Washington for the express
purpose Of looking up the matter. So it
will be seen that there is a good deal of
responsibility connected with the trans
action.
The requirements of the government
are that the mares shall be broken, be-
tween the ages of 3 and 5 years, averag-
ing in weight 100 pounds. The mares
must be delivered at Fort Yates, about
$50 miles southeast of Dickinson, before
the 18th Of July. 1t was expected that
the first delivery would be made about
the 18th of June, and with this in view
Geo. Frye and w. S. Parkin went to the
reservation about the middle of the
week. They are to look after that end.
However. A. H. Arnett will be at Fort
Yates for a few days the coming week.
Should our men fail to fill the order
they would be required to pay a penalty
of X of 10; but there is no danger as
they had the entire number less Cd head
on Friday of this week. When they
first got the contract local horsemen
held back a little, but during the past
two weeks there have been plenty of
opportunities to get horses. The SUBJ
contractors have been getting good
prices for horses, in all cases delivered at
Fort Yates. and guaranteed to come up
to the requirement of Uncle Sans
agents.
The following parties are among the
local sub-contractors: Robert Wilcox,
200 horses; Jerry Hayes. 175; Sam
Rhoades. 100; Wills Norred, 70 1.-THE R..
S. Brookings horses; H. c. Short, 50;
Miles City party, us; purchased from
the Dickinson Horse Sales Co., IFS;
Ed. Partridge, 125. This makes over
half of the required number, and the
balance are coming from around Man.
dan.
This is the first time that the govern
ment has let this Indian contract for
horses to parties living in western
North Dakota. 1t means a great deal
to this part of the state, and it is fortu-
nate that men reside here who are able
to finance and successfully carry through
a deal of this size.
The last contract was made with
eastern parties. Horses were supplied
from Kansas City, Omaha and So. St.
Paul, and the government found that
these horses were not as desirable for
their wards as the we'll bred western
horses.