The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-06-19

quently Steinbrueck conveyed Libby
to some of the ancient Mandan Indian
village sites and eamped with him for
several weeks, instructing Libby in the
art OF discovering and in the Character
and the former use of articles. Rev.
Mr.. Wilson, visiting the campers. sug-
gested Steinbrueck as the fittest man
for custodian and field work for the
historical society, and Libby offered
$500 salary during private conyersa-
tion, stating that that was the usual
amount paid by other societies. Stein
prueck asked what equivalent was re-
quired Of him for the $500 The reply
was to keep the museum open for two
day during the week. "All right" said
steinbrneck and during the off days
! Win do field work gratis If the So
cIety pays the expenses" That was
all at that time.
In 1905, Libby took ND the matter
again and offered $500 salary. stein
prueck accepted. During the legisIa-
ture OF 1905, an appropriation of 81. 500
Tor two years was asked for the
penent Of the society, and as the Bis
Harck Tribune had it ito pay the
custodian's salary" Custodian and
Held OFFICER was one and the same
ana Steinbrueck was the custodian.
ne worked ten months each year for
TWO years, furnishing his own double
rig and complete outfit, for $50 for ex-
penses monthly and no salary. Salary
was withheld under divers protests.
He found and located ON the sectional
may Of North Dakota over thirty an.
Client Indian village sites along the
Missouri river and secured about 10
600 relics of Mandan and Arikara orr
gin. At the end of the first two
years Steinbrueck, with all his hard
work, found himself considerably in
debt still his enthusiasm was not
Quenched, and he trusted in the fair
ness OF men. To follow his work
more effectually and not sacrifice his
own he asked the senate during it's
session in 1907 on investigation Of
Sen. Maynard Crane, ror $1,000 salary
per annum, offering double rig and
all necessary paraphernalia free That
senate bill 275 was recommended to
pass, at the committee meeting on an
preparations on Saturday night in
1907. Next Sunday afternoon Stein
brueck surprised Libby at senator
Cranes quarters and the thought ar
once jumped his mind, there is some
dirty work going on" Exactlyl
Steinbrueck's allowance was cut down
to $3.50 for ten months under the false
pretense that the Office Of curator ana
held officer were already in existence
and that during Steinbrueck's absence
from Bismarck man had TO take care
OF the museum, which man ought to
nave 5000 salary The offices OF cura-
tor and Held officer were at that time
not In existence. Steinbrueck was
cut down $3.50, and another $3.50 was
asked in the bill for an appropriation
to make UP the $500 required for the
museum man. As curator a former
pupil Of Libby then was installed by
Libby, who unrestrictedly is author
lied 70 choose and hire subaItern offi-
GERS or employees, by the bylaws com
pounded and framed probably bv him
self. That favorite curator or ono-
room museum and the newsnanarI
stock room did not receive $500 or
$500 salary, but $1,000, without hav-
Ing to seany any expenses. After a :
ranging the one-room museum and re-
ceiving q small library, the curators
work was merely confined to the news
paper stock room, asserting and filing
the newspapers OF the state and re-
celving and storing in the vault the
proceeds shipped by Steinbrueck every
month. Steinbrueck worked in the
held, in rain and shine, camping out,
securing about 10000 more specimens.
nnding more Indian village sites, the
number of which is now over forty.
and doing typographical work and
surveying, as also witing nistoical
sketches. All his poceeds fom the
field are hidden in the vault and none
Of his other scientific work found
room in Vol. II OF the publications OF
the so-called State Historical society
OF North Dakota. He had offered as
donation to the state q valuable
collection, providing he was assigned
snow case and allowed to label his
donation the "Steinbrueck collection"
which provision was refused. The
state thus lost the collection Loan
collections, property OF private in
dividuals, fill many show cases in-s
stead, In room OF unsystemmatical
disorder, resembling an antiquarian
junk shop rather than a scientific mn
scum. At the legislature of 1909
bill, senate 76, was introduced by
Senator Crane on instigation Of some
body else. which raised the curator,s
annual salary TO the extravagant sum
of $1,000, three times the amount OF
$500, which was said to be the usual
salary paid by other historical So
cieties. or field work $3.50 were set
forth. Steinbrueck asked for an am
endrnent, viz: to pay the field offi-
Ger a salary OF $500 for eight
months service In the field furnish
ing all necessaries and standing ali
expenses, or 800 per month from
March 10 to Nov. is. S. Bill 76 was
amended accordingly in Steinbruecks d
favor, and in recognition Of his former
valuable services to the state. When
the time for field work had arrived.
Steinbrueck was told in short words
that Libby was now field officer (who
has to tend to his university work. and
that Fish was his assistant (who had
all his hands full to ten ito his news
paper stockroom). Fish was authoriz-
ed to hire Steinbrueck for odd Jobs ana
Steinbrueck was offered So per dav
for economy sake. Libby and Fish
have now the game In hand. Where
economy comes in IL a riddle perhaps
TO many man. Instead OF $1,000 a
sufficiently high salary FOR the so-ca1l
cd curator for twelve months. and $500
for continuous work for eight months