The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-04-14
INDIAN SCHOOL IS
FORCED TO CLOSE;
WITHOUT SUPPORT
Thomas L. Riggs Has Spent a
Generation in Sacrifice for
Santee Indians.
BY poANE ROBINSON.

Pierre, s. D., April 1.-THE early
SHOWS of last autumn caught a very
large amount Of the corn unhusked.
From the best estimates I have been
able to secure, nearly one quarter Of
the entire crop, say about 100000
bushels, were left in the field and there
was much apprehension lest 1t be seri-
the early and dry, warm month Of
March has made an ideal time for
husking SO that essentially all of the
crop is saved and without injury. This
Is a matter for great congratulation,
both for the fine price Of the cereal and
because of the quality of 1t for 1t Is
yearly becoming better understood
to the public health. Farmers who
have made termination tests tell me
that much Of the corn which stood in
the husks all winter Is testing up to-
above 80 per cent.
We generally associate the Black
Hills and gold mining in our considera-
ton OF the western part Of the state
that we are yearly producing more and
more of other minerals. Every year
there Is a valuable addition to our state
wealth from the production Of silver,
lead, tin, copper, asbestos, spudumene,
and to say nothing of the prodigious
amounts of cement and lines produced.
The mica industry is becoming a very
important one, especially in Custer
county, where 1t is one of the chief
sources of wealth. The industry is
chiefly In the hands Of the Westing-
house company who have several mines
and are getting out a very excellent
quality Of the mineral and the quality
is said to be improving as they go deep
er into the earth.
1t is not likely that the average citi-
zen would recognize spudumene IL they
met 1t In the highway. 1t is a light
colored rock of frequent longitudinal
cleavage and from 1t is produced lithia.
Fuller's earth is also being mined In
profitable quantities.
The Milwaukee railroad bridge across
the Missouri at Chamberlain is again
In commission and the business to the
trans-M Missouri region which has been
coming around over the Northwestern
by way of Pierre ia again going direct
through. Twice each year this bridge
has broken and traffic has been sus-
pended for a longer or shorter period,
producing conditions most unsatisfac-
tory to the population dependent upon
1t, but the railroad people argue that
the loss occasioned by the frequent
breaking OF the pontoon would not pay
interest on the money which would nee
essarily be tied up in steel bridge.
The Oahe Indian school which has
been conducted since 1873 by DR.. Thorn
as L. Riggs, was compelled to close for
lack Of funds at the close Of the win
ter term. This school has been one of
the most important instrumentalities
In the civilization of the Teton Sioux
and the personal sacrifice Of DR.. and
Mrs. Riggs during the long and weary
years Of their labors there has been
quite beyond the comprehension Of the
ordinary citizen. In 1910 DR.. 8. r.
Riggs, the father Of Thomas L., visited
Fort Pierre and ascertained the neces-
sity for missionary work among the
Tetons. His own time was utterly &C.
cupied with work among the Santees
and for more than 80 years he begged
and implored the missionary societies
to send missionaries to the Tetons but
no one was found for the important
enterprise. Thomas L. was born in
1843 and his father dedicated him to
this work. Just at the time when he
finished his college course the civil war
was on and Thomas felt that his first
duty was to the country and went
south.
When the war was over, the condi-
ton of the freed men seemed to de-
mand his assistance and he stayed with
them until the freedmen's bureau was
thoroughly established. When he re-
turned north he took Seminary course
and came directly to the Missouri river
where he remains to this day. It is
not believable that the people will let
this work be allowed to be lost
for want Of support at this
critical time when more than ever be-
fore the Sioux need the sort Of work
done at Oahe to complete their civiliza-
nd