The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-02-17
A1.LoTT1Na AGENT OF UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT TELLS
OF HIS WORK WITH TRIBE.
PECULIAR CONDITIONS ARISE
INDIANS ANXIOUS TO OBTAIN
POSSESSION OF PUBLIC LANDS
UNDER THEIR TREATY

That the Turtle Mountain Indians
stand little chance Of becoming an ex-
tinct race as long as the public do.
mains which are rapidly being allotted
to them hold out, is the opinion of
Col. John Armstrong, who is in the en-
ploy of the United States as Indian
alotting agent and who recently moved
into his Office in the Federal building
in this city.
'"The Turtle Mountain Indians de-
serve a Rooseveltian medal if anyone
does,'' said Col. Armstrong in con-
versation with representative of The
World, "for more prolific race I have
never seen. Under our treaty with the
tribe, all the Indians originally en-
rolled as members of the band and their
descendants that cannot be taken care
Of on the small reservation in Rolette
county must be given free and un-
encountered quarter section elsewhere.
As soon as child is born the name is
enrolled with the agent and our Office
is notified. The records Of the past
two years show that in many cases the
children are enrolled before they are
a week old and the birth rate is as
tounding.'
That the problem of caring for the
excess was becoming somewhat of a
problem was the unqualified opinion
of Col Armstrong, who reviewed brief
ly the history of the treaty. The Tur-
tie Mountain Indians formerly owned
nine million acres of land in the Devils
Lake land district and vicinity, for
(which the government paid them. ten
cents an acre, the money which they
are now receiving annually. Under a
law introduced by Senator MeCumber
of this state, a commission was ap-
pointed under whose supervision the
members of the tribe were enrolled and
preparations made for allotting those
who could not be taken care Of on the
two townships left them in Rolette
quarters in other districts.
ssThe result of the enrolment has
become somewhat confusing" said Col.
Armstrong. t'The commission made
it rule that only Indians who could
prove their membership by actual
presence in the band were entitled to
be enrolled. As result we find that
while mother and her children may
be enrolled the father who was absent
at the time is rank outsider, while
in many cases the elder sons who were
attending school failed to get in on the
plums.''
Twenty two hundred were enrolled at
the first session and there are now
over thirty-five hundred allottments
made. The Lewiston district in Mon.
tana is to be Investigated by Mr.. Arm.
strong in the spring and the new allott.
ments will probably be made there
About four hundred have been found
places in the Minot district, two OF
three hundred in the Williston terri
tory, several in Bismarck, while some
are located in their old stamping
grounds in this district.
For the past year Montana has been
the scene of the transplanting opera
tions.
ct firmly believe" said Mr.. Arm
strong when asked regarding the In
dian g ability as farmer, "that when
the members of the tribe realize that
their government money is nearing an
end they will make an effort to get on
to their own land and cultivate it
Those who have have met with excel
lent success. They are clean, indus
trious and tend strictly to business
The agent is making every effort tt
get them started and he is succeeding
There will be no tribal customs to fol
low when they start farming, as the
quarters are pretty well scattered
throughout the different districts. -
Mr.. Armstrong will remain in tht
cit yfor at least two months working
4 20 on :hissreports and Office work and vii
::s IN the spring again resume his heli
wnrk IN hahalf of ttPoor Lo. -