The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-04

portant bearing in the history OF In
dian campaigns OF the state. The
heavy, alhilf waters of the lake at one
time contained tons OF pickerels which
the soldiers Of the fort caught and ate
as a change from government hard
tack and frontier diet; and not with
standing the strongly impregnated
waters, vegetation fiourishes therein
on which fatten the fnyriads Of wild
fowl that seek the waters of the lake
for refuge from the hunter and for
their breeding places.
Old Fort Totten has given place to
the new, which is situated a little
further back from the lake. Freight
in early days was hauled to the fort
from Breckenridge. Mimi. but after
1873, when the Northern Pacific rail-
road was completed to Jamestown, q
line of freighters wagons carried gov
ernment supplies and passengers to
the fort from the little city on the
Jim, about eighty miles distant.
of the old ruts and trails. still known
as the "Old Fort Totten TRAIL can
yet be distinguished between James
town and the fort. The ruts, over
the wheels OF the freighters' wagons,
and stage coach and the rains that
still further tended to make enduring
the evidences Of the course OF the old
trail. 1t is Of local interest to know
that during the construction of the
first Fort Totten, A. w. Kelley, after
wards the first postmaster OF James
town, spent four years Of his life sup
erintending the work. The files OF
The jamestown Alert contain many
references to the traffic between the
city and the fort.
The present fort consists OF q
square Of we'll painted government
buildings, enclosing a pretty little
parade ground, encircled by fine old
box elder trees The brick buildings
have been put in good shape, and one
is surprised at night, on emerging
from the cold and darkness OF q
prairie road, a little city of modern
buildings, heated with steam and
lighted by electricity; and instead OF
the bugae call for soldiers to fight saw
age hordes is heard the sound OF the
school bell calling the Indian children
to their tasks.
Fort Totten is now known as gov
eminent Indian school and some 30C
children are being taught the usefu
branches Of knowledge and rapidly
led away from the customs Of then
wild ancestors. Not all of this car
be done at once however, for ths
Indian traits of character are deeply
ingrained. The natural love OF tht
Old life Is still shown In the tepee Of
the Indian farmer or land owner
standing nearby the comfortable frame
house which he has been enabled to
build from the sale Of his lands. The
tepee, with its smoke inclined walls
is the summer home of the Indian
who instead of chasing deer and buff
falo and white settlers, now raises
some stock and cultivates the soi1 and
is becoming accustomed to making his
living like the pale face farmer.
Indians Protected
The material interests Of, the In.
dams are looked after in ether ways
by those in charge Of the reservation
and the cupidity of the white man ii
checked by various means. The In.
dian is not allowed to spend or BIZ
cheated out of all the proceeds OF
his lands and sale OF vested rights
The department Of the Indians or
the reservation is greatly improved
and only when some avaricious blind
bigger smuggles vile whiskey int
the Indians hands. are disturbances
or misconduct noted. Most Of thu
descendants of the early bands Oh
Sioux, which consisted OF three prfn.
cipa1 rowing tribes OF warlike and
predatory red skins now at Fort Tot.