The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-27
N. D. STREAMS
TO BE EXPLORED
SEARCHING JAMES RIVER AND
PIPEsTEM CREEK BANKS FOR
INDIAN RELICS.

jamestown, N. d, July 27.-The
James river and Pipestem creek are to
De explored by four representatives OF
the State Historical society of North
Dakota with the object of ascertaining
II there are any evidences of Sheyenne
Indian villages along those streams in
this state, and four men started from
jamestown to go ON foot along the
shores OF these two streams. The ex-
petition Is In charge of Herbert @.
Fish, curator of the museum of the
state Historical society. Mr.. Fish and
Mr.. Lynch of LaMoure will work south
from jamestown to the state boundary
line along one bank, returning on the
other, while Francis Templeton and
Lester Smith, both of Grand Forks.
left today north along the shores of the
James river and will work to the source
visiting Arrowwood, Jim, AlkaH and
Spiritwood lakes also, and then come
back the Pipestem to it's mouth at
jamestown. They expect to find much
material Of interest to the state. The
aim OF the society is to help the people
or North Dakota preserve within this
state all historical data and all histori-
cal relics.
The journey Of the explorers win
take them north along the James river
through Stutsman, Foster, Eddy and
into central Wells county. where the
Jim river rises, a distance OF some
eighty miles as the crow flies, but four
or five times that length following the
winding course of the stream. The
Pipestem rises also in Wells county
further west and flows through Wells,
Foster and Stutsman. The party south
bound will follow the James river
through Stutsman, I4asMoure and Dick
ey counties. They expect to walk be-
tween twenty five and thirty miles a
day, making the trip In fve or six DAYS.
They follow the river along the first
bench. or rise where the terrace would
form a natural protection for the In
dams village
The Sheyenne Indians, original in
habitants Of North Dakota, dwelt in
cities or villages, before taking up their
wandering career. They built circular
sod dwellings and the object of the ex-
petition is to locate these circles or
round rings Of earth sometimes thirty
feet In diameter, and mounds before
advancing civilization and cultivation
of the soil destroys all the evidences.
The tepee stage of the Indian career
came after their period as city dwell
ers.
Curator Fish, In an interview, stat
ed that much interesting information
regarding the early history OF North
Dakota comes from the old Indians up-
on the reservations and their descend
ants. Trips have been made with IN
dian guides who pointed out sites of
former villages and told the history
OF the same as handed down in their
traditions. Other historical data OF
historic value to North Dakotans comes
from pioneer relics. old country SOU
venirs, Indian relics, old magazines. old
newspapers books, pioneer diaries.
stories, letters. etc, and the state His
torical society ID always DESTROYS of
obtaining and preserving this data. The
report Of the trip Of Curator Fish
and his assistants along the James
river and Pipestem creek will BE- Of
special interest to residents Of this
vicinity.