The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-29
Readers Column

not amount to much, as the plants
have been stunted and do not develop
into vigorous and healthy growths.
Why this practice is allowed to con-
tinue and the Indians be held in the
same old rut, instead Of being school
ed in the better ways Of farming and
making them citizens that will be a
benefit to themselves and to add to
and become the producers, as we'll as
the consumers, Is a conundrum which
we are unable to understand.
And why the government will eX-
pend so much money in placing thor
oughbred stations on the reservation
and not putting them into service we
are also at loss to understand. Sure
ly it is not that they are afraid OF
the diseases that have been weeded
out for. the past three years by the
government. Surely there must have
been some mares that were sound
and free from disease, but in this dis
trict | have asked many Indians and
have failed to hear of one who has
had any benefit from these horses and
in fact there have not been any colts
raised excepting few ranging and
are from scrub stock. The horses have
been decreasing fast, for two reasons,
namely, one, that the government has
condemned many, and another, that
no colts have been raised.
1t is time to put good, live farmer
in the field who is judge Of stock.
1t is past the age where the Indians
should be allowed to act as the dogs
in the manger," not farming them
selves nor allowing their land to be
farmed by others.
There is no reason why a mill should
not be erected in each district, or at
least one in the center of the reserva,
ton, and have a place where the In
dams, if they do grow any wheat or
corn, could have it put into finished
product and receive a direct benefit
from their labor The amount of mo-
ney paid for freight on flour in the
past three years would erect mill OF
the short process that would be a
great benefit to all the Indians, and
great inducement for them to try
and provide for themselves.
One more thing could be remedied
and great loss saved, by erecting
buildings or sheds in which a certain
amount of hay could be put up by
each individual, according to the num-
Der of head of stock they have. This
is a matter that should be closely
watched by the farmer during the hay,
ing season. There has been a short
age of hay for several winters, and
from the outlook there would be con.
siderable loss.
The Stiles Cattle company has al
ready sold to the Indians and the gov
eminent a large quantity OF hay. Al
though baled hay has been selling
from So to SIS per ton, the company
sold it's hay to the Indians for $2.75
per ton. There positively is no good
cause for shortage Of hay, as there
was a prolific growth all over the res
ervation and thousands of tons were
never harvested. 1t is time that the
people demand qualified individual
for the position assigned, even though
he may be lacking little in handling
politics. That there should be thous-
ANUS VI HCdu VI CdILlC UouSht u
shipped to this reservation year after
year shows gross mismanagement,
when, as matter Of fact, this whole
reservation could be made paying
property, the same as any other large
ranch, but it must have head and a
system, which is certainly lacking at
this time.
As l understand it, all the govern
ment business is supposed to be con-
Quoted in manner that will be 20
the best interest of all, and that there
should be no secrecy or an effort 10
keep the people blind as to what is
going on.
Give the Indians a good farmer,
quicker service, with less cred tape"
and decided improvement will soon
be noticed.
Using their money to purchase ex.