The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-05-09

1
two and half townships of this res
ervation for the establishment of an
agency and home for them. The
Indian reserve was named Rocky
Boy after the aged chieftain. Poor
Rocky Boy had a little better luck
than Moses, for he lived to enter the
promised land and lived for a year
or two after the reservation was set
aside for his people.
The family history of the members
of the tribe was taken in May, 1917.
The roll was approved by Secretary
Franklin X. Lane July 16, 1917. The
reserve was set aside in 1916, and
the intervening time being utilized to
enable the scattered families to ga
ther from all portions of Montana.
When finally completed the total
number of members was about 45p.
The population at this time is about
400.
Progress is Marvellous
John b Parker of the Indian SER
vice took charge of the reservation
in May, 1917, for the Indian depart
ment. At that time the only build
ings were a few rude log huts that
the Indians had built to winter in
the previous winter while they were
gathering. Mr.. Parker was COM
PEELED to reside in one of these cab
ms till such time as he could build |
quarters. The contrast between this |
first effort of the Indians without |
direction, and the present splendid, |
though modest, agency is rather sur
prising to anyone who had not visit
ed the agency since that time.
The progress of these poor, home
less, detected and untaught people to-
wards self-support, self-respect, clean
living and success in agriculture is
marvel to all who knew them dur
ing the time of their pilgrimage l.
through the wilderness. Much has
been published recently in the Mon
tana papers about the progress of the
other northern Indians in the bust
ness of agriculture, but it is my firm
belief that no people in modern times
have made more progress from a
wandering, starved and degraded /,
tribe to an almost self-supporting
position in the brief period of seven !
years, that period, as we'll, being one :
of adverse climatic and marketing ,
conditions for all who have been en- !
gagged in farming pursuits. :
Reservation Fenced '
Briefly, 1 will sketch what has f
been accomplished with and for these /
people. -
In 1917, the reservation was fenc- s
ID, the money coming from the reim-
)ursable fund of the Indian depart-l
nent. The fence is sc miles in O
ength and consists of four strands lis
If wire. The posts are a rod apart | t.
ind all labor of cutting the posts, Z
ligging the holes and putting up the r
ence was done with Indian labor Il
lnder the direction and supervision
If Superintendent Parker.
That same year the Indians raised
iome 400 bushels of grain and cut
ind stacked about $50 tons of wild
lay. This hay was sold to the late
7. l.. Sprinkle, who had rented the
portion of the reserve for
,razing purposes.
1 remember distinctly the first load
# wheat brought to Box Elder. The
rover was an Indian named Well
)ff-Man, and his crop amounted to
he sum of s28. Feeling that an In
ian would better appreciate what
is crop meant if he were paid in
liver, he was given the money in
ollars. 1t was a proud Indian who
araded around town with his peck
IS bullying with % silver dollars. tie
Increasing Crops p'
In 1918, the reservation produced
bout 1900 bushels of grain and 500 FL
1ns of wild hay. Fl
In 1919, 1000 bushels of grain OF
nd 600 tons of hay we're raised.
his being dry year, it is but truth til
I'll to state that much of the hay h,
as brusEy and of poor quality.
In 1920, 1000 bushels of grain h,
nd $50 tons of hay were raised. =,
In 1921, 5000 bushels of grain 20
nd 500 tons of hay were raised.
In 1928, 1900 bushels of grain
nd 500 tons of hay were harvested.
In 1923, 10000 bushels of grain
nd 500 tons of hay were raised. 1t
only fair to these farmers to state
lat nearly one-fourth of the crop
as destroyed by hail and grasshop-
ers. The land is also becoming
infested with wild oats and a.
her weeds. The Indians are begin ~
ng to learn that something more is
scessary to produce a crop than
owing and seeding.
EVIL Spirits Visit
/ remember last summer that one =
d fellow put in his crop carefully. 8
e then went for visit about the -
ne his crop was due to head out I'm
lie field looked promising when he ira
IT, Tut what was his surprise upon Co
5 return to find that his field of
leat had turned into wild oats dur
g his absence. Nothing could con-
nee him but that the evil spirit !,
d visited his farm during his alb Sie
nee and changed his wheat to wild %
is. j.
Another old man named Crooked. II
use took his farm so far up in the IT
lis that it was impossible to get !
rvesting machinery to his plot. He 20
d in two and a half acres. Not -
be baked out of his harvest he
t the entire patch with a butcher
ife, his old wife binding it into e
caves. However, his. yield was 1873
shells so his industry and resource t rGr
ness was quite we'll rewarded.
The building now erected at the -