Year: 1875

the process OF civilization In progress among
mon whom Il has as yet been impossible 70 enforce
proper discipline In the Requirements or labor Tor
ratons, because Of the proximity and example OF Red
Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies


But the reports OF agents along the river with the
exception Of Standing Rock show that Il rs entirely
feasible 20 civze the Sioux, provided suitable coun
try found for their occupation and the govern


ent and its agents are capable OF continuance in well
doin. AT Cheyenne River bands Of Sioux, who three
years ago were as lntractabe, impatient or labor
and other respects far from the steps OF cviliza
ton as Spotted Tals immediate followers to-day,
have been induced 10 erect log houses and open farms
10 such extent that the agency able report
Indian families living in houses 240 male Indians who
nave abored 10 civilized pursuits with their own hands
and l3S children In school t.4 N


The report Of the Grow Creek agent as an account
OF the hrst successful years effort in civilization b.
equally encouraging The reports Of the Yancton and
Santee Sioux still more hopeful Among the latter
civilization Is an accomplished fact, and II the Yanc-
tons could plant crops with ordinary certainty OF
a harvest they could shortly provide their own
subsistence Such progress indicates unmistakably
that the difficulty Of the Sioux problem does not inhere
principally in the Sioux nature but in the barrenness
OF their country and the absence OF necessary control


THE BLACK HILLS.


The public excitement mentioned in my last report,
occasoned by the discovery OF gold In that portion OF
the Sioux reservation known the Black Hills
try increased 10 such degree in the opening Of the
spring season as TO require action looking toward the
purchase OF this country from the Sioux proprietors
and the opening up OF tho Big Horn Mountain country
for settlement and mining For this purpose as well
as Tor completing the negotiation for the relnquish
men by the Sioux OF their hunting rights In Nebraska
and Kansas, large delegation of this tribe, composed
OF representatives from those agencies brought
Washington in May last, for an interview with the
President II not expected that this interview
would conclude the purchase, but that It would be
preliminary step by which the Sioux trbo would be-
come acquainted with the wishes Of the governments
and its purposes relative to their necessities and
interests Accordingly, at the request Of the deega-
ton, the President sent commission, of which Hon.
W. B. Allison, OF the United States Senate made
chairman to negotiate at general council OF the tribe
in their own country. H0M n


No report has yet been received but am informed
that the negotiations have failed account OF wide
disagreement to the value Of the rights TO be
inqushed by the Sioux The report OF the Commis-
sion since received, confirms this statement; mean
while, Notwithstanding the stringent prohibtory or
ders by tho military authorities and in the face Of
the large military force which has been duty in
and around the Hills during the summer, probably
less than 1000, miners with the number rapidly in
creasng have made their way into the Sioux country.
mining association has been organized, laws and
regulations have becn adopted Tor mutual protection,
individual claims staked out, IN the right TO which
they expect hereafter TO be protected by the govern
ment or TO protect themselves


In this serious complication there seems to be but
alternative for the government; either TO in
crease the military force and adopt such summary
means will insure strict observance OF the treaty
rights Of the Sioux by preventing all intrusion TO
new the effort OF negotiation. However unwilling
may be TO confess IT, the experience OF the
proves either the ineficency of the United States
troops, or the utter impossibty Of keeping Ameri-
out OF country where gold is known TO exist by
any fear of orders or Of cavalry patrol by any
consideration of the rights Of others.


The occupation and possession OF the Black Hills by
white men seems now inevitable but no exists
for making this inevitabity an oct aston of wrong or
injury to the Sioux. If Indian be possessed OF
rights of country either natural acquired by treaty
this country belongs now to the Sioux If the Sioux
an independent, sefsupporting people, able TO claim
that hereafter the United States government should
leave them entirely alone in yearly receipt OF such
annutes only as the treaty OF June guaranteed they
would be In position to demand TO be left in undis-
puted possession OF their country and the moral
OF mankind would sustain the demand but unfortu-
natey the facts otherwise They capable OF
self-support They absolute pensioners of the
government In the sum OF ST. $50 900 annually, above
all amounts specified In treaty stipuations A failure
TO receive government ratIons for q single season
would reduce them to starvation They cannot there.
FORE demand TO bc left alone, and the government in
granting the large help which the Sioux obliged
ask is entitled to ask something Of them in return
On this basis OF mutual benefit the purchase Of the
Black Hills must proceed II therefore, on the plan
Of going first the Indiana all attempts negotia
ton have failed, should respectfully recommend that
legislation be now sought from Congress offering fair
and full equivalent for the country lying between the
north and south forks OF the Cheyenne River in Da-
kota -


SURVEY BLACK HILLS.


In order provide for the question of fair equiva-
lent TOR this country by direction OF the President
typographical and geological survey Of the Black Hills
was ordered, the preliminary report oil which, by
Walter p Janney mining engineer in charge, will be
found herewith II furnishes many interesting and I'M
portant facts respecting region hitherto almost un
known Professor Janney and his assistants
titled large credit the conscientious diligence
thoroughness which apparent at every point in the
work The aid rendered by the War Department, by
the courtesy Of the General Of the Army by Colonel
Bruce commanding the escort, has been invaluable to
the success Of tho survey without which aid salts
factory results could have been obtained, on
account of the limited funds available for this
purpose. The report confirmed in large degree the
statements OF travellers and explorers and the reports
of General Custers military expedition Of last year.
and opens gold field Of the OF 800 square miles
And around this gold region, principally to the north
an additional area within the Black Hills country OF
5000 square miles, and this latter, embracing along
streams area equal TO 200 square miles, finely
adapted to agriculture while the hillsdes and eleva
continuous r
poses OF grazing making the whole of 900 square
miles Of timber, grazing and arabic land OF great value
for agricultural purposes.


According to the findings of this report II there were
gold in this country TO attract the eye of the who
occupation Of the Black Hills this region, naturally
suited TO agriculture and herdng, is the one of all
others within the boundaries Of the Sioux reservation
best adapted to their immediate and paramount necess
ties | doubt whether any land now remaining in the
possession of the general government offers equal Rd
vantages but it will be found mpractcable 10 utilize
the country for the Sioux. SO long gold in
the region the agricultural country surrounding
the gold fields will be largely regained TO support the
miners and to attempt to bring the wild Sioux into
proximity TO the settlers and miners would be to invite
provocaton and bloody hostility.


These facts respecting the country which the Sioux
about TO be compelled surrender for the sake
of promoting the mining and agricultural interests OF
the white men have important bearing upon the
question compensation that shall be allowed for their
lands; for it must be borne in mind that unless the
Sioux nation becomes extinct, OF which there is no
probability the time is close upon them when they





that which is known to BIO offered them IN tho
Black Hills and If for the want OF another such coun-
try they are obliged TO begin civilization under in
creased disabilities, humanity well as equity de
mands that such disability shall DO compensated by in
creased aid from the government; and to avoid the
perils Of future legislation, want Of legislation the
compensation should be provided for fixed at the
time when taking away their valuable lands.
The fact these Indians making but little II any
Use Of the Black Hills has bearing upon the question
what is fair equivalent for the surrender OF these
rare facilities for farming and grazing.


They are children, utterly unable to comprehend
their great necessities just ahead they cannot,
therefore, see that the country which now only fur
nshes them lodge poles and few antelope has abun-
dan for their future wants, when they shall
be barbarous pensioners upon the government
and begin provide for their own living Their gno
rance OF themselves and Of true values makes tho
stronger appeal OF what is right and fair


The equivalent TO be offered the Sioux as help
less wards Of the government for the Black Hills will be
found by estimating what 500 square miles Of gold
fields are worth to us and what 200 square miles Of
timber agricultural and grazing lands are worth to
them.


THE TRMEcULA INDIANS.


Tho Indians living the tract OF land known as
Tcmecua in the county OF San Diego have within the