The Washburn leader. [volume], September 27, 1890, Image 4

About The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986

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ANNUAll XiKPORT.
Fort Bertiiold, N. D. Aug. 31,1890.
(Concluded froip last week.)
•OKNCT STOCK*
9
This comprises eight head of work
horses, one colt and two stallions. With
the exception of one span, the former have
long since passed the period of efficient
service and fall short of the requirements
of agency work. The indiscriminate use
of the horses for any and every kind of
work has rendered most of them unfit for
road work of any kind. Out of the stock
on hand it is impossible to make up a team
equal to the task of makiilg the long jour
neys often imperative in the transaction
of agency business. Bismarck, the rail
road point most available for agency pur
poses, is 95 miles distant, and five days are
required for th# round trip. Minot, on the
Great Northern railway is nearly 70 miles
north of«hero. There being no habitation
on the road the journey must be made in
one day in the warmer seasons, while in
the winter the route over the trackless
waste is too hazardous to be practicable.
It is apparent thnt good teams are neces
sary for these long distance drives, when
time is often an object. I have made this
matter the subject of a special letter.
Last spring I obtained authority from
the department to purchase two French
Canadian stallions. Both were purchased
at a cost of $580. The stallion at the agency,
when I took charge, was entirely too heavy
for service to the vony stock of the In
dians, weighing 1,700 pounds. Those new
ly purohasad are younger and lighter,
being three years old and weighing 1,200
each. Much better results are expected
from these animals than were obtained
from their predecessor, who during four
years of service produced but one colt.
At my suggestion he was transferred to
Fort Peck. I have also authority from the
department to enforce the systematic cas
tration of all pony stallions on the reser
vation, a measure which is sure to result in
much ultimate benefit to the equine stock
of the Indians, which, by uninterrupted in
breeding, has become much degenerated.
CIVILIZATION.
The Indians of these tribes seem to take
readily to the white man's ways of gaining
a subsistence from the soil, and in the rais
ing of stock. During the period in which
they have received aid and instruction at
the hands of the government many have
acquired good ideas of methods and means
for pursuing a civilized life. As a rule
they evince a desire to attain a better con
dition through their own efforts. Many,
however, have not yet overcome their
early subjection to the "medicine" remedy
for all troubles, from a sore heel to a dis
agreement in the family, and the latter is
now rarely settled, as in former years, by
the husband taking another wife.
The greater part of the Indiana wear cit
izen's clothing, and not a few have so far
advanced as to have their hair cut. In
oases of sickness they are not backward in
calling for the doctor, but it is often found
that they rely also on the Indian medicine
for aid. Houses of logs, and sometimes
{tartly of sawed lumber, are the usual hab
itations, and are constructed in a very
primitive manner. The chief fault in them
'is their lack of proper ventilation, one door
for exit being usually provided, and the
family sleeping room being often in the
third compartment from this single out
side door.
HOBALS.
In this respect these tribes compare most
favorably with the best di the aboriginal
peoples, particularly so the Mandans. At
-present there are but four cases of polyga
my, to my knowledge, on the reservation.
Divorce has been of frequent occurrence,
but I discourage such action except for
the most pressing reasons. The practice
oi men abandoning their wives at pleasure
has long obtained, though always discour
aged by former agents, and a few cases
have come to my knowledge since my ar
rival. A case of dissatisfied marital conr
dition on the part of the wife recently came
before me, and an inquiry resulted in the
belief that the woman should return'to her
husband, and she was directed to this effect.
'An appropriate lecture on the subject
caused her to reconsider her flat refusal to
comply with the decision, and in'the even
ing the husband and wife returned home
together. The former is one of the most
energetic and capable young Bees on the
reserve, has been to school some time At
Ft. Stevenson, and has a fair knowledge of
English.
UMTilT.
Owing to the retirement of the agency
physician on the 14th of August, leaving
no report of his department, a detailed
statement under this head is impossible.
1 The present physician in charge has, how
ever, collected statistics of births and
deaths daring the year, and these are sab
imitted in this brief exhibit. The chief
physical maladies from which these Indians
sulfur arc skin diseases and other derange
*:m«nts of a syphilitic order, and consump
V-ration. The former class of disorders has
-resulted from the early oontact of the
^'llAtoktrwa with the soldiery and river men
vho were numerous in this region twenty
'Iftn years ago and upward. Theinter-
Imarriage of the tribes has caused a spread
Jf Ing of the disorder, until folly 76 per cent
$ Atickarees are inoculated. At pres
fi'^'yent, however, owing to fairly regular treet
JSig Anient, and a better understanding of 'its
^necessity, the scourge is not only checked,
h'&touk slowly abating. The Mandans, irho
|rmtU a comparatively recent period, avoid
s^f^ed intermarriage with other 'tribes, end
whose oode of morals was peculiarly severe,
are less affected than aji»'.':, any of the
aboriginal race. Of late ye their obper
v:1" tapoe of former social customs has been
relafced, and there are now: some.oases Of
•wiMyw? 'I
syphilitic origin among them.
The practice of indulging in enervating
sweats, cages for which are nearly a uni
versal adjunct to every house, is undoubt
edly conducive to the continuance 'of pul
monary consumption, which is a prolific
cause of mortality. As much as possible
the practice is iconraged, and its evil
effects taught.
CBIME.
But one serious case under this head has
oocurred sincjS my taking charge of the
agency. This was the apparently deliber
ate murder of a young Gros Ventre woman
by a boy of the Mandan tribe, aged about
17. The crime took place on May SI, in
the evening, at which time tho boy lay in
waiting within the doorway of the woman's
house, and struck her in the head with an ax
as she entered with some fueL The assault
was witnessed by a little child of the wo
man, which gave the alarm, and the cabin
was at once visited by Indians living near.
Although the blow had nearly severed the
skull, and the brain was dropping from
dreadful gash, the woman was able to con
verse, and, incredible as it may appear,
she lived for more than a week afterward.
The affair was at once reported to the
agency, and CoL Jas. A. Cooper, speoial
agent in charge at the time, went up to the
scene of the tragedy, aocompanied by the
agency physician. Nothing could be done
for the woman, but her testimony was re
duced to writing. This was to the effect
that the murderer was Elk, a young Indian,
and that she knew of no reason for the at
tack upon her. It was some time, up
wards of a fortnight, before the murderer
was captured. He declared that Otter
Woman had bribed him to do the killing,
because she desired to be revenged for the
death of her husband who had been shot
by the murdered woman's husband a year
before in the fall while out hunting. The
latter was a purely accidental case, as* was
developed by the inquiry at the time.
Otter Woman was arrested and taken to
Bismarck where a preliminary hearing
was held. The boy had told.so many con
flicting stories since his arrest, and the
woman's character having been uniformly
good, there could be no substantial evi
dence produced against her, and she was
discharged. The boy was held, and his
trial comes off at Fargo in September of
this year.
INDIAN C0UBTB.
These are no Indian courts Of justice on
the reservation, and I see no reason for
their establishment. But little trouble
arises between Indians here, and the deci
sions of the agent in occasional cases of
difference appear to be satisfactory.
EDUCATION.
The Indian schools available for the
children of these tribes are three. The
largest is located at Fort Stevenson,
17 miles down the river. This is a
government school, and was established in
1889. It is entirely independent of agency
jurisdiction. The number of children who
have attended this school is 128, divided
amdng the tribes as follows:
Tribe. No. Hoys. Girls.
Ariokaree, 78 41 jJ2
Gros Ventre, 85 19 16
Mandan, 15 9 6
Sioux, 5 4 1
Total number,..... 128 73 66
The summer vacation is now nearly over,
and the work of gathering the pupils from
their homes has begun. There is among
some a determined disposition to find ex
ouses for remaining at home, and parents
are not seldom found enoouraging this
feeling. All are given plainly to under
stand that only the best of reasons will be
allowed to prevent a return to school du
ties at the beginning of the new term.
The school of the American Missionary
Association, in charge of Rev. C. L. Hall,
whose report is submitted herewith, is
about one mile abovp the agency. Statis
tics regarding this school will be found in
the accompanying report. At the mouth
of the Little Missouri, 25 miles above here,
the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions has
erected a large building at a cost of $12,000,
and has begun systematic preparations for
the opening of a large school. This school
will be amply able to provide for the in
struction of all the remaining children on
the reservation, including those of Crow
flies-high's band—the Knife Riyer Gros
Ventres.
AOBICCLTUBE.
Progress in this department is not the
most flattering, owing chiefly to the diffi
culties presented by the extremely dry cli
mate. While the Indians evince a strong
disposition to become successful farmers,
the discouraging returns for labor expend
ed tend to a depressing of their ambition.
That they have acquired sufficient interest
in farming to feel disappointed at the fail
ure of crops is, I think, an important point
gained. A tour of inspection atnong -the
segregated farms reveals considerable ad
vancement in methods of work. Though
the fields are generally small much careful
work is done, both in care of ground and
growing orops, and in saving the latter.
Another evidence of the interest taken is
in the desire shown to secure all the pro
duct of the labor performed. The corn
fields especially betray thorough work from
planting to harvest. The Indians are bet
ter corn raisers than any whites in this re
gion. I regret that the neoessity of mak
ing this report at this date renders it im
possible to give the returns from farm
work for the year. The statistics aooom
ponying gin the acreage of the several
crops. I estimate the yield of wheat at
not to exceed 8 bushels per acre on the
average. Oats are practioally a failure,
being light in yield and weight Corn I
estimate at 90 bushels per acre (shelled).
The chief use of this grain among the In
dians is that of winter food. It is roasted,
in the shuck, shelled and dried in the sun.
It makes a palatable and wholesome food.
tf'
\ri
Potatoes are a very fair crop thts year.
Considerable of the wheat raised by the
Indians has formerly been gronnd into
flour at the agency flouring mill, but the
most of it has been sold to outside buyers
where the Indians trade. I see no reason
why all the wheat,grown, excepting that
reserved for seed, should not be purchased
by the government and converted into
flour for issue. Not only would thin
tend
to encourage the Indian 'farmers, but the
operation of the mill would afford an op
portunity for the instructive employment
of a few young Indians. The lack of such
work is a serious drawback to the efficien
cy of the system of civilization outlined
by the department. The return of pupils
from eastern schools, many of them fitted
for the pursuit ol some trade or occupa
tion, is, under the present order of things,
a sad waste of material. With no avenues.
of employment open for them, and nothing
to stimulate what desire for advancement
they may have obtained at school, these
embryo citizens, reclaimed so far from
their primitive customs, rapidly drift back,
to the old ways. There are many resources
of their country whioh they might be read
ily taught to develop, and in doing this
they could also be the means of light
ening the burden now borne by the gov
ernment. For instance, the instruction of
a few boys in the art of brick-making
would enable this agency to run a brick
yard in which material for the erection of
substantial and healthful houses for the
people could be made at little expense.
An abundance of the very best of brick-clay
is to be found almost anywhere along the
river, and both wood and coal also abound.
I have made the matter the subject of a
special' letter to the honorable commis
sioner, coupled with the suggestions of Dr.
Geo. B. Cook, special census agent, who
first recommended this method of instruc
tion.
MECHANICS.
Blacksmith and carpenter shops, one
each, employing two apprentices each, un
der care of white instructors, are kept
constantly busy with the various repairs
incident to the employ of farm machinery
and tools. Nearly all of the machinery is
old and of little value, having been pur
chased ten and fifteen years ago. The
four boys employed in the two shops, at
$15 per month each, are, after two years'
tuition, creditable workmen, able to turn
off many pieces worthy the skill of jour
neymen earning four times the pay they
receive. Others could be taken in for in
struction, but thfit would necessitate the
dismissal of those-now serving. The en
largement of the facilities for work, so as
to allow of the making of some farm-tools,
as harrotrs, and even farm wagons, would
be of much service in spreading useful,
practical knowledge among the more en
ergetic ones.
Although the facts are incontrovertably
against this country as a successful1farm
ing region, without irrigation, when it
comes to its adaptation to stock-raising I
do not think too much can be said in its
favor. While it has a severer climate than
sections further south, where cattle and
sheep thrive, it is also much more free
from disadvantages in the way of disease,
insect pests, scarcity of grass and indiffer
ent water supply. The grazing, as before
stated, is uniformly good all over the res
ervation, and water is plentiful and good
in quality. In fact, as a place for the rais
ing of cattle and sheep I believe this section
has superior advantages. The extent of
agricultural development by the Indians
must be limited, since with increasing ef
fort largely added expense must be in
curred. The cost of machinery forms no
small itenvand it must be annually pro
vided and kept in repair, crop or no crop.
The manifest inadaptability of the country
to agriculture suggests the early adoption
of some more reliable and profitable means
of livelihood among a people in whioh ma
terial prosperity must largely be the index
of progress. In view of these facts, I
would suggest that the subject of stock*
raising, comhined with wool production,
receive the attention of the department.
In case of the passage of the proposed
treaty of 1886, and the conse
quent annual receipt of a considerable
sums by these Indians, it would be com
paratively easy to institute and maintain
a system of ranehing whioh would, ulti
mately result, and at no late day, in the
practical independence of, these tribes
Experience among the whites has tended
to show that exclusive farming in this
region means bankruptcy.
TBMPBR or TUB INDIANS.
The feeling toward the government
and the white man generally may be
designated uniformly pleasant, as has
always been-.the case. Confidence in
the good intention of the Great Father
iB well established and as a rale the peo
ple are satisfied with the management of
their affairs. Few complaints are heard/
although occasional expressions of
opinions on matters pertaining to the
service betray the Indian's keen analy
sis of conditions and his -ferception of
justice. Not long since in discussing
the altitude! of various tribes toward the
whites in the past, an Indian with. a
memoiy above the ordinary recited
some history and referred to the changed
relations^ now existing between the
white iftan and certain tribes. The ad
vantages of present treatment which
the Sioux appear to have over those
tribes was alluded to in a somewhat
cynical manner, and the assertion was
ventured that bad the Bees maintained
toward the white man the altitude ^o
persistently held by the 8ioux, they
would now be in receipt of much greater
bounty from the government. The
6ioux, he said, had fought the white
man until they were driven to a corner*
and could fight no more, and as A' mark
of respect for their independence and
bravery, the Great Father now made,
them the distinguished objects of his.
favors in the way of large annuities,
abundance of rations, and even sent
special commissioners to treat with
tliein. In view of the fact the Indians
of this reservation have long 'been the
friends and allies of the white*, and
that during the 8hmx wars of recent
times the Bees furnished the bestsconU
the army had, and lent all the aid pos
sible at all times, never a inomenlt.
wadering in their friendship the fpre
jL
the sarcasm contained in the remarks
referred to is only too apparent fir it is a
fuct by no means credit to the govern
nient tliul the Gros Ventres MhikIhiih
and Arikarees have been It-ss regit rded
by it than any oilier tribe, and this not
withstanding tliftt they have always de
served better at fte hands than almost
.anv tribe on the continent.
The long continued delay in the rati
fication of the treaty, of Dec. 14, 1886,
"by which some 1,100.000 acres of this
reservatian whs to le ceded to the
government, in return for which the
Indians were to receive an annual pay
ment for ten years, of $80,000 per an
num continues to Ins the source of much
anxiety to all the, tribes concerned.
The advantages to lie derived to them
are not lost sight of, and once having
given their formal assent, and having
entertained expectations of increased
benefits, they are naturally somewhat
dissatisfied at what they ate disposed to
feel is an evidence of nnfaith. It is
hard for theui to comprehend the de
lays incident to the arduous labors of
congress, and they atribute the unfnl
Ailment of the treaty to indecision on
the part-of the Great Father at Wash
ington. And indeed it is difficult for
anyone at all informed as to the issues
at stake to understand the remarkable
dilatoriness of our honorable congress
in this important matter. It would
seem that if no question of the better-
monf /.f flio Trwlian'a nniiilitiAh U'uro
ment of the Indian's condition wnre
involved the opportunity oflered by
this treaty for the display of business
sagacity would have had sufficient
wright with the honorable body to in
duce prompt action. By the closing of
this treaty in place of expending $30,000
per year out of the National treasury
for the partial maintenance of this peo
ple the government would he placed in
a position to pay to them $80,0u0 each
year for which money the government,
and the citizens, would receive a quid
fic
irogress in the shape of a coveted .pub
aotnain. Unquestionably, sooner or
later this body of land must be pur
chased of the present owners, and the
moBt careful study fails to show any
sound reason for continuing to hold thlB
land and give the Indian many thous
and dollars a year, when the Indians
are anxious to convert over half their
domain into money to be applied by
the government to their nse and profit,
thus relieving it of no inconsideruble
burden and at the same time placing
them in a far better condition, it is
unfortunate that snch a wise provision
as this treaty undoubtedly is should le
so long delayed of consumation by the
inaction of congress.
EDUCATION AT TUB BAST.
The policy which has been pursued
for some years of sending youth of
both sexes to eastern schools for a
course of training, has, with its many
advantages one very serious objection.
This is the too evident fact that a. ret-i
dence of a very few years in the widely
different climate of the Atlantic states
produces radical constitutional cbanguB
in the Indian changes which too often
result fatally. Every year the truth of
this is freshly demonstrated, nud the
Indians themselves have come to look
with dread upon the prospect of one of
their young men or maidens being
selected as a sacrifice to the Whiteman's
desire for transformation. And thin
feeling is not to be wondered at when
we remember that out of a party of
eight sent east seven years ago, but one.
is now alive. Consumption, probably
latent, but certainly early aggravated ly
the great change in climate, rapidly
took off the others. Consideration of an
economic as well as of a human nature
affect this question of transfering chil
dren and youth of their tribes from
their peculiar arid clitnutic influences to
an atmosphere the direct opposite.
Added to this the very marked differ
ence in mode of living, which must
necessarily he more indoors, and other
wise physically altered, and the com
pleteness of the mistake becomes clear.
The establishment of high grade Indian
schools and industrial homes in a region
of the climate of which is more nearly
their native one would, I am convinced,
work,a salutary ch tnge in the altiinate
results of Indian education. Wheu
once educated and fairly endowed with
the incentives to mental and moral ad
vancement the student would be able
to go on with some useful work, and aid
in elevating his people instead of com
ing home to fill a scientifically prepared
grave, as is too often the case now.
CONCLUSION.
.Owing to the lack of harmony among
employes several, charges in the Agencv
personal have taken place since I, as
sumed charge here, and at present au
entire new force, with the exception of
the Indian employes, is now on the
Agency rolls. The la»t named subordi
nates nave always seemed to be con
tent to attend to their own -duties,
and evince no desire to make trouble
either for the agent or their co-workers:
a condition which I regret to
say proved
to he largely absent among the white
employes 1 found on duty-at the time of
my arrival. Too great trust in human
nature resulted in generally annoying
incidents, culminating in ther arrival
of an Inspector, who seemed to have
been horn with the impression that all
Indian agents were created criminals
and to have left his secluded home de
termined to unearth something wrong
at this agency whether there was any
thing out of the way or not. His re
port to the department was productive
of little beyond annoyance to it as well
as to myself, but the result* to the wel
fare of the service were more effective
—not, however in a beneficial way.
Important work for and by the IndianB
was interfered with" at a critical time,
and the consequent delay attending the.
re-establismeut of regular methods put
the carefully arranged plans for a sum
mers work Hiiiiiely out of joint. In.
stead of having .200 acres of breaking
ready for a crop next spring the Indians
have now the fcinie acreage of land for
cultivation that they had this spring.
XIih exhibition ot a greater degree of
perception, and die apprehension that
the official bond of an agent should at
least he some vaurantee of ordinary
honesty would, 1 think have saved con
siderable trouble, and would certainly
have proved more conducive to the
gooi» of the service.
The present orissniaition at this
Agentty is,
1 am pleased to Bay, entirely
satixfirctory, *»i«l with this most import
ant consideration assured beyond a
reasonable doubt I look forward to the
coining year yriln the greatest hopes for
accomplishing komih
agood
Went. Not
the least gratifying feature of aiy brief
experience here is the continneu exhi
bition of a spirjt of confidence and good
feelings on rhe part of the Iadians to*
ward h'elr neeht anil his employes.
With th is state.of things on the one
hand tiiid the aid and- furtherance of
sincere"effoHi on the part of the govern*
ment I feel justified iu expecting roitysb
from the nexf year's Ittlwrs,
I have'the honor lo be you* poet
obedient pervant.
.. JowrS. MiTBHiY,
•isr
Jffi,TB
iMS'CMe'sOoila
McLean County.
The Findlw ot Nortb Dakota. A Half Million Acre* of fertile Agricultural Land*
•till open to settlement, and all underlaid with ImmenM vein* of Cod.
McLEAN COUNTY is situated on the Missouri river, and adjoins Burleigh county
on the north. It covers an area of 928 square miles, and contains 614,120 acres of the
finest quality of farming land. The soil is a rich black loam, from eighteen inches to
three feet in depth, with clay subsoil, and is capable of producing enormous orops of
cereals and vegetables it also hBS fine grazing and meadow lands, oielding nutritious
a a a
WABHBUBN, the county seat, admirably located, being on a beautiful plateau at
the "Big Bend" of the Missouri river, and commanding an excellent view of the river
for several miles in each direction. Several mail and transportation lines diverge
from here, and it is the most important point
(on
Harbor Steam-Packet Line. It is also the terminal point of the projected Aberbeen,
Bismarck A Northern railroad, now merged into the great "Soo" line, which has sur
I
veyed the line and secured the right of way to Washburn.
All kinds of building material, excellent blue sandstone, good timber, and fine clay
for brick-making, can be found in the immediate vicinity of Washburn, and have been
used extensively by the citizens of the oounty. An excellent quality of briek, as well
as the best of lime, are manufactured on the outskirts of tho town.
Washburn has (a fine courthouse and jail, two large hotels, a substantially built
SO-barrel flour mill, three general stores, a blacksmith and wagon shop, and a number
of substantial residences.
*, OUR COAL FIELDS.
McLean county is noted for its extensive coal fields, .which underlies nearly its en
tire area. In fact, there is coal enough in McLean oounty alone to supply the state
of North Dakota with fuel for half a dfcntury. It is found in all parts in stratas vary
ing in thiekness from three to fifteen fqet, and it is a matter of but a short time when
this coal will yield an immense revenue to the enterprising owners of the land.
The extensive stock ranges, the superior agricultural lands, and the cheap fuel in'
wood and cool, of MoLean oounty offer the greatest inducements to settlers.
RAM
SETT BROTHERS,
DEALERS IN
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
A N
Give us a call and satisfy, yourselves.
We will sell our goods' at the lowest living prices for
Cash or its equivalent.
GEO. L. ROBINSON,
DEALER IN
GENERAL MERCHANDISE,
Farm Macliinery
COAL HARBOR, North Dakota.
I am overstocked with Dress Shirts, Shoes,
and Hats, and will give you some big
Bargains for the next
3Q Thirty IDays. 30
Farm Produce Bought and Sold.
MERCHANTS HOTEL,
John Satterlund, Proprietor?
Headquarters lot the Washburn A Biamarok, Washburn A Berthold, Waahbum A
Goal Hatter, and Washburn & Turtle Lake STAGE LINES
EXCELLENT STABLE ACCOMMODATIONS CONNECTED WITH THE HOUBE .-.
SUBSCRIBE FOR
the Bismarck, Washburn ft Coal
Washburn, N. D.
V} Ji
•4
$
t"h
WASHBURN, NORTH DAKOTA. *,• mWBSW?:*
V-i
I '3
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