OCR Text |
Show XXXlI REPORT' OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. p!.ies had to be opened at Sydney, Nebr., for the Red Cloud Indians. There is an excellent road from that point to the Blaok Hills, over which the supplies for the agency must pass via Camp Robinson. To assist in the preparation of lumber and timber for buildings to be erected at the new agency, caned Pine Ridge Agency, a 30-horse power st'eam-engine and boiler was bought and shipped to the agency; also a sawmill and planing-mill, and a mill for grinding corn. With these im-plements onthe ground, and abundant timber at hand, it will be the fault of .the Indians if they are not comfortably housed at their new location before many months have passed by. The department has also purchased 500 heifers and 50 cows, to be deli~wedin the spring. Both tribes will be in condition to work out their civilization as they have never been before, and every effort will be made by the department to put them in the way of earning their own support. In all the large Indian removals heretofore undertaken the govern-ment has had to pay enormously by reason of the misrepresentations put afloat by parties interested in getting profitable transportation con-traots ; and the same influences were brought to bear recently, when many well-meaning persons by letter and telegram painted in vivid colors the immediate dangers of Indian war and bloodshed if contraots were not made instantly, regardless of cost. Fortunately the department was too well advised of the real situation of affairs to yield to panie, and the removal has been made peacefully and at a comparatively small out-lay As a result there is sufficient money in hand to feed these Indians and help them handsomely on the way to civilization 'and self-support. Red Cloud, to show his entire cordiality toward the government, has taken some hostile Cheyennes, and is ready to hand them over to the government to deal with them as it thinks proper. The present wndi-tion of the Ogalala and Bnul6 Sioux is exceedingly favorable to their emly advance in the arts of civilized life. Both their leading chiefs have shown undoubted friendship for the white man, and they are earn-estly bent on promoting the welfare of their people and the education of their children. Their present location is favorable to agriculhre and stock-raising, md there is no doubt that tluese Indians will take readily to the latter occupation. With proper tutelage there is no reason why they may not become industrious farmers and stock-raisers. If, how-ever, they should be left without proper instruction and encouragement, very little progress will be made. No other work so greatly demands, or will more largely repay, the fostering care of the government. Arrangements have been made to survey the lauds of the Red Cloud and Spottecl Tail ilIodis, so that by spring they will be able to take up allotments in severalty, as provicled for in the treaty. CHIEF JOSEPH. On the surrender of Joseph and his band of Nez P d s , Geueral. Mies recommended that they be kept on the Tongue River until the |