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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1879
([1879])
Reports of agents in Dakota, pp. 19-52
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Page 19
REPORTS OF AGENTS IN DAKOTA. 19 Indian stores, and of rambling hither and thither over a vast exteat of country, half as large as their reservation, living by hunting, trading horses (perhaps horse steal- ing), racing, gambling, and begging. It is true that the whites having families dread their appearance, but other whites make them welcome, that they may barter and associate with them, and while this state of affairs lasts I cannot bring influences to bear on them. In close connection with this is the fact they have large bands of horses, w hich they carefully increase; and, to find fresh and wide pastures, they are induced, P-erhaps compelled, to roam. While they possess these horses, the care of them jrev(-nts their working, and it calls for the help of all the children who can be of service. Twenty or thirty hdges are under my coatiol, becamue there is pasturage for their b orss in the vicinity, but no more can occupy the ground. At the same tim, ther.- horses, worth not exceeding an average of $15 a head, crowd out the cattle, (and man-aP their care more expensive and difficult. If government would take away all thuo horses except such as could be useful, the Indians would not go abroad; and if cattle were given instead they would, or could, or should engage in a profitable industry, and one to which they take ieadilly and naturally. To permit any class (If human being to do as they please, and, at the same time to le supplied with food, inevitably leads to demoralization. After I get hold of these Indians I can tell a great deal better what can be made of them. I should like to have plenty of land in cultivation, with tools all ready; take away their horses; then give the word that if they would not work they should have no rations. As to how much they would work and produce in such a case, and as to how fast they would adopt a civilized life, is merely to specnlate, but my impression is they would not starve. This reservation comprises about 12,000,000 acres. Within 20 miles of this agency are at least 20,000 acres of excellent land that can, be irrigated and mdle to yield bountifully of vegetables and grain, while the adjacent area is well suited for summer and winter grazing. The agency herd numbers nearly 1,-00 head, and notwithstand- ing the Indians have full supplies of beef the increase last year was over "200 head. Coal is in such vast quantities, and in visible outcrop, as to astonish the beholder. The winters are milder than on the eastern slope, and although the elevation here is 6,000 feet, we now have all kinds of vegetables in profuion, tomatoes included, and our wheat crop, though on sod always a short one, ii fully up to the average of the crop of the wheat-growing States. So great is my confidence in this section for fruit-growiing that apple, peach, and plum trees have been planted, and all the small fruits are growing. If these IndiaIs will only half improve their opportunities they may become rich and happy. Respectfully, N. C. MEEKER, Indian Agent. The COM.MISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. CHEYENNE RivER AGENCY, DAKOTA, Aegust 20, 1679. Sim: In accordance with your circular letter of June 18 last, I have the honor to submit the following as my annual report of the affairs of this agency: There has been no change in the location of the principal Indian camps during the past year, but a number of families have followed my advice and have moved from the two villages on the west side of the Missouri River, below the agency, where the land is strongly alkaline and unproductive, to the more fertile Cheyenne River Valley. Here they are trying to establish separate and independent homes for themselves. In all, there are now *34 Indian families occupying separate locations on the reservation, a mode of living which, though at variance with past custom, seems to grow in favor with the better ciass; and it is confidently believed that in the course of another year the number who will cut loose from village life, with its attendant councils, feasts, aid dances, will greatly increase. With a view of stimulating this tendency the Indians have been intornied that hereafter wagons. harness, cooking-stoves, and all other com- modities, other than the absolute necessities of life, which the government may pro- vide, are, as a rule, to be reserved for those of their people who have sufficient self- reliance to isolate themselves from the villages. On the occasion of the annuity issue last fall all Indians were assembled and counted at the agency, save those physically unable to come, whose presence was verified by sending scouts or policemen to their houses. The result of the count showed a reduc- tion of 70 from the number previously borne on the rolls, the diminution being prob- ably due to the concealment of deaths prior to April 1, 1878, and to the desertion of women. The following table exhibits in detail the present strength of the four bands of the Sioux Nation located at the agency:
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