INDIAN AGENCIES. We are indebted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for valuable information touching the Indians of Dakota Territory, which we have gathered from the reports of the various agencies for the years 1882 and 1883. These reports show nine agencies within the Territory, as follows: Cheyenne River, Devil's Lake, Crow Creek and Lower Brulé, consolidated, Fort Berthold, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Sisseton ( Sisseton and Wahpeton), Standing Rock and Yankton. There are only four distinct reservations, including the great Sioux reservation, lying mostly on the west side of the Missouri River; the Sisseton and Wahpeton, the Fort Berthold and the Devil's Lake Reservations. The Turtle Mountain Indians, a small detached band of the Chippewa nation, were occupying a tract of land. 32 by 24 miles in extent, adjoining the Turtle Mountains on the east, set apart in December, 1882. Special agent Beede, who was sent up to investigate the matter, found not more than twenty-five families of full blood Indians in the region, with a considerable number of half breeds settled near. The Indians were in favor of a general reservation, while the half breed desired to take lands individually. Mr. Breede recommended that two townships be set apart for the full bloods. The others will be protected on the lands taken and improved, which are considerable. The two townships have since been set apart by Executive order. Towns 162 and 163 N. Range 71, west. The chief of this band is called Little Shell, who married a Crow woman, and has been somewhat inclined to dispute the right of the government to survey the lands in the Turtle Mountain region; but the firm stand taken by Surveyor General Fessenden in an interview with him on the fall of 1883, convinced the chief of the wisdom of remaining peaceable. The total area of Indian Reservations in Dakota is 42,8601/2 square miles, or 27,480,785 acres, divided as follows: Crow Creek and Lower Brule 318 square miles Devils Lake 360 square miles Fort Berthold 4550 square miles Lake Traverse (Sisseton) 1435 square miles Old Winnebago 652 square miles Ponca 150 square miles Sioux 33,955 square miles Turtle Mountain 768* square miles Yankton 672 1/2 square miles *Since reduced to 72 sq. miles. Established as below: Crow Creek -Treaty of April 20, 1868. Devils Lake -Treaty Feb. 19, 1867. Agreement, Sept. 20, 1872 Fort Berthold -Agreement Sept. 17, 1854, and July 27, 1866; Executive Orders April 12, 1876, and July 13, 1880. Lake Traverse -Treaty of Feb. 19, 1867; agreement Sept. 20, 1872; Indian appropriation act June 22, 1874. Old Winnebago -Order Department. July 1, 1863: treaty April 29, 1868 Ponca -Treaty March 12, 1858; supplemental treaty March 10, 1865 Sioux -Treaty April 29, 1868; Executive Orders. Jan. 11, March 16, and May 20, 1875, and Nov., 1876; agreement Feb. 28, 1877, and Executive Order August 9, 1879 Turtle Mountain -Executive Order Dec. 21, 1882, and March 29, 1884 Yankton -Treaties of April 19, 1858, and April 29, 1868 In 1882 a commission, consisting of ex-Governor Newton Edmunds, Peter C. Shannon and James H. Teller, was appointed to treat with the Sioux Indians for the cession of a portion of their lands lying mostly on the west side of the Missouri River, and between the Big Cheyenne River on the north, and the White River on the south, containing about 16,000 square miles, or 10,240,000 acres. The preliminary treaty was concluded and signed by thirty-five of the chiefs and principal men, at the Cheyenne River Agency, on the 21st of Dec., 1882: but the insertion of a remarkable provision, requiring the commissioners to procure the signatures of three-fourths of the adult male Indians, has been the cause of serious and perhaps fatal delay in its final consummation. It is believed, however, that the region lying between the Cheyenne and White Rivers and reaching the Black Hills, will be opened soon to settlement. The intention is to open it only to homestead settlers. CHEYENNE RIVER AGENCY.-The agent at this place. Wm. A. Swan, reports for 1883 a total of 3,215 Indians, consisting of Blackfeet, No. 1. 288; Sans Arc, No. 2. 771; Minneconjou, No. 3, 1,428; and Two Kettle, No. 4, 783. This agency is located on the west bank of the Missouri River, eight miles below the mouth of the Big Cheyenne River, and a few miles above Fort Sully. The agent reports the Indians as remarkably peaceable and quiet, and their sanitary condition good. The number of acres of land under cultivation in 1882 was 400. The high water of the spring of 1883 injured the crops greatly. In 1882-83, the Indians cut 900 tons of hay. There were about seventy-five log houses at the agency, built by Indian labor. The agency farm consists of 150 acres. The Protestant Episcopal and Congregational denominations have missions at the agency. Rev. S. L. Riggs, who died at Beloit recently, was long a resident missionary. A regular school is maintained at the agency, and the Episcopal Church supports another about three miles north. Both are reported in a flourishing condition, and the pupils, about sixty in number, as making commendable progress. DEVILS LAKE - Major J. W. Cramsie reports from this agency a very satisfactory condition of affairs. There are about 1,000 Indians, consisting of Cut-Head, Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux, on the reservation, which is considered one of the finest in the west. About 2,000 acres of land are in cultivation, including 1,000 in wheat, 450 in oats, 300 in corn, 200 in potatoes, etc. The yield of 1883 was 18,000 bushels of wheat, 14,000 of oats, 12,000 of corn, 25,000 of potatoes, and other crops in proportion. Eleven hundred and fifty-four acres of new land were broken in 1883. During the year ending with the report (August 14), the Indians had built twenty log houses, and twenty-five stables; hauled 332,000 pounds of supplies for the agency; cut and hauled 900 cords of wood and 200 saw logs. They were gradually adopting the white man's ways of living, and many were making good progress in cultivating farms. One self-binding harvester and nine self-raking reapers are in use. The mission at Devil's Lake is under the control of the Catholics The Industrial School Building was destroyed February 16, 1883, but a new one has since taken its place, sufficient to accommodate the larger boys, while the remainder were taken care of in various ways until the necessary buildings could be erected. Major Cramsie thinks there is no doubt of the eventual civilization of the Indians. He reports an excellent moral condition, and says "there have been no crimes or depredations committed against each other or against the whites." Polygamy is virtually abolished, and marriage is preformed by the priest. The agency has a grist-mill, with two runs of stone, and a saw- mill, both driven by steam power. CROW CREEK AND LOWER BRULE CONSOLIDATED AGENCY.-John G. Gasmann, agent for this point, reports a great need of new buildings, more working cattle and horses, and general encouragement in their new mode of life. The old log buildings are badly out of repair, and many of the Indians live in the "tepee" during the warm months. They are making fair progress in the business of agriculture, but have not so far taken much land in severalty. The Crow Creek Agency in situated on the east side of the Missouri River, twenty five miles above Chamberlain, and sixty below Pierre. The buildings are located in a low bottom, which overflows, and is an unhealthy location. The agency buildings are built around Old Fort Thompson, and a portion of the fort buildings are used by the agency. The Lover Brulé Agency is located on the west side of the Missouri River, about twenty-five miles below the Crow Creek Agency, nearly opposite Chamberlain. The site is a fine, healthful and commanding one in every respect, and the buildings are much better than those of the Upper or Crow Creek Agency. There is one school building at each agency, and the Episcopal Church has three houses of worship on the reservation. The schools are not in as flourishing a condition as is desirable, but the agent thinks these Indians are very ready to learn, and naturally intelligent and capable. The Rev. Luke C. Walker, a full-blood Indian, has charge of the mission work, under direction of Right Reverend Bishop Hare, of the Episcopal Church. FORT BERTHOLD AGENCY.-Jacob Kauffman, agent, reports the number of Indians regularly drawing rations at this agency at 1,246, to-wit; 591 Arickarees; 347 Gros Ventres: 308 Mandans. The total number of acres of land under cultivation in 1883 was 942, of which 227 acres were sowed to wheat, 146 to oats, 451 acres corn, 69 acres potatoes, 300 bushels of beans, etc.; 91 tons of hay were cut. The season of 1883 was a bad one for crops. The agency grist mill ground during the year, 74,100 pounds of flour, and the saw -mill cut 8,235 feet of cotton-wood lumber. The agency school was kept open for ten months with an average of thirty-two pupils. On the 7th of August the military post of Fort Stevenson with all its buildings was turned over by an order of the War Department to the Department of Interior to be fitted up and used for the benefits of the Indians. It is also understood that the military reservation belonging is to be turned over to the Indian Bureau. The entire body of Indians on the reservation has for a number of years been living in a compact village, and making no use of its lands generally, except for hunting purposes. None, or at least very few, have taken lands in severalty. The Indians complain greatly of the taking of their lands for the grant to the Northern Pacific Railway. The Missionary work is under the charge of the "American Missionary Association." The mission has a chapel and a school with a small number of scholars. Pierre Ganeaux, a prominent and influential Indian, died at the agency on the 4th of August, 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He was a wise counselor to the Indians and a firm friend of the United States Government. PINE RIDGE AGENCY.-This agency, located in the southwestern part of the territory, on the head waters of White River, has a population, as reported by V. T. McGillicuddy, the agent, of 8,000 of whom 7,800 are Ogalalla Sioux and 200 Northern Cheyennes. The latter he reports are veritable "Bedouins of the Desert," almost unanimously opposed to settling down to a quiet life and agricultural pursuits, and given to wandering and occasional raids on the agency. The agent says " the Pine Ridge Indians, as a body, show evidence of decided progress during the past year, rapidly abandoning their savage customs and adopting civilization, scattering their abodes more and more, so that frequent disputes arise relating to locations and building sites. The creek bottoms for from ten to twenty-five miles up and down the remaining streams for a distance of forty miles from the agency, are now nearly all taken up, the more progressive Indians moving out of the villages and settling between. Dancing is diminishing rapidly, and the attendance on church increasing." The Northern or Sitting Bull Sioux of this agency, composed of 600 Ogalallas, he reports as progressing remarkably as compared with other Indians. They are building houses and making good improvements much more rapidly than those located around the agency. Speaking of the Indians of the reservation generally he says: "The construction of houses has averaged well with the four preceding years, about 100 having been built in the past twelve months, so that now we have on the reservation 625 substantial log houses, giving shelter to over half the Indian families on the reserve." The agent reports that the Indians take good care of the couw and horses furnished them by the Government, for the reason that "horses are good to fide and cows are good to eat," but do not take readily to farming pursuits. A large number of the young Indians are engaged in freighting between the agency, and the terminus of the Sioux City & Pacific Railway, 130 miles distant. During the year they hauled 2,501,059 pounds for the agency and 1,000,000 pounds for traders, for which they received $35,192.13 from the Government and a considerable sum from the traders. The Indian teamsters are honest and trustworthy. About 500 wagons are thus employed. The agent reports savings in the issue of supplies to the amount of $50,000 in the course of a few years. There are six day schools on the reservation which are kept up through the year with an average attendance of thirty pupils each, or 180 in all. The mission agency is under the auspices of the Episcopal Church. The Indians since 1879 have built 625 houses, 135 miles of telegraph, employed forty mowing machines, organized a police force of fifty members, have a saw mill, planing mill, shingle mill and corn mill in operation, and are advancing in the arts of civilization as rapidly as can be expected under the circumstances. ROSEBUD AGENCY.-James G. Wright, agent, reports unfavorably concerning both farming and stock raising. The country is neither a good grazing nor agricultural region. Sixty houses were built during the year, and on the whole reservation their are now 450 " fairly comfortable" log houses. The freighting business between the agency and Valentine Station on the Sioux City & Pacific Railway is extensively carried on by the Indians, about four hundred wagons and teams being employed. Two school building were erected in 1883, but had not been occupied when the agent made his report in August. Two mission day schools are kept up, with an average attendance of thirty scholars. A large number of children are attending school at Carlisle, Pa. Twenty-five native police are employed. A mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church was first established among these people in June, 1875, at which time $3,000 was expended in buildings, etc. Since that time the Indians have been twice removed; once two hundred and seventy miles, and once one hundred and fifty miles, which necessitated the tearing down and rebuilding of government, church and private buildings. The agency and mission were established at the present location in the fall of 1878. The present value of church property is $4,500. This includes church, parsonage, teachers' dwelling, and a new building for church and school at Oak Creek, thirty miles form the agency. The local missionary reports a gradual increase in churches and schools. There are eight hundred Indians connected with the agency. SISSETON AGENCY.-Charles Cressey, agent for the Sisseton and Wahpeton Indians, reports an encouraging condition of affairs. About five thousand five hundred acres of land are in cultivation, though the crops of 1883 were much reduced by drouth. Rapid advancement is being made in agricultural pursuits. A small number of Indians have taken land in severalty and obtained patents. A considerable number of buildings were erected during the year. The sanitary condition is excellent. A police force of fifteen men is maintained. The missionary work is under the management of the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. There is a manual boarding school at the agency, and several other schools in various parts of the reservation, and all are in a flourishing condition. The Indians of this reservation, about fifteen hundred in number, are probably farther advanced generally in the ways of civilization that any others in the Territory. STANDING ROCK AGENCY,--This agency is in the northeast part of the "Great Sioux Reservation." And the building are located on an elevated plateau on the wet bank of the Missouri River some sixty miles by the river below Bismarck. At this point are gathered a number of different bands named in the report as follows: Upper Yanktonnais 1,242 Lower Yanktonnais 599 Uncapapas 1,829 Blackfeet 698 Mixed Blood 104 Total 4,472 This includes a considerable number of Indians who came to the agency with the Chief Sitting Bull in May, 1883, and several hundred from Montana and popnts up the Missouri River. About fifteen hundred acres of land in the aggregate were cultivated by the Indians in 1883. The hot weather in June and July of that year, when the mercury reached 108º in the shade, and the drouth that followed, were very destructive to the crops. The hay crop was about two thousand tons. When Sitting Bull was discharged from captivity and returned to this agency he made a characteristic speech, claiming to be the "great chief" of his people, and expecting to have everything his own way; but a very calm explanation of his status and what was required of him by the agent made him sensible of the real situation and convinced him that he would be treated precisely as all other peaceable Indians were treated, and that he could not have the management of the Standing Rock Agency. After a few days he went peaceably to work planting corn, and said he was content to settle down and follow the life of a farmer. The chiefs and head men are gradually locating upon lands, and the agent thinks they will hereafter remain peaceable and eventually become industrious and comfortable. Two boarding schools are supported by the Government at the agency, which were attended during 1882-3 by 51 boys and 52 girls, with an average attendance of 37 boys and 40 girls. The missionary work in is in the hands of the Catholics, who have two comfortable churches, one at the agency and one at the farm school, sixteen miles south, besides schools connected with the church work, all under the management of eight Sisters of Charity stationed at the agency. They annual expense to the church is about $2,000. At the Grand River settlement the American Missionary Association has a mission, established by Rev. T. L. Riggs, lately deceased. A day school is maintained in connection with the mission. The sanitary condition at the Indians is very good, though they are subject to diseases and maladies incident to a complete change of life. James McLaughlin is the agent at Standing Rock. YANKTON AGENCY,--This reservation, situated in Charles Mix County, contains 430,000 acres, three-fourths susceptible of cultivation. The agency buildings are at White Swan on the Missouri River, in a fine commanding and healthful location. There are about two thousand Indians on this reservation, and the agent, William M. Ridpath, reports them making quite rapid progress in the ways of civilization. Nearly all the Yanktons are turning their attention to farming and stock-raising. A considerable number of the Indians have taken allotments of land, but the majority are slow to see the advantages of the system. The religious instruction of the Indians is in the hands of the Presbyterians and Episcopalians, and commendable progress is being made in the improvement of the morals of the community. There is an agency boarding school and the religious organizations also support schools. The Indians of this agency are considerably affected by scrofulous and pulmonary diseases, as are most of the Indians in the Territory. The Indian school population of Dakota, according to the report of the Indian Commissioner for 1883, was 6,169, with an aggregate attendance of about one thousand. The amount expended by the general government for the Indians of Dakota is very great, reaching $2,000,000 annually. This is used for various purposes; pay of agents and other employes, support of schools, to promote civilization, incidental expenses, presents, stock, agricultural implements, etc. The annuities to many of the tribes run for many years, and every pains is being taken to give the Indians full opportunity to learn the ways of civilization, and with fair prospect that eventually they will become self-sustaining, law-abiding and intelligent citizens. It is greatly to the credit, not only of the Indians, but the agents and teachers, that in the matter of crime and criminals they already compare favorably with any similar number of the whites.