Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1887 — The Great Sioux Reservation. [ARTICLE]

The Great Sioux Reservation.

The great Sioux Reservation of Dakota includes a large part of the southwestern part of the State. The treaty ceding this land to the Dakota Sioux tribes was made in 1868. It gave them the country lying between the northern boundary of the State of Ne braska on the south, and the forty-sixth parallel of latitude on the north; between the Missouri River on the east, and the 10 tth meridian of longitnde on the west. This land was to be the permanent home of the Sioux, and all occupation of it by white men was forbidden. This treaty was prepared by the peace commission which had been appointed in July, 1867, by Congress to investigate the Indian troubles then existing, to confer with the Indians concerning their causes of disaffection, and make treaties with them. The discovery of gold in the Black Hills, on the southwestern part of the reservation, caused a violation of this treaty. The Government wished to purchase this tract, but the tribe would not consent to it. A disputation of Sioux chiefs visited Washington in May, 1875, but President Grant could not induce them to sign a treaty. Commissioners were sent to confer with the Sioux chiefs at a gathering at Red Cloud Agency in September of the seme year, but as the Indians set an exorbitant price on their lands the negotiations failed. A war followed, after which the limits of the reservation were somewhat changed. The 103 d meridian was made its western boundary, and the land included between the two upper fdrks of the Cheyenne River was made Government property again. This took from the Indians all the section of the territory known as the Black Hills country. tent of 21,593,128 acres. It is generally well watered, several fine rivers flowing through it. There is considerable timber along the river border. The land in the Missouri and other river villages is fertile, but probably less than one-tenth of the 1 territory inceluded in the reserve can be regarded as good farming land. The country is also subject to long droughts, which of agriculture. But much of the land", though unsuitable for farming, is very well adapted to stock-raising.— lnter Ocean. One of the most important rules in the science of manners is an absolute silence in regard to yourself.