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Description

This letter, dated June 18, 1950, from H. F. Gierke of Watford City, North Dakota to United States (US) Senator William Langer takes issue with the fact that, in his words, "The Indians [...] are anxious to move but are forced to waste a yr [sic] because Govt want [sic] tell them where the new agency will be located, where the roads [...] schools, churches etc will be."

Gierke adds that the bottomlands on the Fort Berthold Reservation are rich in timber, but that none of it has been salvaged yet, and that such salvage is hampered by the absence of roads into the bottomlands, and asks, "Now, and I mean Now...Why don't they lay out the towns, roads, schools, wells and bulldoze roads into these bottoms so the Indians who have ambition can go ahead."

Gierke goes on to render his opinion that offering Farmer's Home Administration loans to tribal members for farm machinery is "financial suicide," as, he says, "I don't believe there is an Indian on the reservation who can even lubricate a tractor, not because of lack of intelligence, but because of lack of instruction."

In conclusion he replies to Langer's question on the telephone situation, writing "[W]e have none we would be glad to have one if we can get even 1/2 of a fair price for our produce so we can pay for it."

In the upper right-hand corner is a handwritten notation that appears to read "This guy is dangerou". Below the text are the notations "tele", "answer in abs" and "Make copy for Dell."

See also:

Letter from Irene Martin for Langer to H. E. Gierke Regarding Situation at Forth Berthold, June 27, 1950

Date of Work

6-18-1950

Keywords

The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish, Garrison Dam, Garrison Reservoir, Garrison Diversion, Farmer's Home Administration, FmHA, farming loans

Organizations Referenced

The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, Mandan, Nueta, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sahnish, Garrison Dam, Garrison Reservoir, Garrison Diversion, Farmer's Home Administration

People Referenced

H. F. Gierke, William Langer

Letter from H. F. Gierke, Jr. Regarding Lack of Progress in Moving and Logging in Area to be Inundated by Garrison Dam, June 18, 1950

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