170 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 176 



needed" (Matthews, 1875, p. 440). Tlie soils at the site were readily 

 pervious, and it was observed that even after heavy rains, as in June 

 1951, water remained standing on the surface for only a few hours at 

 most. It was quite a different case with the gumbo soil at a lower 

 elevation nearby, which retained water for days and even weeks, and 

 which must have given trouble for wagons, just as it did in recent years 

 for motor vehicles, even on graded roads. 



Several years apparently elapsed, after the fort was built, before 

 drive wells were put down, and in the meantime water for drinking 

 and other purposes was obtained from the Missouri itself (MattheAvs, 

 1875, p. 440) . A photograph taken at Fort Stevenson, probably about 

 1870, shows a group of enlisted men and civilian mule drivers on such 

 a water detail (pi. 32). It is not surprising that medical records of 

 the post show a high incidence of dysentery. The use of river water 

 for drinking, and the fact that the transportation of food supplies 

 was often badly interrupted during winter months are sufficient 

 explanation (Mattison, 1951, p. 22). By the time of the inspection 

 report of 1879, drive wells were in operation and that water source 

 must have been an improvement. Yet those wells were located less 

 than a hundred feet from common latrines or "sinks," and the wells 

 are reported to have been no more than 10 feet in depth below the floor 

 of the pump house (ibid., p. 34). A further possible source of water 

 was various springs in the vicinity, but water from such springs was 

 apparently disliked, and was referred to as "unpalatable" (Matthews, 

 1875, p. 440). 



In the immediate vicinity of the post, prairie hay lands doubtless 

 originally supplied all grazing needs. It was, however, noted in 1875 

 that a wide extent of country had to be searched to obtain sufficient 

 hay for the post, and it was thought that this supply would become 

 even shorter (ibid., p. 438). The map of the reservation of 1870 

 (traced 1879), previously mentioned, shows a post garden on Douglas 

 Creek, west of the fort. It was a policy of the War Department at 

 this period to furnish part of the subsistence for these posts by means 

 of such gardens, operated by post personnel. This garden was irri- 

 gated by hand during the dry season of the summer. It contained be- 

 tween four and five acres of ground, and produced peas, beans, and 

 lettuce well. Potatoes and onions are said to have been produced in 

 quantities sufficient to meet the needs of the post for the greater part 

 of the year, while turnips, beets, cabbages, and the like were raised in 

 smaller quantities (ibid., p. 440). 



At some period during the military occupation of Fort Stevenson, 

 tree planting had been attempted about the parade gromid. Photo- 

 graphs taken during that period and subsequently show the position 

 and size of several such trees in front of the officers' quarters (photo- 

 graphs in State Historical Society of North Dakota). The remnants 



