The line was a practical failure east of the Pine Ridge agency during the whole period of its existence for the reason that between Pine Ridge and Rosebud there were many Indian camps and telegraph poles furnished dry and convenient firewood. The Indian agents as often as opportunity presented explained to the Indians the importance of keeping the wire off the ground that quick communication might be had with Washington as to the shipment of blankets and provisions for their own use. The Indians would promise not to molest the poles any more but the line would go down within a day or two after a repair party had put it in order.

In 1876 Dawes county territory was the home of two large divisions of the Sioux Indians. The Brules were at the Spotted Tail

agency, located on White river near the mouth j of Beaver creek, now a part of the ranch of ] Mrs. Wm. Braddock ; and the Ogallalas at the Red Cloud agency, a mile east of Fort Robin- j son.

Official records and statements of the earli- I est inhabitants fail to agree as to the time of the location of these agencies, probably for the very good reason that like Topsy they just grew. When the Union Pacific railroad was built these Indians were scattered over eastern Wyoming, parts of the Dakotas and western Dakotas. The government from time to time sent its officials to visit and confer with them first in one place and then in another. When regular or permanent agents were appointed they established themselves at the camps or headquarters which Spotted Tail and Red Cloud had set up for themselves and named the agencies after those chiefs.