, 1875-04-24
THE DALlES LAND CLAIM.
Secretary Delano's Deei~ion IN snSOr OF
the Methodist Mission tiHiHn ior Ian"
Worth 0nc Million Dollars

Secretary BeIano. Deci-ion IN Favor ol
the Methodist JIission t-iHini for Land
Worth onc Million Dollars
The Secretary of TIE Interior has
rendered a decision giving the Mis-
sionary Society of the Methodist Epls-
copal Church possession OF over 2oo
acres Of land at the Dalles on the Co
iumbia river, Wasco county, Oregon.
The case came 10 the Secretary on an
appeal from an adverse decision OF the
Commissioner Of the General Land
Office.
The Methodist Missionary Society
established a station st the Dalles III
1896, and erected buildings, cleared
ana incIosed a portion Of the land and
used it as farm. This and three sta
tions established By the American
Board OF Commissioners for Foreign
Missions work among the Indians,
were, the Secretary says, " the earliest
white settlements in Eastern Oregon.
They induced and were the nuctei
around which gathered the Hood Of
emigration from the States that opened
up that section, overwhelmed British
influence, aud secured the North Yves
tern Territory TO this country. From
1881 until The missionaries were at
tackled and driven out in 1917 by the
Indians, the whole North " estcrn
Territory was held in joint occupancy
by Great Britain and the United
States, the boundary line not being
settled or defined" The result of the
contest as 10 which country should
possess it probably depended upon
the fact which could iirst settle IL with
emigrsntS."
In the year 1913 Congress passed an
act confirming to the missionary so
ei4ties tracts of land in Oregon, not
exceeding 60 acres "nOw occupied, y
etc At the time of the passage OF
the act the missionaries were not re-
siding on their claims, having been
driven from them i'll December, 1871
by the Indians. But the Dllles was
actually as missionary station until
those in charge were obliged to flee i'll
reasonable fear Of their lives. As
soon as it was safe to DO so, the mis-,
Sionaries returned TO the station, re
newed their labors aud attempted tC
re.eStabliSh their work, and their re
peated attempts SO 10 do were only
frustrated by the Intervention of The
military authorizes" who occupied
the claim when the missionaries wclt
forced TO leave it and had built fUrt
ON the land. Subsequently military
reservation was created by order q
the President which included som,
$40 acres Of the Methodist claim tn,
missionary society demanded and ob
tanned from the government so, ,00J
for this land.
As soon rs the act of 1913 could bt
complied with, which was in 1859, tht
boundaries Of the Methodist Mission
ary Soclety's claim were spccilicl!Il
the lines thus r>.ahli>hed >hJuid bl
adopted. Certain citizens Of The
town Of the Dallcs contested The claiI
Of the society, but the SecreIa!
thinks they have no reason for Gem
pIaint against an adverse deci-ioa, lie
cause q long before the Inception q
their claims. tie Inns Of the mission
property had been definitely fixed, an,
indicated upon the face Of The ground
made Of public record, and publicalio,
thereof in The newspapers yub!iShc,
nearest the land, The claim If th,
society was DotnrioHs, AMI parties set
tling thereon and inSti,Gtimg claim.
thereto did 80 at their peril" Th,
case has been pending at Washington
for several Years The adverse decis
ION of the Commissioner of the Gen
eral Land Office was rendered in 1871
The tract of lanl which by Secretar,
Delano'S decision belongs to the Metho
dist Missionary Society includes IN;
, town of the DalleS, and is estimate,
, to be worth 81 900, 900.