, 1880-05-24

the Bulletin, calling attention to the TACT
that vessels taking shelter 1t Neah Bay,
can get no supplies because the entire
water frsnt is embraced within an Indian
reservation. He says: "Some time ago
. respectful request in writing WAS made
by responsible parties to the Military
Commander of the District, Gen. How>
ard, for leave to erect on the land reserv-
cd tor military purposes (Which has new
er yet been utilizeD temporary store
house, to be used in connection with .
schooner atlost for commercial purposes.
This requeft was, after the usual red
tape formula, promptly refused. The
gist of the letter is that the above COM
promise having failed, that the Indians
be removed to Quinalt Bay, already re-
served. few miles further south, and
the harbor thrown open to settlement for
the purposes Of trade and commerce. 1t
is said that the removal would entail no
hardship or loss on the Indians"
The truth is that there is ample water
front on Neah Bay tor purposes Of trade
and commerce without removing the In
dians, and that the protection OF com
merce, the interests of the Government,
the rights of citizens and the convenience
and welfare Of the Indians have been aacri
ficsl to official greed and private specu-
lation. A few years ago Mr.. H. A. Web-
ster held pre-emptiOn claim to = quar-
ter section of unreserved public lands
fronting upon Neah Bay, upon which lie
had established and carried Oh for many
years highly profitable commercial
house, principally in the fur trade which
gave employment to the Indians, and
with other settlers, producing beef and
vegetables for the supply OF vessels. Mr..
Webster's lucrative fur trade was coveted
by the licensed trader and others connect
ed with the Indian department, and upon
tho represen' 'atlons of the Superintendent
for this Territory, President Grant issued
proclamation extending the reservation
over the possessions and valuable i'm
provements of Mr.. Webster and all the
other white settlers upon the Bay, and
a file of soldiers were ordered from the
nearest military station to summarily
eject the settlers from their premises at
the point of the baysnst if necessary
No one who has ever visited Neah Bay
can discover any necessity for the exten
sion of the reservation beyond its origi>
nal bounds, so far As the proper care and
keeping of the Indians was concerned,
but it gave tn the licensed trader on the
reservation the monopoly of the most
valuable fur seal trading post on the
coast, which Is generally believed to he
under the control of the great Alaska
monopoly, in which Grant and his imme.
diate friends are supposed to have stock.
This would reasonably Occount for the
extension of the reservation, and We can
account for it in no other way. Com
gress passed bill of relief for Mr. Web
ster, under which he received the value
of his improvements, as appraised by
Commissioners appointed by the Presi-
dent-about $4,000 O-but nothing for
his presumption claim, Of which he was
deprived without due process of law"
Whenever the Government desires to re-
store the most important harb"r OF refuge
on the Washington coast to " the purpos.
es OF trade and commerce" We lave no
doubt Mr. Webster would gladly receive
back his property at the price he was
paid for it upon the payment to him of
reasonable rent for its use and occupancy
for the past six years. That would be
much cheaper and more satisfactory all
round than the removal OF the Indians
from a reservation with which they are
entirely satisfied.
MAGNANMoUs.-W.B B. Carter, State
Printer Of Oregon, recently died, making
a vacancy which the Governor was au>
thorized to fill by appointment. Mr..
Carter was elected on the Republican,
Governor Thayrr on the Democratic tick>
ct. The Governor, in filing the vacancy
has honored himself and reflected honor
upon the Democratic party, by the ap>
pointment of partner of the deceased
incumbent. n pronounced Republican. for
the benefit OF the widow and children of
the man chosen to fill that position by