The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-08-26

General George StOneman, of Los
Angeles, and family returned Satur-
day evening from short visit to Van
couver and Walla Walla, and is regis
tered at the EsmOnd. Gen. Stoneman,
then II lieutenant, visited this portion
of the Pacific coast in 1913, 81 and 80,
and now expresses great surprise ut
the wonderful development of the Will
lamette valley, the growth of Portland,
but above all, of the immense wheat
fields surrounding Walia Walia. He
believes, with those who have become
associated with the northwest coast,
that it is still in the infancy of its
prosperity, and he predicts an I'M
mense immigration during the COM
ing decade.
Gen. Stoneman in lS55-thcn Il cap
tain-visitcd Oregon and Washington
territories under orders of Gen. Wool,
commander of the department, inspect
ing the military posts. He made the
tour of Puget Sound in row boat
hired from the Indians. He was the
first person who suggested the idea
that san Juan island should be occu-
pied bV the L. :. government, aiiu so
recommended to General Wool, who
adopted the recommendation. Gen.
Wool established Il post on the island
under command of Gea. Pickett. he
British government of course pro-
tested, and Gen. Scott came to the
coast and held II conference on the sub
jcct with an Ambassador from the
royal court. The point in dispute was
whetli licr the boundary line shou ron
east OF the island or west Gen. scott
maintained at it should be w,st aad
the Eng.ishmaA the opposite. IL was
fnaly left to Iii < Wulan Of Prdesid
for arbitration; he decided in tavo.' of
the Cnled States. Pen.!ng the decis-
lou of King William there was JOINT
occupancy of the Island by the ameri-
cans and British. For the possession
of san Juan island the United States
is indebted, primarily, to Gen. stone
| man.
Gen. Stoneman is one OF the board
of ten Indian commissioners of the
| United states and combines the pleas
ure of this trip with gathering lnfor-
nation concerninS the tribe, of Ore
gon and Washington. He has made
the Aroma and Nevada Indians the
subject of much study aud ooserva-
ton, and is making the study of tribes
Vi olhCA NINAipi'' l''N I'f'A .''t't ~ = -
his views at the meeting OF the board
next JANUARY. In conversation with
an OrcyOnioN reporter yesterday, he
expressed himself opposed To '>cnurz's :
Indian policy. He tniuNs that while
the government should sacredly keep
ali treaties heretofore made, that no
treaties should bc entered into in the
future. Congress, he thinks, should
4, laws Ia. rcd inst n
doe, for the white, the black and the
yellow, require strict obedience to
such laws, and punish every breach OF
them. He is OF the opinion that dis
eases from which civilized persons cas-
lily recover, bat which are almost al
ways fatal to Indians, Will soon cNtcr-
inmate the latter and that the country
west of the Rocky Mountains will soon
be as free from tneln as California il
now. He cite. rs an instance the LII
dians who in the days of the Hudson
Bay trappers occupied eiauvie's, then
known as Bloody Island. They were
Il source of great annoyance to the
trappcrs when the latter PASSED up
ana down the river, and II trip was seq
dom made without light. The chiiis
and fever got into the systems OF the
redskins one fall, and the next spring
not II soul was left on the iSland--a
portion died, and the remainder moved
away and were never heard of after
wards. They know no cure for siha..-
poX, measles or scarlet fever, and ii
soon thin> their ranks.
Gen. Stoneman viii be remembered
for his distinguished services during
the rebellion, the recital of which
forms no unimportant part of the his
OF the war. He VIII visit the sound,
and rcturn to san Francisco on the
18th instant OreJOni0a.