Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-12-21
THE NEE PIERCE RESERVATION
AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
WITH 1T,

..The Neg Perez Indians left upon the
reservation since the Neg Perce war OF
1877, have never numbered, including
men. women and children, 400 souls.
OF those ever Is ye; RS OF age are now
not to exceed 400. The area of the
Nez Perez reservation exceeds 900
square miles, four fifths of which is
good pillow land The plow land will
aggregate full 100000 acres of the
best wheat lands on the Pacific coast
AT the present not 10000 acres of this
land is utilized by the Indians in any
form, except that some Of their cattle
and horses roam over it at W II. The
Indians themselves are now without
any treaty or annuities and many of
them are comparatively good agricul-
turalists and stock raisers and would
be much bette. farmers if they could
own their lands in scveral'y ana not 10
common as n reservation, and many
more would gradually become good
farmers If the incentive Of owning land
in their own individual right was furn.
ished to them The doctrine that In.
dams can sooner become civilized by
owning lands in severalty has fast gain.
cd ground since it was first promulgat-
ed in 1876 and 1877 by the TELLER
and one or two other papers, till now
it has the full endorsement Of the Sec
rotary Of the Interior, the President
and very large part of the civiliz.
ed portion Of the press and people Of
tho United States. The doctrine is
founded in reason and common sense,
and there is no other spirit that antag-
cnizes the doctrine remaining, except
that founded in avarice and greed to Oh.
tain the larger share Of the appropria-
lions made annually FIR tho benefit Of
the Indians, but which the Indians
themselves never obtain. Now apply
the doctrine to the Nee Perres who as
will readily be admitted are in as good
II not better condition to t'ke lands in
ssvsralty than any other tribe on the
Pacific and what will be the result.
Admit that 500 Of these Indians can
Be made to take up lands 10 sevcralty
which No. would be more than entitled
under the Indian homestead laws, and
W would have giving to each l60 acres,
90, Goo acres absorbed, which would be
enough to make each Indian family
rich, and be ample for the support Of
al the Indians on the reservation, and
far more than they would ever utilize
Then this would leave Of the good pillow
lands $4,000 acres for disposition 4
the whites, either by sale for the bene
st Of the Indians, or to be taken un
der the presumption and homestead
laws and would make practical homes
for 1912 heads Of families each ownin,
l60 acres. These pro emptors ant
homesteaders with their families iuter
spread among these Indian homestead
en- would bscome the teachers Of tn,
Indians in an the arts Of skilfull farm
ing both by their example and thei
precept Much more anlity and goo,
will between the Indians and the white
would exist under this system tina,
ever can exist under the reservation
system, because the interests Of eacl
viii demand this and both classes will
almost instinctively pursue their inter
es,s. If tho presumption laws are ex
tended over the lands not taken BY tn
Indians in severalty, let tho pre- emp
ton mo les arising from this land B
set apart for the benefit Of these In
dams. to be expended in giving then
good schools, in providing them wit
necessary farming Implements and ma
chinery, in providing them with goo
blooded stock and other such facilitie
Is will place them on good footin
for making progress in wealth and pro,
perity. Under the policy announce
BY Secretary Teller and the Presiden,
there can be no good reason Why III
Nez Perez Indians should not be a
lowed to take lands in severalty, fro,
the present Indian reservation, aud tn
sesidue of the lands he open to settl
ment BY the whites upon such tern
as will contribute to the good of bot
Indians and the whites and this too Q
an early date. Let our Delegate Gle,
N Congress make an effort to effet
this end.
The following is list Of homestead pa
ents received at the Lewiston land Office O