Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-09-03
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Hon. 8. J.. Crawford, Washington ID. c.:
. letter dated issh pitmo, 0 from Governoi
Martin, of Kansas, making inquiries regard
ing claims of citizens of SAID State, on nc
count OF dcpredations alleged to have beer
committed by hostile Indians, and in reply
thereto l have to inform you that fouI
hundred and fifty claims on account of dep
relations BY kiowa, Comanchc, Cheyenne
of Kansas between the years 1850 and 1871,
which were examined and reported upon by
Commission authorized by an act of the
legislature of Kansas. approved February
Secretary of the Interior under date March
{. 1874. by Hon. ID. W. Wilder, State Auditor
IF Kansas. said claims aggregating the sum
IF stss' els AT the request Of Hon; Ill: J; NJ
House of Representatives, said claims were
transmitted to Congress January Il, 1876.
without any action taken by this Office.
Under Senate Joint Resolution No. l, of the
laws of 1879 (State of Kansas a Commission
was appointed by the Governor to examine
and audit claims for losses sustained by citi-
Indians during the year 1873. Said Commits
sion reported upon one hundred and sixteen
claims, recommending an allowance of sl0l,.
1850, and disallOwed twenty-six claims for
for by the act creating the Commission" ag.
yregatIng the sum of &15,4Ss. A humber OF
those allowed have been examined and re-
ported to Congress, recommending allow
claimants.
In the act making appropriations for the
current and contingent expenses OF the In
June 30, 1885, $4,000 was appropriated for the
Investigation Of uncertain Indian depreda-
ton claims; and in expanding such sum the
/. complete list of all claims hereto
fore filed in the Interior Department and
which: have been approved in whole ortin
part, and now remain unpaid, and also all
ala infr nv,A x-<,f<
amined, on behalf of the citizens of the
United States, on account of depredatiOns
committed, chargeable against aNy tribe of
.nch tribe y an pd tSe mi ststes incuSinp
the name and address of the claimants, the
late of the alleged depredations, by what
tribe committed, the date of examination
and approval, with reference to the date
and clause of the treaty creating the Obliga-
ton for payment, to be made and presented
to Congress at its next regular session: and
the Secretary is authorized and empowered,
before making such report, to cause such ad-
ditOnal investigation to be made and such
further testimony to be taken as he may
deem necessary to enable him to determine
the kind and value of all property damaged
or destroyed by reason of the depredations
aforesaid, and by what tribe such depreda.
tons were committed; and his report shall
include his determination upon each claim.
together with the name and residences of
witnesses, and the testimony of each, and
also what funds are now existing or to be de-
rived by reason of treaty or other obligation
out of which the same should be paid"
All claims heretofore reported to Congress
and not acted upon by that sbOdy, have been
returned to this Office for re examination In
accordance with said law. A cursory exam
nation of number of the four hundred and
fifty claims referred to has been made, and
it is found that the declarations in a majority
OF the claims are not prepared in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the De
partment, approved July Il, 1877. copy here
with. nor is the evidence in support thereof
in accordance Herewith. II claimants will
place themselves in communication with
this Office, instructions will be furnished tC
enable them to prepare their claims in &C
cordsnce with said rules, in order that
they may be acted upon without unnecessary
delay. The Governors letter is herewith re
turned. Very respectfully,
A. b. UPSHAw, Acting Commissioner.