Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-10-11


ing successfully completed their negotiations
with the greater number of the tribes with whom
treaties are 10 be made at this time. Four weeks
were spent in canoes on the lakes and streams Of
the northern part of the state, the commissioners
camping out ali night and con Quoting the nego.
tia.ions with the Indians in the open air in the
woods by camp fire. Though all the tribes have
not been visited yet, the success Of the commits.
sion is assured, and this happy result is attrib-
uted in marked degree to Hon. H. NJ. Rice, the
chairman, who Negotiated numerous treaties i'll
past years with the Indians, and enjoys their
confidence and respect His words and adv ice
had great effect OH every tribe visited. and in
every instance nearly all signed, while at some
points every member of the tribe agreed to the
terms. In referring to the work already accom-.
plished by the commission, Mr.. Rice said 10 a
reporter yesterday:
The indians of Red Lake have coded all Of
their country except a small reservation to be
given in allotment. The number Of acres in the
reservation ceeded is equal to the size Of the
state Of Connecticut in round figures about
5000, eco acres This is something worth noting
and shows the immense AREA OF Minnesota
these lands are bnt q small portion Of this state
and yet they are good deal larger than Rhode
Island or Delaware. The cession includes all the
large pine forests. valued by the lumt ermen at
many millions of dollars. Much ofthis can be
1un down the streams semptyiny into the Red
River of the North, and will find a market to the
westward. The White Earth Indians have coded
four full townships NEARLY 100 600 acres) Of val
liable pine. The Leech Lake, Cass Lake. and
Lake W!nnipcgoosis Indians have coded all their
pine lands, including Immense virgin forests OF
pine, and so interlocked with lakes and streams
emp,ying into the Mississippi that it is of easy
access. The Mississippi Indians have also coded
large tracts OF pine north OF these lakes but
tributary to the Mississippi. Tho White Oak
Point Indians have relinquished their valuable
pine lands The Inst treaty, which was COM
pleted on the 5th inst, was with the Mile Laos
Indians, who coded all their lInds except such
as will be allotted to them in severalty. The
tribal relations of all these Indians have now
ceased, and under the negotiations completed
they will be compelled to take lands IN severaIty
under what is known as the Dawes bin. This
will break up their tribal habits and oblige
them to live separately, which, 1t Is believed,
viii change their entire habits aud lessen to a
very great extent the possibility Of their becom-
Ing an annoyance to the whites. They are now
full ,edged c,,izens,s and are placed under the
laws ofthe state, SO that they can be more read
lily controlled. The lands arc to be appraised
and sold, aud the sale must be at not less than
the appraised value, which is for. pine lands not
less than IS per: thousand feet and Tor other
lands SLIPS an acre. Some persons who are con-
yersant It'll The Pine Of that region estimate
that 1t is worth not less than go 600 900. The val
ue OF the lands to be sold has not been definitely
estimated, but it viii amount to q considerable
sum All the money received from these sales
ate. deducting expenseS, VIII be placed III the
treasury Of the United States and bear interest
per cent, . large proportion Of which Viii be
spent for schools for the Indians and to aid them
In agricultural puxuits. The latter portion win
be paid Is them III money The Interest On this
large sum will all be expended in the region In
! which they live, SO that the state OF Minnesota
will derive large benefit from the conclusion Of
these negotiations. All The Indians are very
| anxious orwork. and when they ascertained
the exact provisions Of the bill they were exceed
| ingiy anxious especially the young men-,u
own their own homes and live Ike white men
There is one thing worth noting, and that is tta
OH the whole trip OF Jour months we never saw
III Intoxicated indian, aud We saw every mem
Der flhe srihea visited. There are some, how.
/ eyc.. about While Oak Point Tho are more at
c.ssible 10 whisky, that have undoubtedly be
/ come very much demo,aiized from It's use. The
following = list OF the tribes with Y HON nego
lsiaiians hare beet, concluded. The Red Lake