The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-03
TOUCHING TACOMA.
Puyallup Indians Own Valuable
Lands Near the Town.
SOME sARE-FAcED RossERs.
nas nss. Asas.Dssa ~ Tscsas
Real Esssss Mea.
SOME sARE-FAcED RossERs,

wssHrxaros Cirr, April e--Thess has
hsen 80 much friction IN the demands for
the riehf-of-vay by various corporations
ovsr The PuyaIiup Indian reservation in
Washington, and 50 many reports Of At
tempted fraud. that senator Davis. chair
man Of the committee on Indian Affairs.
asked Secretary Noble 10 furnish some
Suggestions Mr. Noble turned the matter
over to Commissioner Morgan.
The commissioner has written letter
giving such information as he has ~ hand.
recommending that the whole subject OF
ths Puyaiiup reservation b referred to
commission OF men Of high standing and
established character. vnoss dHty II shaii
be 70 SO upon the ground. study the sstua-
ton in all its phases and report TO the de-
psrtment or congress. making such recon-
meudation - they think beet touching the
removal OF the restrictions now upon the
Indians; and 70 ascertain 70 whom these
Indians have disposed Of their lands by
contract and TO give title when the Indians
are clothed with power to give title by
deeds. He suggests also that the commis-
sion shall ascertain how the Indians shall
Be Unidentified for the right-of-way granted
to railroads across the reservation, and. in
fact. to make thorough and complete in
vcstigation Of sll affairs relating 70 the
Puyaiiup Indians.
Commissioners Morgan submits . state
nsent in which be says there are SIS In-
dians on the reservation and II. .463 acres
hsbe been allotted and $50 acres remain in
one tract OF school lands.
The title Was inalienah.e in the Indians
until Washington became 3 state. when
the legislature Is allowed 10 remove the re-
sfrictions and it becomes the property of
the Indians in fee simple.
An attempt is now being made to get an
action by congress 70 confirm the oct of the
legislature before removing the restrictions.
He says that real estate men At Tacoma
are trying TO secure the lands under con-
tracts which lease them for two years, and
bind the Indians to deed the lands at the
expiration OF the lease. when restrictions
will not be in existence, as they expect
The Indians have been paid some money
on these contracts He says this is bare
faced robbery.
There Is now large army of conditional
owners who are ready TO swoop down on
the lands as soon Is the restrictions OF the
sale are removed by congress. A large
Hsfsh1Si IA sAtr Abos8u tsHt8tbt1IS hByG obS0
and the ownership Of the land is becoming
interminably mixed.
The land il claimed 10 ke worth from
500 10 81 600 per acre. Each Indian has
forty acres OF good farming land and iaO
acres Of hill and swamp, the latter being
tide lands.
The lands, 1t is represented. are needed
for the city Of Tacoma 70 grow upon. II
is suggested that tine Indians sell 70 the
government and the goyernment sell "a
private parties
The only case specified Is tiaat Of Frank
G. Ross. Of Tacoma, who has decided part
of the property once owned by ]. K Fred
erick back TO Frederick
Some of the Indians who are sure they
have been duped have made complaint io
the Indian authorities. The letter to the
secretary will be forwarded to the chair.
man of both Indian committees and may
be acted upon favorably.