The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-30
OLYMPIC RED MEN
Interesting Report Of the Agent
Of the Quiniault Indians.
CONGRESS SIGHTS THE STATE.
DriII Ground for the MiIitia-Psrt Town
send Cusssm Honse--ssstleneaf
Of Deprsdatioa Ciaims-


wasHrssrox CRY. May 2a.--The agent
in charge Of the Puyaliup Indian agency
in q report TO the department gives some
information OF interests relative 10 his dis
tY:ct He writes:
The Indians are generally industrious,
quiet. peaceable and iaw-abiding and make
but little trouble. The Indians living on
the Quiniault reservation are not citizens.
their land never having been allotted.
This reservation mas never been snbdivided
and the ex ,ense Of surveying it into aliot-
ments would be very great conn
pared with the proportion that is
svaiiable for agricultural purposes.
II the land along the river bot
tom could be surveyed . part of 1t might be
occupied. but most OF the upiands are
nearly worthless, and the underground is
30 thick and the land so mountainous that
IL would cost great deal to survey that
part Of 1t.
According to the present laws the agent
has no means of enforcing any authority
over any Indians of from q reservation.
and as q large proportion Of those in this
agency are citizens. IL is easily seen that
the authority OF the agent is quite limited.
to drink, all under my charge are generally
quiet and orderly. But q very large pro-
portion of them are very fond OF liquor and
drink whenever they have an opportunity.
IL is not possible 10 DO much to prevent
this. 1t is measurably restrained on the
reservation, although 1t is doubtful To what
extent our authority extends over Ameri-
can citizens. even If on reservation. but it
is very much kept in check there. off from
the reservation, however. il is impossible
TO do anything effectively to check il.
The lands of the Puyallup reservation
are immensely valuabscs In my judgment
part of these lands should be sold. But
do think it very desirable that part Of
the reservation. containing the homes Of
the Indians. should still be protected for q
term of years. Avaricious and unprincipled
men would very soon crowd them all out if
they had the opportunity.
Il think. however. that the laws should
be so changed that the Indians should be
allowed to sell even what Is protected to
each other, as the titles by descent are not
satisfactory and are getting very much
mixed. | think il would be advis-
able. too. that they should be allowed to
rent to white men part of this land under
suitable restrictions. There is not the same
necessity for the Indians on the other
reservations to be allowed to sell their
lands, and ! should not recommend it. but
] do think that even on those reservations
they should be allowed TO sell to each other
80 as to avoid this mixture Of title, result
ing from the descent BY Inheritance"
There has been. ~ yet. very iitfle suc-
cess attending the endeavors to secure leg
islation needed by the state, and which
has been earnestly urged before congress.
OF course, the preliminary step in all leg
islative matters is to have the proper COM
mittee consider . measure and report IA
vorably after such consideration. Atten-
ton has already been called in this CORE
spondence to the neglect OF the committee
on rivers and harbors TO provide for the To-
cal improvements justly. ii not with liber-
atty. There are now many matters Of
importance which are pending in the va
rious committees, and, fear, as the ses-
sion is SO far advanced, without much
chance of favorable issue. Some OF these
matters were in express terms and official
form urged upon the attention of congress
by the state legislature. short notice Of
few OF them will not be without interest,
and may, perhaps, be productive of some
good.
First, there is the proposition to have
congress appropriate $4,000 for the pur-
pose of testing the prac,icability OF sinking
artesian wells in certain arid regions in
Washington. As Is weli-known, there are
vast areas offertiie land in the eastern part
OF the state that are rendered compara-
lively useless because of the lack Of water
for irrigation and other purposes This
matter is before the committee on arid
lands. While no specific legislation OF this
character has been secured for Washing
ton, it should be called to mind that con-
gress has at this session made an appropri-
alton of $4,000 10 test this very question of
the availability of artesiau wells as a
method OF irrigation.
Another matter, in which Tacoma has
an especial interest, is the amendment de-
sired 10 the act granting the Payallup VAL
ley Railway Company q right of way
through the Puyaliup Indian reservation
The original act. as is known, made il
obligatory upon the company to secure the
consent OF tie Indians 10 the construction
OF the road. As the red man, with his ac-
eustosned ohstinaey. doesn't consent it is
desired that congress shall take this stipula-
ton out OF the law. the railroad company
to pay the Indians just compensation for
the privileges granted.
Another proposition which would cost
the government little is that asking for a
donation OF lands TO aid in the establish
nent OF q fish hatchery on the Columbia
riger. so as 10 aid IN the preservation of
food fishes by artificial propagation. The
land desired is on the west side of the
Kettle Falls. all owned BY the government.
and part OF which is in the ColvilIe re-
servaiion. This measure, contrary TO the
rule with other states. calls for no appro-
priation of money, the state only asking
for the grant OF the only land available for
the objects IN view.
Senator Allen has prepared a report in
support OF the bill making grant OF land,
not 20 exceed one section. 10 the state of
Washington, one~hAN Of which is 20 be do
mated for the purpose OF establishing and
maintaining thereon a soldiers home.
under the auspices Of the state, and the re-
masnsser grant OF two tracts OF unsppro-
pr4ated land 10 be used a. camp and
training grounds for the militia Of the
state After reciting ths action of the leg
isiature in making provision for this SOL
diers' home the senator says:
The state OF Washington has succeeded
the territory In a vel organized militia
system. Such has been Us efficiency that
on several occasions. immediately upon
call these troops have RESPONDED and rem
dsred valuable service IL has been the
practice in the pas, OF having - large de-
tschments of the militia IS practicable. al