The record-union., 1891-01-18
FORT BIDwELL.
The Military Reservation to be Re.
EarriSoned.

The Military Reservation to be Re-
EarriSoned.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA short time
ago the War Department. ecided not to
abandon Fort Bidwell Nal.) Military
Reservation because of representations
made by James Peterson and others in
that neighborhood that the Piute Indians
were restless and the people around Fort
Bidwell felt unsafe without military pro-
lection. Since deciding not to abandon
the reservation, representations were
made by army officers to the effect that
there was absolutely no danger from the
friendly Piute Indians, and that Fort Bid
well was a useless military reservation.
Special Indian Agent Frank ID. Lewis
was detailed to investigate the real situa-
ton, and has made a report to the Inte-
rior Department., of which the following
is an extract
in case of trouble Fort Bidwell would
have controlling influence over the
country lying west of Pine Forest and
Black Rock Mountains i'll Oregon. East
OF these ranges troops could be moro
easily placed by way of Winnemucca,
which is seventy-five miles south of old
Fort McDermitt, or from points on the
Oregon short line in Idaho. The pres
ence of troops at Fort Bidwell would, un-
doubtedly, hold in check both the In
dianS and lawless whites, and must uu-
hesltatingly say that, in view of the gem
eral state of restlessness among the In
dlans all over the country, it is unwise to
neglect any method that might be
adopted to guard against trouble. /,
therefore, recommend that Fort Bidweli
be re-garrisoned.
Some plan OF assisting these people
with food and clothing must be adopted.
II they are ever to be turned into self
sustaining citizens. by means of gaining
their livelihood by farming or stock
raising III the country they now live in.
They must have patient training, and
must be supplied with land and water,
This land and water can only be OBJ
tanned by purchase, Tor, as l have pre-
ViouSly stated, all the available water has
been appropriated. l recommend either
that q Sub-agency be established for these
Indians or some officer from Fort Bid
well be specially delegated and instructed
to look after their interests, and that
measures be taken to secure lands for
them, either by purchase or otherwise
In this connection l will say that
while all the lands that can be irrigated
from natural water sources are now in
the hands of the whites, there are
number of tracts that could be
made available if money could
be had to develop water supplies.
furtner, some provision should be made
for judiciously helping these Indians
with food during portions of the year
when they are unable to obtain work,
thus obviating the necessity for their
depredations on settlers herds and
homes. Some educational work should
be undertaken. They are too scattered
and live in too small bands to make it
possible to start day schools among them,
and fear the lack of securing the attend
ance of their children at Neutrality-suspicious.
is monumental one, if not among one of
those impossible to accomplish.
Il recommend that the Indian Office
call the attention of DR.. w. III. Patterson
of Cedarville, CAL, and George NJ. Kee-
ber of Fort Bidwell, Cal, to the Indian
Office letter of August 15, 1880, to Super