The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-02

meration made by said commission, which
placed the number of male Indians above
the age of Is years, rlghtfuily on the res
ervation at 6S5. Many of the Lake and
Colville Indians are industrious. and have
made encouraging progress in civilization.
They reside along the upper Columbia
river, on the northern part of the reserva-
ton. They cultivate the soil, are self-sup-
porting, and DESTROYS of educating their
children and acquiring in severaity the
lands they occupy. They are largely on
the land proposed to be vacated as reser-
walton and opened up to settlement. A
number of the Okanogans and some of the
Moses Indians are on this portion of the
reservation. The latter have made COM
mendable progress, though not so far adj
vanced in civilization as the Lakes and
CoIvilles.
The Columbus and Neg Perces were
placed upon this reservation subsequent
to its creation and by virtue of that pro-
vision in the executive order authorizing
the secretary to locate such Indians there
on as he saw fit.
The secretary of the interior entered in
to an agreement with Moses and certain of
his indians, by which, among other things,
it was agreed they might go upon this
reservation to be dealt with as those already
occupying it. and also agreeing to build
what is known as the Tonasket school,
house, and a saw and grist mill on Bona
the reservation. As shown both by the
commission and the Indian agent, these
improvements were unfortunately and
badly located Upon this subject the
agent in his last annual report says:
The Tonasket school has an unfortunate loca
ton. 1t is located about 40 miles from the
| agency, on Bonapar.e creek, and near the Okan-
| ogan river. Bonaparte creek is supplied with
water from LAKE which is strongly impreg-
| mated with alkali, thereby causing the water to
be almost totally unfit for man or beast at GER
tain seasons Of the year.
The land in the vicinity OF the school build
| ing fs Of very poor quality, not being capable
OF producing any vegetation without an abund-
anee OF water. The mosquitoes are so numerous
that they. are almost unbearabie during the
| spring and summer months. Wood has to be
| hauled distance OF about twelve miles. 1t
would appear that the party who selected the
present site of the school had no conception
whatever as to the needs of a school.
In q country where an abundance OF good
food and the very best OF water could be had
within easy access, and then to erect the school
| buildings many miles from wood, and near
| water which is certainly not intended for civil
lied people to use, would certainly lead one to
| conclude that the party who made the selection
| was laboring under lit OF insanity. 1t to be
| hoped that the department will order the re-
moVai OF the school building to more suitable
! location, which can be had within distance Of
| about fifteen miles from the present site.
| The development of the state of Wash
ington during the last decade has been
marvellous. Its population has increased
| from $1,000 to $4,000. Enterprising set
| tiers are pressing into every portion of it.
A line of railroad has been constructed
| IRON Spokane ninety miles northward to
| the Columbia river, near the British line.
| In addition to large areas of agricultural,
| grazing and timber lands embraced with
in the north half of this reservation, min
| eral discoveries of great richness, extent
! and variety have been made, while vast
| mineral region lies to the immediate
| rH M "a "
| be reached for transportation purposes by
| the construction of railroads across it.
| Such construction can not be afforded I'M
less the traffic resources along the routes
| across the reservation can be developed,
/ and this can only take place by opening
the lands to white settlement and owner
ship.
| The following extract, taken from the
| report of the commission before referred
| to, fairly describes the entire reservation:
| OF that portion of the territory coded it is es-
timated that about 10000 acres are suitable for
| agricultural purposes. The remainder is very
valuable for grazing purposes and for the timber
| thereon. Much OF the territory coded Is noun
famous ana abounds in rich mineral deposits.
The southern portion of said reservation, it be-
| ing the portion thereof not coded, contains the
| largest proportion of agricultural lands,
| and the grazing lands upon this portion are Tor
| the most part fine. The supply of timber here
| isquite ample. From the best information the
| commission has been able to obtain, it is be-
1 o
reservation not coded an acreage OF land suit
| able for agricultural purposes very largely in
excess Of 900 acres (he limitations indicated
| In department instructions of date October Il,
| lS9D
| The commission did not deem it advisable to
| negotiate with the Indians for the purchase of
| any greater area o. territory than that coded,
and are satisfied that the portion OF said reserva-
| ton not cecei contains ample territory for the
| comfort, security, support and maintenance OF
| all the indians upon said reservation in their
| n
| formation the commission could obtain without
| ineurring the expense of survey fand this WAS
not practicable, owing TO the scarcity OF funds,
there remains of the.portion of the Colville res
ervation not coded nearly 100000 acres
The retention of a reservation much
larger than Rhode Island or Delaware,
and but trifie less than the state of Con-
necticut, is of no advantage to the Indians
and operates to the serious injury of the
whites, and unwarrantably retards the
development of the state of Washington.
| The existing other of things can not much
| longer continue without exciting aDtag-
| onism and friction between the races. In
| TACT impatient prOspectors. miners and
| settlers are threatening to enter upon
| these lands, many of which bear no trace
| OF human occupancy. The fact, also, of
this reservation presenting frontage of
| over sixty miles on the international line
| makes II difficult to exclude lntruders, and
| renders II an easy rendezvous tor a lawless
CHARACTER OI men whose asSOClatIOu Win
| the Indians is of the worst kind.
Your committee believe that all Indians
| who have established homes and improved
lands on the northern half Of the reserva-
| ton proposed to be opened, and who have
| identified themselves with that locality
should, II they desire, be permitted TO Sc
Iect and retain allotments thereon.
The committee are also of the opinion
| that the Indians should be secured in
their schoolhouse. sawmill and gristmill,
on bonaparte creek, unless they desire TO
| select better locations for these institu-
tons. While unwilling to make payment
10 the Indians for these lands not used for
allotment purposes. the committee recog-
| nlze moral obligation on the part of the
! government 10 aid them in their endeav-
| ors 10 attain a higher civilization
ana ultimate fitness for citizenship.
| and therefore advise that the proceeds
arising from the sale of the parts OF the
| reservation disposed OF under the land
| laws OF the United States be deposited in
the treasury TO the credit of these Indians.
| subject, principal and interest, TO expendi-
I ture in the discretion of the secretary of
the interior for certain enumerated pur-
! poses in promotion of their welfare but
! with the unexpended balance at al times
/ SUBJECT TO the disposition of congress.
Eaxas ~ - aEa TA-T,