The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-12
THE PUYALLUP LAND.
Tacoma Real Estate Owners
Can Not Grab 1t.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
Part of the Reservation to Be Sold at
Auction, and One Tract to BE
Sold for Tacoma Lots.

WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 11.-ISpecial. l.
The famous PuyalIup Indian commission
report has finally been submitted to the
president and by him to congress 1t is
not believed that it will be very satisfact-
ory to the people who are trying to secure
the PuyaIlup lands as the position taken
by the commission and the officers of the
interior department is to the effect that
these Indians must hold their lands for
twenty-five years unless congress takes
some action in the disposition of them,
which action would no doubt pay the In
dams fair price for them. The secretary
sums up his conclusion OF the report in the
following:
In view OF all the facts set forth in the report
Of the commission and in Tie other communi-
cations herewith transmitted. have the honor
10 recommend that congress be advised to
authorize the appointment by the president of
a commission OF three, no more than two of
whom should be OF any one political party, to
appraise III appropriate parcels the lands de-
terinined best to sell, and to super
intend the sale, at not less than the
appTaisement at public auction, after
due notice, the appra aisement and sale to be
subject to the approval OF the secretary of tho
interior; 10 attend to the matter Of ascertauiDg
through the proper courts OF Washington
have guardians appointed for minors; to mako
deeds OF the lands TO the purchasers thereof,
which, when approved by the secretary OF the
interior, shall operate as a full conveyance OF
the land, subject TO such terms soi payment
as may be authori zed by congress. To obtain
the full value Of this laud the trustee should be
authorized to sell either for cash. or in case the
purchaser desired it, for one-third cash and the
balance in one and two years, with notes Sc
cured on the land sold be airing interest at Il per
cent. per gunum, the whole amount rs collected
TO be placed to the credit OF the individual In
dian entitled and to be paid to him IN such
sums as the commits ssouer of Indian affairs,
upon the approval of the secretary of the into
rior, may determine best
That so much of the agency tract rs shall not
be necessary for school purposes, exclusive Of
the burying ground shall be laid out in Streets
lots and blocks as an addition TO the city OF
Tacoma, on such plan rs shall he deemed best
by the commissioners and approved by the sec
1etary OF the interior, and sold, each lot separ-
ately; the amount received thcrefrom to be
placed to the credit OF the tribe as a permanent
fund for the benefit OF schools to be maintained
for those Indians
The restriction upon the power of alienation
of the allotted land should be removed as TO
the permanent home OF the Indians for q period
of twenty-five years. The removal OF the re-
striction now existing should be conditioned
upon the assent of the Indians to an act 10 be
passed TO carry into effect the purposes of con-
greSs, and the restrictions should be con-
tinued as now expressed unless such
consent is given. This assent should
be accompanied by an agreement by
csch Indian, ereating the commission. or a ma
iority OF Its members, as the same may be con
stituted from time to time, the trustee of each
Indian OF the tribe, vested with full power to
sell and convey tho allotment OF each. or any
portion thereof and TO sell and convey tho
ia
deeds made by the tribe shall be as effective to
convey title to the land as if made by each In
dian or by all together.
Ever since the passage OF the act alloting tho
lands embraced in the Puyallup Indian reserva-
tion to the members OF the tribe, strong efforts
have been made by Tacoma real estate men and
sp cculators, acting for themselves and AS
ag ents for other speculHtors, to secure the re-
IN oval, AS soon possible under the law,
OF the restrictions which had been placed
upon the Indians TO prevent them from selling
the land and falling victims to the wiics
of sc heming white men. For years the Tacoma
spe culGtors have looked upon these lands with
Ion ging eyes, and soon after the allotment had
been consummated they Hwarmed over tho
reservation with their ironclad agreements, and
II many cases succeeded in bonding the
lands and securing agreements to sell whenever
the restrictions should be removed. So far as
known, however, none of the Indians have
agreed to dispose OF their lands for less
than the fair value of the land at the time
of making the agreement. The tactics OF one
well known Tacoma real estate man were
III the nature OF overtures calculated
TO appeal to even the stoical nature OF the In
dams. For two years or more at regular inter
vais he has sumptuously entertained the more
influential members Of the tribe and taken
fatherly interest in the Puyallup Indian band
the pride Of the reservation-with the result
that he has gained the good will OF the entire
tribe and it is current rumor in Tacoma that
when the lands are disposed Of, il the contracts
hold good, that real estate dealers holdings
viii be large. Any attempt to mislead these In
dams as TO the values OF the lands would fsil,
notably Peter Stanup, son Of the
lgent and thoroughly couveFssnt with
the value Of the reservation property, haye sd-
vised their tribal brethren. The reservation is
detriment, with the present restrictions, to the
development Of Tacoma, and tho lands, being
largely uncultivated, are prohtless to the In
dians. Taeomaus have proj jsctei several lines
OF railway across the reservation, which will he
built as soon as The embargo is removed. II has
been rumored that but few Of the Indians
are not under agreement to sell, and there has
been much speculation in Tacoma as TO whether
the bonds given would prove binding. If the
above recommendations should be adopted il Is
doubtful IL those who have gone TO so much ex-
pense and trouble VIII be able to enforce tho
contracts. There are about 1900 acres OF land
in the reservation.