Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-15
MOUNTAIN VIEW AND FERNDALE

The Revellle, of last week, says: THE
HERALD ingeniously considers 1t a re-
proach to the senators and people Of the
state, that the Lummi reservation is not
opened up, nd In commenting says just
how congress could open a tract held by
the Indians in severalty it is difficult TO
see" As a resident joining this reserve,
for nearly twenty years. question their
having any patent, some, | know, have
not. and why others, and being pretty
well posted in regard to their lives and
habits, think it a sad state OF affairs that
fifteen thousand acres OF the very best
soil in the state should be left idle when
many poor, but industrious people, are in
need OF homes. In the first place a ma
jority Of the Indians that were here
twenty wears ago have died, and many
claim, are held by the half-breed from
the coasts Of Oregon and British Colum.
bia, why have not the quarter and
eighth breed AMI the white man just as
much right as the half-breed? So IL is
no; the poor Indian that our government
Is so carefully providing annuitieS and
protecting from the cOvetOus white man,
and as these people are not thrifty
class, IT will be found that there are less
than three hundred acres under cultiva-
ton out of the fifteen thousand. Sec
=
that improve their lands. An acre or
two Of oats or wheat and potato patch
is planted and their farms deserted till
the early winter when they return to find
their crops destroyed and lounge around
till spring again, when there are acres
upon acres that have not piece of tim
Der on. One tract of nearly a hundred
acres on the Lummi river has not stick
on IL, but would need dyking to keep the
high tides of. Thirdly, allow the Indian
his allotted land and throw the remainder
open for settlement to people that
would improve and make homes that
would be for the good of the country and
untold benefit to the Bay cities.
The Bay cities are certainlyb lind to the
fact that there are hundreds Of families,
west and north of this reserve, whose
trade would be brought directly to the
BAY towns IL the way was cut through the
reserve, whereas they now go in opposite
directions to the country stores.
If it is not possible for this reserve to
be thrown open at present, why do not
our county commissioners, who are
elected by the people, to serve the pc ople,
comply with the wishes of the people.
About year ago petition was signed by
the Indians and the whites praying con-
cress TO allow one-half mile of road
across the reserve, with ferry at the
mouth of the river, and was granted, the
commissioners 10 nave tOulTOl vi bnt
work. Many times have the old board OF
commissioners been interviewed, but tC
no avail, and to keep things quiet said
that the Indians did not want the road
but such answer proved false, as the
Indians frequently ask the question
"Why don't you white folks go ahead
with that road? We want that ferry sc
we don't have to go to Ferndale to go &c
Whatcom," and the boys don't want tC
90 to the expense OF making the ferry
and no white folks to cross. Custer
Birch Bay aud Lummi say, we are wait
ing for that road to be opened so we car
open ours into 1t and have a shorter rout,
to Whatcom; and Ferndale would have
good road to Whatcom and save the grea
expense OF building. Now, II our com
missoners will come up the Bay road
cross the river, follow the reservation
road as far as it extends, and make thei
way through the half mile of timber tina
needs to be opened. they will be hearth
welcomed in Mountain View and serve
with the best the farm affords, beside
having the opportunity OF viewing acros
the Bay their own fair city, lighted wit
electric lights, and see for themselves tt
roundabout way the people have TO trav
TO make the Bay, when only a short dil
lance is needed. Several Of the land spe,
ulators in this section, the farmer
and Indians have offered money an
work, and we do hope to see our c0mmi
sioners attend TO their duty in the net
future.