The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-19
THE COLVILLE LANDS
Some Facts of Interest to In
tending Settlers.
WEATHER DELAYS SURVEYS
Many Months Will Elapsc Before the
Reservation IL Thrown Open
Its Wonderful Resources.

Many Months Will Elapse Before the
Reservation IL Thrown Open
Its Wonderful Resources.
CoLvrLLE, Feb 1S.-fSpecial. Nov that
the contract has been awarded for the sur
vey of that portion Of the Colville Indian
reservation, which it is proposed to throw
open to settlement, much interest seems
to be centered in the reservation. Every
day the postoffice gives up its share OF
earnest and anxious inquiries about the
reservation but it is certainly more the
work of the newspapers than Of individ-
uals to give any great amount OF intelli-
gence In reference to the reservation, as to
what is being done, how long it will take
to do it, and when the reserve will finally
be opened to settlement.
Huber & Maxwell, firm of well-known
civil engineers and surveyors of Spokane.
were awarded the contract Of survey
ing the reservation early in the winter,
but they will be unable to get at
the work.. on account of the unusually
heavy fall of snow, until about the LIST OF
April. They will have strip Of land
about forty miles wide. measuring south
from the international boundary line, and
nearly 100 miles in length from east to
west, to survey, or, at least they will have
that much territory to go over. They will
place number of surveying parties in the
field, and push the work as rapidly as
possible after they get at it.
If the surveyor in charge has to person.
ally inspect the work it will be difficult to
determine the length Of time that will be
employed in making the survey. otherwise
it will depend upon the force of surveyors
employed and the amount of country that
will be surveyed. 1t is an unknown guam
tity in either event. After the survey is
made it will be the duty of the surveyors
to make plat and complete report to
the surveyor general, and from there all
matters in connection with the work will
have to 60 to Washington City, where the
proper authorities will pass on the work.
All this roll of red tape consumes time.
and 1t is not probable that Uncle Sam will
hurry matters any of his own accord.
After the survey is made and accepted the
work is only half done. An agent will be
sent to the reservation for the purpose of
comforting with the tribes and allotting
the lands to the Indians under the treaty.
possible that it will require months if not
year or two of patient swaiting, unless
our energetic congressman lend their eff
forts in the direction Of hurrying things
up from time to time, in quick succession.
as opportunity affords.
The COlville reservation is a land which
will ford a great variety Of resources.
Less than ten years ago, when Okanogan
county was Topped off the west end Of the
reserve, it was of so little importance that
it attracted very little attention. and
scarcely 100 white inhabitants populated
the newly organized county for several
years. Five years ago, however, mining
industries sprang into existence, and to-
day it is prosperous county of the new
state of Washington.
That part of the reservation which will
be surveyed and thrown open to white
settlers under the treaty covering the
present negotiations. is mountainous, in
the western portion. but east of Kettle
river the surface of the country drops
away in graceful, undulating foothills is
in some places rolling. grassy prairles.
Near Kettle river great bald knobs
rise up to the height of 1000
feet from the level of the val
ley. These elevations are usually timbered
at the base and on the west and north
sides with dense growth Of pine and
fir. The Kettle river valley is narrow in
many places, but widens out to a width of
two and three miles, at intervals of
dozen miles or so, in fiat prairies
This land is the celebrated ''tim-
othy meadows" and is most prolific
IN the, growth of hay. All kinds of
fruit adapted to the climate of Eastern
Washington flourish along the river
and. among the rolling foothills on
the eastern portion of the reserve.
A large portion of the valley lands
have long been taken up by the Indians
and placed under cultivation. Before this
portion of the state was set aside
by the president, in the '70s, as an In
dian reservation. the Frenchmen, who
had been abandoned to the country
by the old Hudson Bay Fur Trading Com
pany years ago. had instituted methods Of
farming and fruit raising which have been
preserved and are kept up to this
day by the Indians. as it is not
an uncommon sight in the fall
of the year to see some of the more
industrious men of the tribes bringing an
abundance OF fruit and vegetables 10 the
market. Fine and well developed varie-
ties of peaches, plums and apples are
shipped in season. The Indians give more
than passing attention TO poultry raising,
and market the products of their industry.
The low lands of the reservation are
general opinion. The uplands are given
to the raising of grain, and wheat and bar
lev yield a splendid crop. The mountains
of the west and that portion of the eastern
reserve abound in mineral bearing rock,
containing silver. copper and lead. Pros
pectors who have been over the reserve
have taken the trouble TO investigate the
geology Of the country, and every one of
them pronounces il to be one OF the most
promising mineral bearing countries ex-
tant. There have been some fine properties
covered up by enthusiastic prospec,ors TO
await the long delayed opening OF the
reservation. The loamy land along
Kettle river and the sand bars along
the Columbia river abound in placer
gold in great abundance. Most of
the small streams putting in from the
west traverse a go.d-bearing region, as
evidenced by the splendid specimens al
forded by very little trouble in panning
out few pounds of the earth from the low
banks. There is no question that the Col
vile Indian reservation is exceedingly