The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-28
ROAD OVER RESERVE
Puyallups Will Begin Work on
Frank G.. Ross Line.
TIREDoF GOVERNMENT RED TAPE
The Indians Want to Handle Their Own
Lands and Object to tho VIII.
son Bill.

TACOMA, Feb. T.-lSpecial. I-Work IS to
begin by the Indians of the Puyailup
reservation on the Frank G. Ross railroad
line, located some two years ago by Ogden
d Bosworth. At the time. it was expected
that congress would ratify the act Of the
state legislature in removing the restric-
tions on the Puyallup lands. One of the
Puyallups said today:
Two years OF waiting has availed nothing,
aud the Indians, who are American citizens, in
view OF the Wilson bill, propose to act for them
selveA They say they will not agree to any
plan by which their lands are to be handled by
a commission and the money paid into the
United states treasury, but will insist upon
payment to themselves of the purchase price
both for their in dividual lands and tho school
lands
II the United States has money to pay for cx-
penstve commissions, we have no objection. but
will not pay the expenses of any junketing
commissions, nor will we submit to any guar
dianship other than under the probate court OF
the state.
There are evidences of plenty of backing
for this work, which it is authoritatively
stated is to be done for the Great Northern
and Union Pacific. Ross has right-of-
way secured for three lines through the
reservation. as has been stated before in
the POsT-INTELLIGENCER. IL now appears
that he is to have the grading done by the
Indians themselves, and will meet any
road with grade through the reservation
at the reservation line Work will be be-
gun on the King county line on Wednes-
day and, If there is to be trouble with
the government as to the authority of the
Indians to improve their own lands, all
concerned will probably come under the
jurisdiction of the sheriff of King county,
provided the Pierce county authorities are
not friendly to the scheme. Peter Stanup
says:
This Wilson bill, which passed the house
today, is antagonistic to the rights of the Puyal-
lup Indians. We do not want any more CON-
missions, and we will not comply with the pro-
visions Of Wilson's bill by asking to have the
lands sold. know this to be fact We will
do nothing until we have gold for our lands
in our hands There 10 a syndicate of Masss-
chusetts capitalists who are using every effort
with the aid of certain men In this city, to keep
Senator Allen away from Washington City in
order that they may rush through this Wilson
bill. Wilson is playing into their hands. The
scheme is to sell reservation lands from under
our feet, as has been done In other cases where
Indians did not know enough to protect them
selves against sharpers Senator Allen is our
terests. That 10 why We want him returned. We
have organised . land company and will dispose
of our lands in q business-lfke manner. White
people appoint guardians and administrators for
their infirm and helpless, and we propose in
connection with our land company to do the
same thing.
A little over year ago, when there was
talk Of grading right-of-way through the
reservation, United States troops were
sent up from Vancouver Barracks at the
request of Agent Eells to prevent it. Troops
were kept over on the reservation until
there was no further prospect of any grad
ing work being attempted. So far the
principal question has been the right of
even the Indians to grade right-of-way
through their own lands. This question
will now be settled. If Ross can meet the
Great Northern or Union Pacific at the
reservation line with a road graded around
the head of the bay, it is expected that he
can command funds to 60 ahead and per-
form all the necessary work. A terminal
company may also be organized. The
grade around Browns point will follow
the water line until the head of the bay is
reached. when it will cross the tide flats
at about right angles. The facilities af-
forded by such water front line are
fully as valuable as those possessed by the
Northern Pacific. A hundred Indians will
be put to work blasting and grading on
Wednesday, according to the present
plans.