Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-08-17
Opening shs Reservation.

nunUreu Thousand dollars 10 pay
the Indians the first payment tor
the unalloted lands has passed
both branches of congress and as it
is part Of the general Indian ap.
preparation bill viii before this is
published be law. And as this
large sum of money was the only
impeachment it only requires proc
lamation from the president to
open up for settlement over half a
million acres of the finest land in
America, at least four-fifths of
which is prairie agricultural land
now covered with a rank growth
of suculent bunch grass, which will
when cultivated, yield an average
Of from 80 to 40 bushels of wheat
and nearly as double as much bar
ley and oats per acre, and timothy
and other grasses grow to perfec-
ton.
This vast body Of land, watered
by springs of pure cold water, with
bubbling brooks and creeks drain
ing the upland into the Clearwa-
ter river. Land where no irriga-
ton is required except what the
all wise Providence has given it in
gentle showers and heavy dews.
The altitude varying from three
thousand feet at the high table
land gently sloping doyn to the
Clearwater less than one thousand
feet above the sea level gives
variety of climate. While the
highest portion is covered with a
foot of snow in the winter, a mild
and warm climate is found along
the valleys of the Clearwater,
where the finest grapes and tender
fruits are grown in any quantity.
When this vast area of land is
opened to bona fide home seekers
reign of prosperity will come over
the adjacent country, and give
market for all the products of the
surrounding country, as we'll as
make happy the wandering home
seeker, and in addition to this the
Indians will lease their lands which
have been allotted them and this
will be cultivated and enable them
to buy all the luxuries they want
and to hunt, fish, pick berries, wal
low in the grass and dream about
the coming of the next annual pay
ment from Uncle Samuel's plethoric
purse.
The opening of the reservation
will also bring new era to the
white settler in this country. 1t
will give ample inducement for the
building of railroads and a market
to the long bottled up Camas
prairie. If the Northern Pacific do
not extend their line, the shrewd
business eye of Jim Hill will find
this country and when once his
optics take in the situation and
immense traffic that could be carri-
ed on with our agricultural, min
eral and timber resources he will
hold to it and not only get right
of-way but build good standard
gauge road with feeders to the
mines and fine timber belts.
From the best information we
can get relative to the manner in
which the reservation will be open
ed, is: For those who are eligible
to take hOmesteads, with six-bits
per acre to be paid at date of entry.
One dollar and half per acre
to be paid two years after entry
and and one dollar and a half to be
paid when final proof is made.
The President of the United
States has the power to open it in
any manner he may deem advis.
able by lottery or otherwise, and as
the Oklahoma country was thrown
open within two months from the
date of the passage of the appro
priation bill for that purpose, we
may expect it will be done soor
and anxiously await the coming o
that event. l promised brother
Parker. that while on his policica
tour to send the FREE Press let
ter, and as / am debarred from
participating in politics will sent
you letter on a more importan
subject and hope it will prove NOR
profitable than politics.
While Lewiston is one of tn,
finest climates west of the Rock,
mountains during the winter, fal
and spring, l do envy you the coo
refreshing breeze You have from
your surrounding snow covered
peaks. While we have loads o
fruit, melons, etc, We miss the COO
evenings and bracing morning al
or else l am growing old.
Yours,