Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-02-09
PLENTY OFLAND FOR An.
Homes on the Indian Eeserre
When II is opened.

When II is opened.
Spokane Chronicle.
Unless the senator's and repre-
sentatives of Washington and Ida
no fail of their purpose, one of the
finest tracts of land in the north
west will be added to Spokane's
tributaries this summer. Advices
from the capitol state that Senator
Dubois and Representative Sweet
are both working hard to secure
the opening of the Nez Perez
reservation at the earliest possible
date. The 200 Indians still on
the reserve have already selected
nearly all the land to which they
are entitled, and after the needed
appropriation is received, it is be-
lieved only few weeks will be
required to prepare for the opening
of the land.
The Nez Perez reservation ex-
tends south and east from Lewis
ton in the shape Of a five pointed
kite, fifty-fve miles long and from
twelve to thirty-fve miles wide.
Altogether it contains over 1000
square miles, including all the
valley of main Clearwater river.
When chosen for reservation it
was regarded as the choicest tract
of land in all that part of the
country. and still holds that
reputation.
The upper levels of the land are
described by those who have trav-
eled through it as "the southern
extension of the Palouse," soil and
climate being much the same as
that of Whitman county. There
are some stretches of woodland,
with huge trees of the best timber,
and other sweeps of clear, rolling
land such as the famous Camas
prairie. This upper land was long
ago shown to be suited to almost
any kind of crop, wheat, oats, bar
ley, vegetables or apples and prob
ably to prunes.
The Clearwater river twists
about just within the borders of
this reservation for more than
sixty miles. 1t follows a low val
ley from half mile to three miles
wide, sunk hundreds of feet below
the general level of the reserve. II
the upper country is like Whitman
county in climate the lower is
said to be even warmer than Walla
Walla and Columbia. This all the
old travellers have named "the
fruit land and even the majority
of the Indians have been careful to
retain little of it for orchards
and small fruits. The soil is moist
and sandy, and while not so rich
as that on the upper lands, is re-
garded as well adapted to any kind
of fruit culture.
"That country belongs to Spo'
kane,' said Judge Buck last eve,
ming, "and if the proper effort is
made it's trade can be controlled by
this city. Even now the reserva'
ton can be reached more quickly
from Spokane than from any other
distributing point, and it would
not he difficult to secure still bet
ter connections"
"The new Idaho state Wagon
road will help turn the trade this
way" said another gentleman
"But the iobbers of this city viii
need to rustic if they keep Portland
out of that district Lewiston
merchants have thus far controlled
most of the Indian trade. anC
with the connections now mad,
Lewiston means Portland"
Col. Lane also said in an inter
view: "rhe only reservation thai
. is likely to be thrown open in the
immediate future is the Nez Perces
Fraud was charged there by tn,
Indians against the agent and tn,
commissioners, but | made n tho
rough investigation and sent in my
report that there was no evidenc,
of fraud. The matter will nov
come up before congress and al
appropriation of 81 100000 will b'
made. Within the next year thi'
ought to be thrown open to settle
ment. 1t contains about 53G, 00(
acres of land and most of it is val
liable. There are gold mines on thu
Nez Perces reservation which vii
pay from the start, and the farm
ing land is of the finest"