The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-11-14
OPENS NOVEMBER 18
Lands Can Then Be Selected by
tn Settlers.
A GREAT RUSH IS EXPECTED
Vast and Fertile Tracts for the Farmer.
Rich Claims for the Hardy
prospectcr.

Scores of intending settlers. who are
now encamped on the boundaries of
the Nez Perce reservation. with their
families and all their stock and house.
hold effects; hundreds of miners who
have heard stories of marvellous finds In
quartz and placer In the hills and can
yons of what has been the Indians ex-
elusive domain for thousands OF years;
and every merchant in the towns along
the confines of the rich tract of land
which the government finally induced
the red man to relinquish, will be graf
flied beyond measure to learn that the
lands will be thrown open to settlement
on the 18th of November of the present
year.
For a month past there has been
stream of men travelling toward the
small towns which border on the re-
serve. There have been secret trips
onto the land to spy out the choice
tracts and to locate the mineral which
the earth is known to hide. When the
gun is fired to announce that the lands
are open to location there will be
small army rush forward and scatter
in every direction Of the compass in
hopes of finding choice bits of the best
land on Gods footstool' as 1t has been
called by those who know good land.
The Associated Press dispatches of
yesterday contained the following an
nouncement:
Washington, Nov. 9.-The president
has signed the proclamation opening
the Nez Perce ceded lands to settle
ment on November 18. The proclama-
ton recites the provisions of the law
Nd hot dnr 1n q c
issued by the secretary of the interior
the lands shall be opened to settlement
according to the terms of the treaty.
The price of the agricultural lands is
fixed at $3.75 and of the timbered lands
at IS. 1t is not anticipated that there
will be great rush for the lands.
HISTORY OF THE PURCHASE.
July IL, 1895, Secretary Smith request
ed the treasury department to pay the
100000 due to the Nez Perce Indians
in Idaho for their lands sold to the
government in Idaho. The payment
had been stopped on account of various
charges of fraud of various sorts. These
were proven unfounded, and there was
no further reason for delay. The tribe
comprises 1929 persons. each of whom
will receive little over $4,000
Robert Schleicher. James F. Allen
and Cyrus Beede the commissioners,
concluded the agreement with the In
dams May l, 1893, and the principal
points of the treaty then signed is ap-
pended, portions Of which have hereto
fore been printed
In all $1,626,2 222 is to be paid the In
dians. OF this, s626,222 Is to be paid In
cash, and the million dollars is to be
paid under the following conditions:
ssu1t.. L., 4 . Of =
222 shall be deposited in the treasury
of the United States to the credit OF
the Nez Perces of Idaho, and shall bear
interest at the rate of 5 per centum per
annum, which principal and interest
shall be paid to said Indians per capita
as follows, to-wit: At the expiration OF
one wear from the date of the ratifica-
ton of this agreement the sum of $780,
900, and semi-annually thereafter the
sum of $150,000, with the interest on the
unexpended portion of the funds to be
derived from the cession of lands by
this agreement made, shall be diverted
OF withheld from the disposition made
by this article on account of any depre'
dation or other act committed by any
Nez Perce Indian prior to the execution
of this agreement, but the same shal
be actually paid to the Indians In cash
IN the manner anu dl tic tiiiiCo 90 iiSi =
in stipulated"
1t is agreed that the place known al
''the BOOM" on the Clearwater river
near the mouth of Lapwai creek, shall
be excepted from cession and reserved
for the common use of the tribe, will
full right of access thereto, and that tn
tract of land adjoining, now occupied
by James Moses, shall be allotted t
him in such manner as not to interfer
with such right.
II is stipulated that the United State
will purchase for the use of Nez Perc
Indians two portable steam sawmills
at a cost not exceeding $4,000, and vii
provide for the Indians, for period no
exceeding two years, and cost not ex
ceeding s2400, a competent surveyor
for the purpose of fully informing sal
indians TO the correct locations of thei
allotments and the corners ana hhe
thereof. a.,
If Is agreed that the lands by thi
aqreement ceded those retained, an
those allotted to the said Nez Perce In
dams. shall be subject, for a period G
25 wears. to all the laws of the Unite
States. prohibiting the Introduction c
intoxicants into the Indian country, an
that the Nez Perce Indian allottee'
whether under the care or an lndla
agent or not, shall, for a like perio'
be subject to all the laws of the Unite
States prohibiting the sale or other di!
position of intoxicants to Indians.
THE FIRST PAYMENT.
After a series of vexatious delay
the first installment Of over 100000 wa
sent to the Indian agent at Lapwai, Q
the reservation, and all Indians WI
had a shadow of title to LANDS c
the reservation received their share
the money apportioned. There WI
much trouble in getting the tribes I
gether, as some malcontents refused
accent the terms at the last momer
but two months ago the final allottme
had been sent to Washington and q
lands were the property of the Unit
States. Settlers and miners then beg'
to move in the direction of the pror
ised land, and the announcement OF
proclamation has been the all impe
tant news necessary to satisfy th'
longings.