The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-11-14

ehe associdtlOnS OF MS childhood. He
loves his hut, his garden spot, his fish
cry, his bath pool and his sweathouse
When offered the choice of an allotment
OF land for future home, he selected
as nearly as possible the spot on which
he was born. Therefore the Indians
mold the little bottoms. the hooks among
the rocks on the river beach. and by the
little creeks where the waterfalls sing
and the willows shade the grass plats.
The broad bench lands where the or
chards are to be planted. that will
grow the worlds supply of winter ap-
pies. are yet unclaimed; the plateaux
that will grow the wheat, fax, barley
ana oats are yet vacant. and the bunch
grass on vast areas grows untrod and
uncut to fall and enrich the soil for
future farmers. There are no barren
wastes OF rocks nor beds of prickly
pears within the borders of the reserva-
ton. There Is verdure on all the prai-
ries, and forests cover all the noun
tains.
A FERTILE DOMAIN
There are waterways and canyons
which drain and divide the lands of the
Nez Perces and each division is dis
tinctly a variety of fertile domain.
There are benches above and below the
rim-rock like the orchard lands of the
FAMED Potlatch in manifold. These
Favored localities are as free from
spring frosts as the Walla Walla and
Yakima valleys and as fertile as the
plains of the Palouse. The natural
moisture permeates the black loan so
that irrigation is never required. These
broad acres of natural orchard land are
particularly adapted to the perfect
growth of winter apples. There is
something in the autumn atmosphere
that natures the big red apple to per-
lection of color and delicious flavor.
The big blue Pearmains and Ben Davis
apples that made the Idaho exhibit at
the worlds fair so attractive grew on
Potlatch soil that is Identical with this
reservation land, which stretches up
and down both sides of the deep can
yons that divide these reservation pla-
teauS.
Instead of the canyons being a draw
back. they are a blessing. Every Sec
ton of the western slope of the Rocky
mountains that is penetrated by water
| ways and canyons Is noted for Inildness
| of winter climates. The breaks" of the
| Clearwater and Salmon rivers are the
| best stock ranges in all the northwest.
1t is there that the native bunchgrass
| is preserved in all its old-time verdure
| and nutritious luxury.
There is water in every canyon and in
every draw" there are springs dis
tributed along the hillsides everywhere.
In fact, it is claimed by those who
| should know, that there is water on ev-
| cry square section of this vast spread
| of rich acres. True 1t is that water is
abundant and well distributed over the
| whole reservation.
PRICE NONE TOO HIGH.
| The rental value of land adjacent to
this reservation is not less than SO a
year per acre when fax sells for 81 a
bushel and wheat for 40 cents. There
| is not a quarter section of arabic land
between the Clearwater river and the
timber line at the base of the mountains
| that will not rent for enough to meet
the payments Of the purchase price
when due This fact, which can not bt
disputed, gives to the homesteaders or
| their residue land free gift of farm
| from the government. And the lant
| which is too steep to be ploughed /!
| all covered with bunchgrass of a eeet
| value equal to q ton of hay on ever,
acre. This kind of hay, as every stock
| man knows, demands no harvest ex
penses. 1t cures in the atmosphere
and remains sweet and rich all winter
On the steep slopes the snow neve
covers this grass, and a hungry hors
or cow will leave a manger plethori
with timothy and clover to feed upol
uncut bunchgrass. The lands of tn
Nez Perce reservation have the great
est possible range of variety and min
imum of waste.
There are minerals in lodges an
placer deposits of acknowledged valu
| and timber lands that should not b
overlooked. The pine forests are widel
distributed and must be of great locs
value at least in the very near future.
HOW TO TAKE LAND.
The following section of the law set
forth the conditions and terms of entr
of the lands to be thrown open to settle
ment by the presidents proclamation
THAT Immediately after the issuanc
and receipt by the Indians OF trust pa
ents for the allotted lands, as provide
for in said agreement, the lands
ceded, sold. relinquished and conveye
!, to the United States shall be opened
settlement by proclamation OF the pre-
ident, and shall be subject to dlspos'
only under the homestead, townsit
stone and timber and mining laws
the limited States, except the 18th an
aftb sections in each congression
township, which shall be reserved II
; common school purposes and be subje
TO the laws of Idaho; provided, th'
each settler on said lands shall befo
! making proof and receiving certi
> cate of entry pay to the United Stat
: for the land so taken by him, in ado
tion to the fees provided by law, Il
s sum of s3.75 per acre for agricultur
! lands one-half of which shall be pa
within three years from the date
{ original entry; and the sum OF IS p
/ acre for stone. timber and miner
f lands. subject to the regulations pf
q scribed by existing laws; but the righ
!. of honorably discharged Union soldie
n and sailors. as defined and described
|, sections 23O4 and 23O5 of the Revis
d | statutes of the United States, shall n
! be abridged except as to the sum to
paid as aforesaid"
), The CANADIAN LINE ENCROACH
kenort or the Government surveyors
Al | oh HOnndaTy.