The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-11-16

tant news necessary 10 SdllSly lHtlA
lOngings.
NEz PIERCE LAND GRAND DOMAINS
Fertile Tracts in Abundance for Settlers
-kieh Claims Tor Miners.
A correspondent, who knows the
ground thoroughly, writes that it is a
mistake to suppose that the cream Of
the Nez Perez reservation has been Sc
cured by the Indians. An Indian loves
the associations Of his childhood. He
owes his hut, his garden spot his fish
cry, his bath pool and his sweathouse.
When offered the choice of an allotment
of land for a future home, he selected
as nearly as possible the spot on which
he was born. Therefore the Indians
hold 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 APP
pies, are yet unclaimed; the plateaux
that will grow the wheat, flax. barley
and oats are yet vacant, and the bunch
grass on vast areas grows untrod and
uncut to fall and enrich the soil for
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
"a -,
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 delciO as 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 mildness
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 it's old time verdure
and nutritious luxury.
PRICE NONE TOO HIGH.
The rental value of land adjacent to
this reservation is not less than SO a
year per acre when flax sells for 81 a
bushcl 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 be
disputed gives to the homesteaders on
their residue land free gift of a farm
from the government. And the land
which is too steep to be ploughed is
all covered with bunchgrass of a feed
value equal to a ton of hay on every
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 never
covers this grass, and a hungry horse
or COW will leave a manger plethoric
with timothy and clover 20 feed upon
uncut bunchgrass. The lands of the
Nez Perez reservation have the great
est possible range Of variety and a min
imum of waste.
There are minerals in lodges and
placer deposits of acknowledged value
and timber lands that should not be
overlooked. The pine forests are widely
distributed and must be Of great local
value at least in the very near future.
HOW TO TAKE LAND.
The following section of the law sets
forth the conditions and terms of entry
of the lands to be thrown open to settle
ment by the presidents proclamation
That Immediately after the issuance
and receipt by the Indians Of trust pat
ents for the allotted lands, as provided
/, for in said agreement, the lands sc
coded, sold, relinquished and conveyed
to the United States shall be opened tC
settlement by proclamation of the pres
ident, and shall be subject TO disposal
. only under the homestead, townsite
stone and timber and mining laws OF
the United States. except the 10th and