Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-02-23
ISALANOOF PROMISE
Nez Perce Reservation Soon to
Be Open for Settlement.
HOMESTEAD REQUIREMENTS
tuitNaIi"a All Tend to Make a. AN
tsc.Iieat Place to settle.

Lewiston. Idaho Feb. l7.-Spokane
has hitherto failed To grasp the full
significanceof the Nez Perce reservation
as factor in her own immediate af-
fairs This much she must begin to un-
derstand and consider; One hundred
miles distant. south. there is country
which has reached "a higher plane OF
domestic development and OF material
greatness than has yet been attained
in amy of the surrounding country. Hs
social superiority IL but the logical evo
luton by which mellowing time and
genial temperature produce a more
finely constructed human organization
than Is usual among "a people exposed
10 the viscitltudes Of desultory hablta-
tions and unkind climates. And. in the
same way. sort OF generous conspira.
cy OF the elements has created there a
small scope Of country OF exceptional
excellence. The two conditions accom-
pany and explain each other. Ii reuuir-
ed unusual natural conditions to attract
and attach the better order OF people:
when each had proved and satisfied the
other, the association became an ANAL
gamation. as IL We're. and higher results
than ordinary in both moral and mate
rial respects have consequently ensued
But the same natural conditions
which attracted the whites In the coun-
try which Is enclosed in the approximate
ing embrace of the Clearwater and
Snake rivers had previously appealed
TO the discriminating vision OF the Nez
Perce Indians, and they had taken pos
session Of about 300 square miles OF the
territory. The people at the forks OF
the river. therefore. had 10 take what
was left, and, II is needless To say. that
the children of nature had not left the
best But that the remaining lands
We're of superior worth ls not a matter
ur speculation, since the Industrial
greatness and temporal delights of the
little city OF Lewiston are the admira-
tion and envy Of all other communities
I'm the northwest. But the Indians have
now sold about two-thirds OF their lands
"a the government. and these lands ARE
soon TO become heavily peopled.
THE SUPPLYING CENTER.
In addition to the 5000 happy and
prosperous people In Nez Perce county.
the present year will undoubted bring
in 10000 and perhaps 1000 more This
population must have IA metropolis
Lewiston. Juliaetta. Genesee. Cotton
wood and Grangeville will accommo-
date the local requirements. but there
stlll must be a source OF supplies for
these points. There are but two possi-
bile competitors for the commesce-Spo-
kane. l25 miles distant: Portland. 400
miles away You will say there is real
y but one mart then. Almost true. but
unbelievable as you deem IL. IL Is Port
land. The Oregonian reported a few
month ago that the traffic receipts.
both ways. of the Lewiston division OF
the O. II. a. n. Co. for the preceding
year were slightly in excess OF $500. 600.
and this also includes shipments to and
from the Camas prairie This state
ment ought to be significant to the bust
ness men of Spokane
HOMESTEAD REQUIREMENTS
The act under which the treaty OF
sale with the Nez Perce Indians was
ratified by congress left the plan and
details OF placing the lands upon the
market at the discretion of the admin
istration. A recent interview with the
secretary OF the interior reported him
as favoring q scheme requiring
First-Actual occupancy by bona fide
settlers entitled TO homestead rights.
Second-Allotting each tract to the
highest bidder. of the paying class.
without reference To priority of filing or
occupancy.
IL Is very likely that some similar
plan will be reported In order to avoid
the scenes and scandals of other recent
openings
The minimum price TO be paid to the
government is 1915 per acre. payable.
one-half when the allotment Is made,
the balance In three years. but. as the
terms are easy. the price will be no
detriment. The government is TO pay
the Indians 81, ,626. .222, or at the rate OF
81 per acre for 542.074 acres. The first
payment is s626. .222 cash. and the pay
roll is now being made out for this pur-
pose. The payment Will be made
through Colonel John Lane, special
treasury agent, and will be in treasury
drafts Arrangements have been made
with the Lewiston National bank and
the First National bank of Lewiston 10
cash the drafts at par. These banks
have arranged for the use of sufficient
additional cash to enable them to han
die the drafts promptly. The payments
TO minors and dependent members OF n
family will all be made to the head OF
a household. so that. while there are
1867 Indians of all ages OF record there
will be only about 600 checks. and they
will average $1,000 each.
Colonel Lane expects to complete the
payroll and forward Il to Washington
within one week. II being already some
what overdue, owing to the fatal NAL
ady OF his associate In the work. Indian
Agent Joseph Robinson. On August i5
! next another payment Of $50. 600 will be-
due. and on the same day Of each fol-
lowing year si50.0o0 more and interest
will be paid. until the full sum Is ex-
hausted. Besides this steady cash re-
/ source. every adult Indian has been al
iotted 100 acres, and to minor and de-
pendents from 40 10 50 acres each. They
/ cannot convey this land for 2s years
/ There Is not on earth another communi-
/ ty so well provided for as the Neg Perce
1 Indians
PHYSICAL ADVANTAGES
The reservation Is hisected east and
west by the Clearwater river. which
again forks and divides II both north
and south. Numberless affiuents plow
through Il In every direction. Snake
river flows along Its western border
about eight miles distant. Along it's
southern line lies the beautiful and
prolific camas prairie country. Just
beyond it's eastern border rise spurs OF
the Bitter Root range. At Its north