The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-08-24
IT WILL TAKE THREE WEEKS
Lewiston and other Bankers and Cred
itOrs on Hand to Open and
Settle Accounts.

by nightfall nearly $4,000 had been dis |
bursed in drafts.
Delays attending the allotments and |
contamination of the sale of lands |
have been so frequent that the final |
payment was not expected for num-
Der of days. The pay rolls are not at
the agency, and 1t was believed no
drafts would be issued until they were
ready to sign, but Agent Fisher decid- |
ed otherwise, and early in the after
noon handed over the first draft of
$1513, a squaw being the lucky recipi-
ent, and from that time on the pay
ments continued.
The cavalry troop from Fort Walla
Walla cleared the grounds of all except
the officials and others who had creden-
tials emitting them to be present. The
latter included a number of creditors
of the Indians and representatives of
the First National and Lewiston Ma
tional banks of lewiston who were
there with gold to cash the drafts, and
a number of representatives of banks
from Kendrick, Moscow and surround
ing towns.
The Lewiston banks stole a march
on the other bankers, who had no mon
ey with them, and whose advances to
the Indians were not considered with
favor. Spot cash was desired by most
of the Nez Perces, who would take
the gold for the drafts, handle it for an
hour or so and then deposit it again
with the same bankers.
One Indian in particular afforded a
great deal of amusement to the whites
He drew his money in shining 500 gold
pieces, shifted it from one pocket to
finally, when it began to be burden,
was induced to give it to a banker
to be deposited in his name.
AS fast as the drafts were cashed
the creditors of the Indians present
ed their claims, some OF which had been
standing for IL years. A large credit
business had been done with the Nez
Perces, and the accounts had been kept
standing until this money should come
m. The amount of the claims were de-
Quoted from each Indians money and
debts cancelled without a murmur.
Post Trader Davis carried away
small fortune. He had been doing an
extensive credit business with the In
dams. who are considered as scrupu-
lousy honest, and his accounts run
into the thousands.
The banks with their sacks of gold
were examples of business shrewdness.
It is understood that the Lewiston fin
anciers will have all the monev neces-
sary sent from Portland IN case they
they are unable to furnish the funds.
They charge so cents per hundred dol
lars, and will clean up a small fortune
themselves.
Jim Reuben, an educated Indian, who
has been an important factor in get
ting the allotments settled, and who
aided the commissioners to secure the
signatures of obstinate Indians to the
treaty, was major domo of the proceed
ings. He acted as interpreter, auditor
of accounts and referee of disputes
and for his work in the past and flu
ture gets a commission of 2 per cent
from each of his tribesmen.
Owing to the Indians not expecting
their cash so soon only 30 were on hand
to get it. Now that the fact is known
they will come floclking in.
It will require three weeks time tC
complete the payments, which range
from $500 to $4,000.
Some of the intelligent Indians KEEP
their drafts to deposit in the Lewiston
banks. Others were eager to see the
color of the money. 1t is estimated
that the banks of this city will receiv,
at least two-thirds of the S6OO,OOG
Lewiston people did not know the pay
ments had begun until o'clock thi
evening. Tonight there is quiet bu
general rejoicing, as it will put in. cir
culation several thousand dollars
The registered package containing
$626.000 in treasury drafts, the lOng-ex
pected payment to the Nez Perez In
dams, reached the Lewiston postoffic
Friday night, and was yesterday trans
ferred to the Lapwai agency. Sine
notification of the departure of tn
drafts from Washington, ali sorts O
rumors have been afloat OF unexpecte
delays happening on the trip across tn
continent, etc, and these rumors, influ
enced by the previous disappointment
TO our citizens, which has seemed t
characterize all government action /
the reservation affairs, were receive
even with some credulity, and so, seen
lngly influencing all to a staid indit
ference. The little ackage, with til
usual large amount of registered ma
ter, was taken from the stage withol
probably a suggestion from the lazie'
bystander that perhaps the India
money had arrived. Agent Fisher
presence here at an early hour IL
next day renewed the interest of II
citizens in the matter. and when 1t b
came known that mounted police a
companied him, the last doubt Of Il
most credulous was dispelled. and
was apparent to all that the none
had arrived. He recelpted for Il