The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-13
The Me- PIERCE LAND.
Interesting Facts About the Grea
Keserva I'm

| hD'oh hht oEeat
| Reserve ion.
MIssoULA, March 12.-The prospective
opening OF the Nez Perez reservation con-
tinues to attract considerable attention IN
some parts of Western Montana and in
the Occur d'Alene country. In the latter
section. It is stated, there are preparations
| being made Tor the settlement of a portion
| OF the fertile reservation by people from
Wallace, Wardner, Burke and other towns
in that district, who are familiar With the
reserve and its wonderful natural advant-
ages. The opening of this large area of
land for settlement will be great benefit
to Idaho and will result in the develop
rnent of what is said to be one of the most
fertile regions in the whole NorthN est.
The plans for coloniz ng the district are
nearly perfected. so report says, and
there will probably be moro or less of a
stampede when the openin g occurs.
The Nez Perez reservation contains
542,074 acres of land for settlers. For this
immense tract the Nez Perez Indians are
to receive from the government 81 ,626, 222,
OF which see, 222 is to be paid to them this
spring and the remainder in annual in
stall ments of S150,C0O. A writer in the
>pohesmdn-IieUieiC,i in describing this res
ervatIon. says:
Tho reservation is bounded on the
north by Latah county and extends south
into Idaho and Nez Perez counties. The
Clearwater river runs through the north
and east sides of the reservation and
many streams run in every direction.
"The general contour of the reservation
consists of hills and valley lands inter-
spersed with numerous streams and
springs of never-failing water. A limited
supply OF timber exists in certain portions
Of A. hi In .I,s L..
times available from points east and
adjacent to 1t. The extent of territory
embraces an area of about Ito square
mics.
lowing to the different elevations at
tanned, great variety of climate exists.
Along the valley of the Clearwater river
the climate is similar to that experie need
at Walla Walla, Wash. In this section
fruit growing may be INDUCED in with all
the assurance of safe and profitable in
vestment. All the varieties of fruit ex-
cept the citrous can be raised to perfec-
ton. On the uplands the climate is similar
TO that ex. sting in the Palouse country,
herenbefore described, and of which this
IS but continuation.
"Contiguous to the reservation are some
of the finest gold mining districts in
Idaho, viz: Pierce City, Orc Elmo, lying
% miles east. These districts are we'll
known among mining men as rich in pla-
Ger and gold quartz propositions. Hun
dreds of thousands of dollars have been
taken from these mines. South and east
are the Florence, the Elk City and and
Warrens district, all having a we'll known
reputation as gold producers. Placer
mining has been profitably carried on for
years on the Snake and Salmon rivers
and their tributaries. The Clearwater
river has long been known to be rich in
placer dirt, but owing to the stringent
laws governing 1ndi an reservations, THIS
district has not been available for miners
or prospectors."
The manner in which the land may be
acquired by actual settlers is prescribed
in the treaty with the Indians as follows:
That Immediately after the issuance and
receipt by the Indians of trust pat
ents for all the allotted lands, as
provided in the agreement, the land
SO coded, sold, relinquished and conveyed
to the Ulited States shall be opened by
proclamation of the president, and shall
be subject to disposal only under the
homestead, townsite, stone and timber
and mining laws of the United States; ex-
cept that the 16 h md Both sections in
each congressional township, which shall
be reserved for common school purposes
and be subject to the laws of Idaho. Pro-
vIded, that each settler on said lands
shall, before making final proof, and re-
ceiving cert flcato of entry, pay the
United States for the lands so taken by
HIM, in addition to the fees provided by
law, the sum of 1915 per acre for agri-
cultural lands, one half of which shall be
paid within three years from date of
orr ynal entry, and the sum of So per acre
for mineral and stone lands, subject to |
the regulations prescribed by the existing |
laws; but the rights of honoraby dis |
charged Union soldiers and sailors, as de- |
fined and described in sections 23Oi and |
2305 of the revised statutes of the United |
States, shall not be abridged, except as to
the sum TO be paid as aforesaid.