The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-11-16
Lands Can Then Be Selected by
the Settlers.
A GREAT RUSH is EXPECTED
vast and Fertile Tracts for the Farmer
Rich Claims for the Hardy
ProspectOr.

Scores Of intending settlers, VINO are
now encamped on the boundaries OF
the Nez Perez reservation, with their
families and all their stock and house
hold effects; hundreds of miners who
have heard stories Of marvellous finds in
quartz and placer in the hills and can
yons Of what has been the Indians eX-
elusive domain for thousands of years;
and every merchant in the towns along
the confines of the rich tract of land
which the government finally induced
the red man to relinquish, will be graf
flied beyond measure to learn that the
lands will be thrown open to settlement
on the 18th Of November Of the present
year.
For a month past there has been
stream of men travelling toward the
small towns which border on the re-
serve. There have been secret trips
onto the land to spy out the choice
tracts and to locate the mineral which
the earth is known to hide. When the
gun is fired to announce that the lands
are open to location there will be
small army rush forward and scatter
in every direction of the compass in
hopes of finding choice bits of the best
called by those who know good land.
The Associated Press dispatches of
yesterday contained the following an
nOuncement:
Washington. Nov. 9.-The president
has signed the proclamation opening
the Nez Perez coded lands to settle
ment on November IS. The proCiama-
tion recites the provisions OF the law
and directs that under the regulations
issued by the secretary of the interior
the lands shall be opened to settlement
according 10 the terms of the treaty.
The price Of the agricultural lands is
fixed at SS.7j and of the timbered lands
at S.. II is not anticipated that there
will be a great rush for the lands.
HISTORY OF THE PURCHASE.
July II, 1895, Secretary Smith request
ed the treasury department to pay the
$4,000 due to the Nez Perez Indians
in Idaho for their lands sold to the
government in Idaho. The payment
had been stopped on account of various
charges Of fraud of various sorts. These
were proven unfounded, and there was
no further reason for delay. The tribe
comprises 1929 persons. each of whom
will receive little over $4,000.
Robert Scheicher, James f. Allen
and Cyrus Beede, the commissioners,
concluded the agreement with the In
dams May /, 1885, and the principal
points of the treaty then signed is APP
pended, portions of which have hereto
fore been printed
In all Sl.626222 is to be paid the In
dams. OF this, $626,22 is to be paid in
cash, and the million dollars is to be
paid under the following conditions:
THE remainder of said sum of 81 ,626
222 shall be deposited in the treasury
of the United States to the credit of
the Nez Perces of Idaho, and shall bear
interest at the rate of per centum per
annum, which principal and interest
shall be paid to said Indians per capita
as follows to-wt: At the expiration of
one year from the date of the ratifica-
ton of this agreement the sum of $50,
600, and Semi-annually thereafter the
sum of Sl50,000, with the interest on the
uneXpended portion of the funds to be
derived from the cession of lands by
this agreement made, shall be diverted
or withheld from the disposition made
by this article on account of any depre-
dalton or other act committed by any
Nez Perez Indian prior to the execution
OF this agreement. but the same shall
be actually paid to the Indians in cash
in the manner and al the times as here
in stipulated"
1t is agreed that the place known as
the BOOM" on the Clearwater river
near the mouth of Lapwai creek, shall
be excepted from cessiOn and reserved
for the common use of the tribe, with
full right Of access thereto. and that the
tract of land adjoining, now occupied
by James Moses, shall be allotted to
him in such manner as not to interfere
with such right.
1t is stipulated that the United States
will purchase for the use of Nez Perez
Indians two portable steam sawmills
at cost not exceeding 100000 and viii
provide for the Indians, for period moi
exceeding two years. and a cost not ex-
ceeding $2i00, a competent surveyor
for the purpose of fully informing said
Indians to the correct locations of theii
allotments and the corners and lines
thereof.
1t is agreed that the lands by thi,
agreement coded, those retained. and
those allotted to the said Nez Perez In.
dams, shall be subject. for a period oil
25 years, TO all the laws Of the Unita5
States, prohibiting the Introduction OF
intoXicants into the Indian country, anC
that the Nez Perez Indian anottees
whether under the care Of an Indiav
agent or not. shall, for like period
be subject to all the laws of the United
States prohibiting the sale or other dis
position of intoXicants to Indians.
THE FIRST PAYMENT.
After a series of vexatious delays
the first installment of over $500, 900 wa,
sent to the Indian agent at Lapwai, OF
the reservat ton, and all Indians VIII;