Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-03-01
ISALANO OF PROMISE
Nez Perez Reservation Soon to
Be Open for Settlement.
HOMESTEAD REQUIREMENTS
Climate, Moisture and Susce ptibii,y OF
Cultivation All Tend TO Make I, au
Excellent Place to Settle.

| Lewiston, Idaho, Feb. 17-Spokane
has hitherto failed to grasp the full
significanceof the Nez Perez reservation
| as factor in her own immediate af-
| fairs. This much she must begin to I'M
derstand and consider: One hundred
miles distant. south, there is a country
which has reached higher plane of
domestic development and of material
greatness than has yet been attained
in any of the surrounding country. Its
social superiority is but the logical evo-
luton by which mellowing time and
genial temperature produce a more
finely constructed human organization
than Is usual among people exposed
TO the viScititudeS of deSultory habita-
tons and unkind climates. And, in the
same way, sort of generous conspira-
cy of the elements has created there
small scope of country of exceptional
excellence. The two conditions accom-
pany and explain each other. 1t reQuir-
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 1t were, 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
Perez Indians, and they had taken pos
session of about 900 square miles of the
territory. The people at the forks of
| the river. therefore, had to take what
was left, and, it is needless to say, that
the children of nature had not left the
| best. But that the remaining lands
| We're of superior worth is not matter
| or speculation, since the Industrial
| greatness and temporal delights of the
little city of Lewiston are the admira-
! ton and envy of all other communities
in the northwest. But the Indians have
now sold about two-t thirds of their lands
! to 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 Perez county,
the present year will undoubtedly bring
| in 10000 and perhaps 10000 more. This
populati must have metropolis.
Lewiston, Juliaetta, Genesee. Cotton
| wood and Grangeville will accommo-
date the local requirements but there
still must be a source of supplies for
| these points. There are but two posi-
| BILE competitors for the commerce-Spo-
| kane, 125 miles distant; Portland, 400
| miles away. You will say there is real
| ~ but one mart then. Almost true, but
unbelievable as you deem it. 1t is Port
| land. The Oregonian reported few
month ago that the traffic receipts,
both ways, of the Lewiston division of
| the o. r. & N. Co. for the preceding
| year were slightly in excess of $500, 900,
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 Perez 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 a 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.
1t 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, payab BILE,
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 $1626, 222. or at the rate of
SO per acre for 542. 074 acres. The first
payment is $626,222 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 to
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 a
family will all be made to the head OF
a household, so that, while there are
l667 Indians of all ages of record there
will be only about 600 checks, and they
will average 81, 900 each.
Colonel Lane expects to complete the
payroll and forward 1t to Washington
within one week, it being already some
what overdue, owing to the fatal NAL
adv of his associate in the work, Indian
Agent Joseph Robinson. On August II
next another payment of $4,000 will be
due and on the same day of each fol
lowing year s150,o00 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
lotted 100 acres, and to minor and de
pendents from 40 to so acres each. The.
cannot convey this land for rs years
There is not on earth another communi
ty so well provided for as the Nez Perez
Indians
PHYSICAL ADVANTAGES.
The reservation is bisected east an
west by the Clearwater river, whic
again forks and divides it both mort
and south. Numberless affluents plo,
through it in every direction. Snak
/, river flows along it's western border
about eight miles distant. Along II
southern line lies the beautiful an
prolific Camas prairie country. Jus
- havond ~ eastern border rise spurs c