The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-07
Seneca In dian Chief, Cornplanter.


Seneca In dian Chief, Cornplsuter,
who lived early in the present cen
tury and was very prominent fig
ure during the latter quarter of the
last century, in the northwestern
section of Pennsylvania. These two
sons of the forest came down here
from their reservation in Catarragus
county, New York state, where they
have two thousand people living un-
der the protection of the federal gov
ernment, to present to the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature a claim to 1900
acres of land situate in the north
western part of the State, near where
Oil City is built. They allege, upon
the authority of the records in the
Land Department here, that in con-
sideration of the valuable assistance
he rendered the general government
during the revolutionary struggle
and after. and on account of his
constant friendly attitude toward
the whites, the state of Pennsylvania
through Thomas Mifflin, then gov
ernor, conveyed to Cornplanter and
his heirs at law forever, title to 1900
acres Of land in the locality describ-
ed and that in 1918 they lost such
legal title in exchange for wildcat
money and they now desire the
State to reimburse them to the ex.
tent of their loss.
The Committee on Judiciary gen
eral gave Mr.. OVAL, a tottering In
dian Chieftian of 80 years, respect
full attention while he addressed
them eloquently and earnestly in be.
half of his claim. He spoke in his
native tongue, emphasizing his re-
marks by gestures, Mr.. John inter
,, preting the speech as it was deliver
ed. Having no legal status, the
Legislature could not, of course, do
any thing to remedy the loss, the
only relief being in an equitable pro.
ceeding and Mr.. OVAL was gener.
ously offered $1,000 with which to
take himself aud companion back
home TO New York.
, Prof. j. Z. Rothrock, Chief of the
Forestry Commission gave a highly
interesting descriptive talk, on
Thursday evening last in the Hall OF
, the House of Representatives, on
the forest of the State, illustrating
his remarks by means of the stere-
opticon. This is subject which
should receive proper and vigorous
Legislative attention, as our splendid
timber tracts are being rapidly de-
pleted, being cut down annually at
= the rate of 3OO, 1000, 600 feet, we rank
ing second to Michigan in the pro-
duction on the market of serviceable
timber, that state being the first in
the Union and according to Mr..
7othrock this Is by, no means the
greatest loss sustained, for the de-
struc ion of bridges, by foods, de-
, vastation OF crops, washing of hill
sides and damages resulting from
floods, because our mountain sides
are stripped of trees, has footed up
into the millions within few years
and he argues that the timber should
be left alone as protector OF our
homes and property.
Col. A. X. Mcclure of the Phila-
delphia Times will deliver his ad-
dress to the Legislature on Wednes-
day of this week, on"The Life and
Character of Andrew G. Curtin"
DR.. Il. w. Tool, of Freeburg, was
in the City during the sessions of
the Agricultural Association. The
Doctors friends here were pleased
to see him. The Doctor read a paper
on Teaching Vocal Music in our
, Public Schools, and if the legislature
should make the teaching of it COM
pulsory we will soon revel in a con-
tinuous ecstacy OF song. Gov
Hastings presided during several
sessions of the Farmers meetings.
He seems to feel perfectly at home
with horny-handed sons of toll. He
took a iaunt to New York over Sun
day to escape the opportunities of
the officers seekers. Ex. Gov. Pat
tison will not become Mayor of
Philadelphia if the opinion of the
men here on the Hill count for any
thing. He has been fortunate in
his political career but $1,000 ma
jority in the great city of Philadel-
phia may prove stumbling block to
his present political star. No i'm
portant bills have yet passed far O.
nough to pass upon their fate. In
my next letter I will have Somethino