Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-02-15
OPENING THE RESERTE IL.
Some of the Riches of the Indian
Lands NOac to be Gircn TO
the PcODle.

Some of the Riches of the Indian
Lands NOw to be Gircn to
the People.
Spokane Chronicle.
The Nez Perez Indian reserva-
ton is one of the finest bodies OF
land in America. There can be no
question about that. Whatever
may be said of the poor Indian, he
knows good land from bad, and OF
all the vast areas over which he
once roamed, sole master, he chose
this reservation as being the best
and the richest. Here the tribe
drew itself together when forbid
den to run at large. Here they
have lived with the sullen silence
of the race, and here they had ex-
pected to die. But Uncle Sam saw
the richness of their land, Glowing
with milk and honey" and has
decided to "go over and possess it,"
Not by violence, for he is too
generous for that, but by honora-
Bile treaty and purchase. He will
nav over S1,5O0,OOO for the rich
soil. The Indians have not been
forced to sign the treaty, though
they were reluctant to give up
their beautiful country, and only
welded after four or five years OF
earnest persuasion, and not then
until their native shrewdness was
satisfied with the remuneration
offered them.
Each Indian who is the head O.
n family has chosen 100 acres III
the possession of which the gov
eminent will not modest him
Every single man will be allowed
II smaller piece. In fact every man
woman and child will receive 8
share which they have already Sc
lected. Thus each will have {
good farm which will be settled
upon him with perfect title excep
that he will not be permitted tt
part with it for twenty-five years.
Besides the land, 100000 vii
90 to them as soon as the reserve
is opened to the settler. This vii
be divided among them and maxi
them rich for the time being. 4
million dollars more will be pai'
after few months, which in tn
meantime will bear interest TO
them. Thus the Nez Perces vii
be well provided for, while tn
white man will have an opportu
nifty to take up the land which
left, and this will be the large
part of Il reserve.
This land is good for man
things. Its farming characteristic
are of the very best. The portion
which lie upon the plateaus nea
Genesee and Leland north of tn
Clearwater river and 2000 fec
above it, and similar sections o
Camas Prairie have exactly til
same producing qualities as til
Palouse country. The table land
between Sweetwater and Craig
mountain is the same. Any {
this land is capable of raising til
rich crops of wheat, oats, barley {
flax which are SO plentiful i
Whitman and Latah countie
Even the Indians with their poe
ideas of farming have raised thirt
or forty bushels of wheat to a
acre, What then can Il viii
man do?
Stock raising will be another c.
tensive industry. The mountai
lands are fine grazing regions an
are now well filled wit
Indian horses and cattl
Often among these herds and sic
by side with them wandering
and out among the timber al
seen the shy deer which are vel
plentiful here.
One of the greatest industri
which will occupy the energy
the coming settler will be fru
raising. The banks of the beaut
full Clearwater river which rul
through the reserve from east
west and of the Sweetwater al
Lapwai creeks will furnish Il
finest opportunities for the raisil
of peaches, apricots, pears al
grapes. The Snake river fruit
too we'll known to need CONNER
The Clearwater is a tributary
that river, and much of the fri
which comes to this city label
Snake River is really raised
the Clearwater valley. In additi
to this fruit which grows SO plen
fully in these regions, all the hs
der varieties of apples and t
like grow abundantly on the upI
lands.
Finally, one of the create
sources of wealth lies in the mil
which are shot developed and l
even prospected but which
known to exist in many parts
this wonderful region.