Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-08-23
Distribution of Money Com
menced at the Agency.
1T WILL TAKE THREE WEEKS
Lewiston and Other Bankers and Cred
itors on Hand TO Open and
Settle Accounts.


by nightfall nearly $4,000 had been dis
bursed in drafts.
Delays attending the allotments and
contamination of the sale of lands
have been so frequent that the final
payment was not expected for num-
Der of days. The pay rolls are not at
the agency, and it was believed no
drafts would be issued until they We're
ready to sign, but Agent Fisher decid-
ed otherwise, and early in the after
noon handed over the first draft of
$1513. squaw being the lucky recipi-
ent, and from that time on the pay
ments continued.
The cavalry troop from Fort Walla
Walla cleared the grounds of all except
the officials and others who had creden-
tials emitting them to be present. The
latter included a number of creditors
of the Indians and representatives of
the First National and Lewiston Ma
tional banks of Lewiston, who were
there with gold to cash the drafts, and
number of representatives of banks
from Kendrick, Moscow and surround
ing towns.
The Lewiston banks stole a march
on the other bankers who had no mon
ey with them, and whose advances to
the Indians were not considered with
favor. Spot cash was desired by most
of the NeZ Perces. who would take
the gold for the drafts, handle it for an
hour or so and then deposit it again
with the same bankers.
One Indian in particular afforded n
great deal of amusement to the whites
He drew his money in shining 500 gold
pieces, shifted it from one pocket to
the other, counted it dozen times and
finally, when it began to be a burden,
was induced to give it to banker
to be deposited in his name.
AS fast as the drafts We're cashed
the creditors of the Indians present
ed their claims, some of which had been
standing for IL years. A large credit
business had been done with the Nez
Perces, and the accounts had been kept
standing until this money should come
m. The amount of the claims were de-
Quoted from each Indians money and
debts cancelled without a murmur.
Post Trader Davis carried away a
small fortune. He had been doing an
extensive credit business with the In
dians. who are considered as scrupu-
lousy honest, and his accounts run
into the thousands.
The banks with their sacks of gold
were examples of business shrewdness.
1t is understood that the Lewiston fin
anciers will have all the money neces-
sary sent from Portland In case they
they are unable to furnish the funds
They charge so cents per hundred dol
lars, and will clean up a small fortune
| themselves.
Jim Reuben. an educated Indian, who
| has been an important factor in get
| ting the allotments settled, and who
| aided the commissioners to secure the
signatures of obstinate Indians to the
treaty, was major domo of the proceed
| ings. He acted as interpreter, auditor
of accounts and referee of disputes
and for his work in the past and flu
| ture gets a commission of per cent
from each of his tribesmen.
| Owing to the Indians not expecting
| their cash so soon only 80 were on hand
to get It, Now that the fact is known
they will come f1ocking In.
| 1t will require three weeks time to
complete the payments, which range
from 5000 to $4,000.
Some of the intelligent Indians KEPT
their drafts to deposit in the Lewiston
banks. Others were eager to see the
color of the money. 1t is estimated
that the banks of this city will receive
| at least two-thirds of the 5000 900.
Lewiston people did not know the pay
ments had begun until 6 o'clock thi.
evening. Tonight there is quiet blu
general rejoicing, as 1t will put in cir
culation several thousand dollars.
ARRIVAL OF THE PACKAGE.
The registered package containing
$4,000 in treasury drafts, the long-ex
| pected payment to the Nez Perez In
dams. reached the Lewiston postoffic,
Friday night, and was yesterday trans
ferred to the Lapwai agency. Sine,
notification of the departure of tn
drafts from Washington, all sorts o
| rumors have been afloat of unexpected
delays happening on the trip across tn
continent, ETC., and these rumors influ
enced by the previous disappointment
to our citizens, which has seemed t
characterize all government action il
the reservation affairs, were receives
even with some credulity, and so. seem
ingly influencing all to staid indif
ference. The little ackage, with tn
usual large amount of registered mat
ter, was taken from the stage withou
probably a suggestion from the lazies
bystander that perhaps the Indial
money had arrived. Agent Fisher
presence here at an early hour tn
next day renewed the interest of tn
citizens in the matter, and when it be
| came known that mounted police ar
companied him, the last doubt of tn
most credulous was dispelled, and
was apparent to all that the none
had arrived. He receipted for tn
treasure Immediately upon his arriva
and hundreds of people had been al
tracted to the vicinity of the postot
flee to get a peep at the little package
which had been the foundation of S
many false hopes and consequent dis
appointments. and the arrival of whic
had been looked upon by the imagir
alive as a realization of the charms c
Utopia. Agent Fisher Indifferent
carried the little package. which wa
the attraction of hundreds of eye
carelessly under his arm while tran,
acting other business, and in the after
noon departed for the agency accom-
panied by the police. All were arme,
and they We're met near the outskirt
of town by the company of soldier
who are stationed at the agency durin
the issuance of the first payment. tt
pay rolls, which the Indians must sig
in receipt for their warrants were mai
ed at Washington one day after II
drafts.