The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-05-28
On Dec. %, 1893, the honorable commits

On Dec. %, 1898, the honorable commits
sioner wired
Empress upon the Indians that con-
gress will pay no unreasonable sum for
the extingnishment of their title to lands
in question. Make the best terms you
can in reason and justice to the Indians
and the government, and agree upon 9
lump sum instead of certain price per
acre. III agreement is not satisfactory,
Of course congress will not ratify same.
The price the Iudians name is out of the
question and would not be recommended
by this Office
We then submitted a proposition Of
$4,000, double the amount suggested by
the honorable commissioner.
Any fair-minded man can see that in
stead OF swindling the Indians, was
endeavoring to make the very best trade
| could for them.
In discussing the injustice of not pay
ing this money to the Indians in cash, it
should be remembered that double this
amount is expended upon this reserva-
ton every year. It costs the government
more than $4,000 a month to run this
reservation and to pay the AZ white and
Indian employees. 1t must also be re-
membered that this is gratuitous on the
part OF the government, for they have
fulfilled their treaty obligations with
those Indians fifteen years ago. The
treaty provided that schools, shops and
certain annuities would be allowed for q
period OF twenty years. This twenty
years expired long ago, but, through the
recommendation of agents, the govern
ment has continued to maintain schools
and help these Indians in many ways.
Their children from the ages of to Is
are clothed and fed and educated free Of
charge. Their horses are shod, their
wagons, plows and harness repaired by
the blacksmith, carpenter and harness
maker free OF charge; their grain is
ground, lumber sawed and dozens of
articles too numerous to mention are
given them free OF charge.
The government also provides that the
old and infirm shall be fed, and on any
Saturday, at this agency, dozens of old
people will be seen awaiting their turn
for orders on the commissary for pro-
visions.
All this could be abolished with a sim
gle recommendation OF the secretary OF
the interior. because, as l have stated,
their treaty obligations have been COM
Piled with years ago.
The secretary of the interior wrote me
two years ago and asked my opinion as
to how these Indians could be made self
sustaining.
In reply, told him it could be an
swered in single sentence: help them
to irrigate their lands. The idea of al
loting eighty acres OF barren sagebrush
land to an Indian with no water to irri-
gate and expect him to go upon it and
make living was thing impossible.
l have impressed upon the department,
in my annual report, as well as in many
letters, the great importance of assisting
these Indians in irrigating their lands;
but if the Indians show no disposition in
this direction, and are not willing that
their lands should be irrigated with the
fund derived from the sale of the We
natchapam fishery, with what grace can
the agent ask the department to appro-
pirate money for this purpose? l am
satisfied that If the Indians will improve
this opportunity, and show some dispo-
sition and desire to have their lands irri-
gated, many thousands of dollars can be
obtained for this purpose.
Very truly yours,
L. T. ERWIN.