The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-11

HGiq
Washington CITY. Oct is-speciaI-Pref.
BENJAMIN F. 8asvs. formerly OF Eaiens-
burg. wash. who was recently appointed
. memhse % Tho commission provided FOR
~ the hast congress 70 negotiate with
OarsAtn Indians In washington. Idaho.
Montana and Utah. has died his bonds as
ddsbarssns ofscsT q said commission ana
gone 10 Fort Hall agency. Idaho. 70 totn
Nsssra John =. Goodwin and Charles q.
Hsy& the other members Of the commits
sion. who are already ~ WORK in that
desd After they have een7letsd their
work st Fort Hall the members q the
commission vii. 80 IT once TO the YAKIMA
reservation. and endeavor 10 obtain from
the Indians there m agreement 70 give
up portion Of the Lands now secured 10
than by treaty. which viii b sold and
the proceeds ueeA In the constructing Of
trrtsating bitches. ~ which the Indians
may subsequently, be enabled 70 make
themselves seis-supportine.
Tho faxlma Indian reservation vas crs-
assd By article Of treaty concluded with
the Yakima Nation Of Indians June 3 fs5o.
and proclaimed 5y me president April Is.
1aaa Its area u estimated 70 b over
$4,000 acres. about $4,000 acres are cor
sidered to b. vel adapted TO irrigation;
and Of this portion l5c.og9 acres are COW
cred with an excellent growth Of heavy
timber. The climate 10 said TO Be fine.
ehs ssasons mild and the sol fertile and
woo1erfuliy productive. % that al that
- required - render the Indians thereon
seaf-supporting y to help them irrsgats
their lands.
In LIS complete census Of l.so Indians
On aid reserve was given by the agent.
but this did not include The wild Yaki.
mas. Of whom . complete census has never
been taken, but who are estimated In
number about ia thus making the total
number OF Indians on the reserve about
1eoo. Aliotnents in ssverAity have been
made to these Indians. the schedule en-
bractng 1.sxS names. These aliotmen:s
have not yet been submitted 20 the secre-
sAry Of the interior for his approval The
wild" YakimAs could not b persuaded
to take a.iosmenss.
The com N Isssouer Of Indian AFFAIRS be-
lieves that II = highly desirable that .
complete system Of irrigation should b
constructed for these Indians ana that
they should be otherwise placed on an In
dependent basis and enabled to become
seif-suopertins. II the Yakimas can be
Induced TO give their consent. this can.
the commissioner thinks. be accomplished
by using the proceeds arising from the
sale Of Q portion OF their surplus lands.
the Indians. and bringing them no revenue
whAteys<.
In his Instructions TO the members Of
thu commission. Commissioner Browning
says:
TT IS doubtful. however. whether 10
would be advisable Tor them to cede all
OF their surplus lands at the present time,
or even any part embracing q considerable
number Of the ailotmerts which have been
made 10 the Indians The cession. II any
be made. should rather be comprised Of
such portions or portion OF their reserva-
ton As embrace few or no allotnents. Be-
sides. = iArge number or Indians who are
said 70 have rights on this reserve have
never removed thereto. In recent years
the number has been placed as low as
800. or course. In any reduction OF tbs
reservation. the rights Of these Indians
should be considered, and provision made
Tor their location thereon The number
and whereabouts Of these Indians should
be carefully looked into. and I. should Be
. part % your duty TO persuade them. II
possible. to remove to the reservation
Should they refuse TO 10 this. Il Is Doubt
fuI whether they should be given a voice
in any agreement negotiated.
the cession Of the lands negotiated for TO
ths United States. the same to be report.
I'd TO the public domain. and the agree
ment should be freely signed by at least
. majority Of the male adult Indians
The commission IN addition 10 the spe-
cihc Instructions regarding each agency
to b visited. also received . large number
OF general Instructions, several OF which
L. n
west II ls left 20 the Judgment and dis
cresson Of the commission as 10 the order
IN which the several reservations shall be
visited. having regard FOR their location
and possible favorable or unfavorable sea-
cons. II was the Judgment Of the commits
sion 10 begin work AZ Fort Fall. and Il
Is probable that Il win 20 to the Yakima
reservation next. owing 20 the mild char
acter az the winters there
The commissioner Of Indian Affairs pre-
sunaes that the Indians will. n mos, cases
a. least insist UPON definite and sc~c.1et.
compensation for the iands coded. and he
tells the members Of The commission that
where the value OF the lands VIII De largely
increased by irrigation a. IN the case Of
the Yakima ard Fort Han fn3lans Il "a
desirable that provision should Be made
for IN. appraisal OF such lands and their
sale 70 the highest Bidder the proceeds
sale. 20 ~ rssd 70 or aeposste. IN ths treas
ury for the aen~st OF the Indians when
resolved by the government. The commits
sionsr also suggests that: II necessary,
provision rlay he made for the advance
% a certain sum 20 Dc charged against he
proceeds
TIE manner n which the proceeds OF
tire sale - The lands sal, he ai~nnsAa o.
o. expended excepting IS 70 making pro-
visions FOR irrigation system. has beer fsf;
90 the wisdom and Judgment - the COM
mission % b. determined after A careful
examination % the rrAs~ ard ear9ssfo- Of
tAA Indians. sni after consulting their own
wishes IN the premises. TIE commission
IS cautioned. however. that tAe terri. OF
rsv~en, shesiis Ne such az will tend 10
ae,snsen. - governmental ass q. an early
DAY p-av.x.sns Tor rations and arnastsss
for a Ions term % years are - pose BE
4, ~ swossed IRE c~rr1r son IS also
urged 20 give careful attention 20 ere esss3-
e~sssras reeSs % the frsiars ara make
provisions FOR their inprov snsnt where
ever practicable.
An e-o~t IL 20 be mas. ~ sae cc7rr,ls-
sion - have Inserted in he agreement
providing Ter .he eessson CO ants
eis=ss 20 ne eject thss az anis retained
nv ire TrAgsrs SHAH - subject co- rur~n-
ty-Hve wears 20 all Laws cs the United
States. rrcsses.i1x rhs tntroauctlaa - in
soxfran.s. or sAelr sale Or disposition 20
tire Ynsian.. Whether Under ire care @,
AZ agent or rot.