The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-28
THE INDIANS PLANT.
LETTER FROM CHIEF MASON. OF
THE QUTSAUIT TRIBE
Tae agent n san-ResEdent and the
Indians Have No Legal Adviser
white Encroachmenss Military

Of 4 brief corn nun scz1ou from chief Ma
son. the head q the Quinsglt Indians,
which reads SIS follows:
Chief Mason wants 20 know shout ths
laws q cur recreation. Since Mr. Edwin
Ee3fs was agent We never know Anything
about our laws n0w- Chief Mason wants
20 know alI about the laws of the Rez-. 50
that he may tel al his people about g..
Mason wants 10 know when they ara go
Ing 70 survey the reservation.
This letter. which was written IN a larg.
schooEsoy hard Lssa5d hyan aecaTpanvfng
letter % - the proud work OF Willie Ma
son. s0n % the chief. While The letter con-
tairs 10 particular complaint, Il Is said
there IS a good deal % dissatisfaction
among the Indians With the present agent.
who IL nonresident and paws but NteIs
attention 70 anything that benefits the H.
dams Efforts ara being made for his re-
novai. and the appointment OF same man
who Is a permanent settler. who has an IN
terest IN the county and state and who
VII do what be can 10 make good citizens
out q The remaining 10 or so members or
this peaceful and industrious tribe.
Reports received al the Indian Bureau
state that these Indians are good workers.
take an interest in farming and fruit rails
ing. and are. aud always have been self
supporting. They do not beg. and in the
matter OF honesty. are said 10 be far bet
ter than many II the whites who have set
tied IN and around the reservation One
settler q this locality says he foes not
need 70 lock bis door against the Indians
but finds Il necessary 10 do so against
some OF the whites.
Most Of the tribe It IS said are anxious
70 have q survey Of the reservation made
IN order that they nav.secure a definite
location and establish themselves perman-
entity. Nearly all Of them have made ioca-
lions built cabins. and raised gardens
especially along the river below Lake
Quinauit They have few ponies ana all
keep fowls. The advent Of white people at
the lake. s. Is said, has ruined the hantins.
and the QuInauit salmon have been very
scarce this season. The trapping OF sea
otter Is also practically az an end. that
animal being nearly extinct. The state
ment is also made that Hmbermen are op-
posing the surveying of the reserve be-
cause its opening would compel them 10
buy more land or else compete with new
companies
The charge Is made that Tom Mason. a
son Of the chief and another Indian
named Baker, We're found dead In the Che
halls river about four years ago with
clear evidences Of having been murdered.
although the coroner's jury returned a
verdict Of accidental drowning. Chief Ma
son tried to get justice done. but COM
plains that there is mo justice for an In
dian In white mans court"
Citizens OF Matlock. Mason county, have
petitioned the postmaster general to es-
tablish a daily mail service between Shell
ton and Matlock. II T. doubtful If the de-
paTtment win grant the request since Il
has recently established a service OF three
times a week between Shelton and Sat
sop. by which the Matlock service IS also
benefited. Since he building Of car Shoes
and stores at Matlock. the number Of In
habitants has greatly increased and. as IL
Is claimed, the amount of business done
through the postoffce does not represent
the amount Of mail received ana sent out.
since many OF the inhabitants send and
receive mail at Shelton or Kamiichie on
the days when the mail carrier does not
come to Matlock.
Complaint has again been made 10 the
general land office that no inspectors have
been sent 10 look over the surveys made
Of townships g. g and % north. range 3
east. \. recent letter from Mr. George II.
Moves. Of LOOMS Wash. announces that
another settler has fallen n victim 20 the
diiatory workings OF the land Office maxi
ing the seventh. Peter Coutts was fatally
shot on the Similkameen river August q.
1897"
The secretary of the interior is very
much behind With hearings upon appeals
n cases brought up from the general land
office. In some cases over a wear has
elapsed since the appeal was taken II IS
noticeable that the case OF W. n. Chap
man against the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company, involving the east half ~
the northwest quarter ard the west half
Of the northeast quarter Of section :.
township Is north. range 81 east. Walla
Walla land district which was appealed
by the railroad company from the commits
sioner's decision Of August s. 1876 IN favor
OF Mr.. Chapman. has not yet been acted
upon.
No action has yet been taken by the Sec
rotary Of war upon the application made
by Gen ]. r. Mcintyre Of the National
Guard % Washington state. for the detail
~ an army offiC-T MS an Instructor 20 The
officers Of the state guard Assistant
Adlt Gen. Hall states that in accordance
with the practice Of the department. II
was necessary 20 refer the request Of Ger.
Mcintyre. Notwithstanding the fact that u
had been Endorsed by a anemher Of con-
eress back 10 the governor Of tho state
and that this was done August 81. lVq-.
Gov Rogers has not Vet sisuIGe1 his de-
sire in the matter.
Moran Bros ~ Seattle have asked Der-
mission ~ the secretary 90 the navy 70 d.
fiver torpedo boat No s the Rowan after
ler trial trip az the PuEet sound naval
station. instead Of ar the Mare leland
navy yard as required hy rhelr contract
Tor vH~tiou. The chamber Of com
merco of Seattle and Repreerrtaflve lewis
have both urged upon the secretary that
This request be granted believing .fa. INC
stafe az Wash.oEton is entitled 90 have thu
vessel retained tu Puget sound where lts
presence i- IS claimed wiH certainly D. =
iuora importance th8n further south The
secretary has taken the matter under at-
meat. hut declines 10 m=ka any state
weet REGARDING the future station Of The
ttt'eehip destroyer.
4 p-Htan has beer presented ~ re
muster general tor an increase ~ pay
~ tHe mali carrier who crosses fhe ~o7vr7-
1s river daily taking tsa waH 20 and
w tte Eeseof4ee az 81 er-r4nr tha
rauofy sat % Ska-aria c1s-fr Pre-
e"--r'T daring thc vrav fte crossing =
gre ~Na- go that poie. g. vr-- r4~fious
l- -~'as.ur- ard tho carrier fakes BIS Hfe
H he bands lu So dolnr Hs ufeseu' nav
-ts t- ateut ~ cents 5ar ana g
t-kes nearly aH lls day tc make .hs trims.
fH aes f4uiv 20 suura~t ana Ter-a-
sentative Lewis who hr1e tnfe matter
t.f.-a rh= uastdftre department ht letter
L-@ that the carrier earr5 se allowed
g. ..s-t s. 8 day sor BIS services.
~ cr.-f~at pension has he.- Granted %
III - Murray 70 Spokane 4 -e-
Is,ae pension coupled w.t- az s---aa ss
s.n granted 20 Afica.a. Savage. -
r-r.es 0.%eL vho ayr u.s. f1r pen
s..r as tea dependent father e H--a-4
e. %.I has been advised thet SIS cl1in
Fs further evidence - 5..e feoe-ae-t
au l- los ard way rs YVES -hen u~-