The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-30


says that 1.-The secretary shall appoint
competent and experienced men in or
DER that the work may be done in a
reasonable time" The secretary con-
Strued this section as meaning that
any man who had mathematical knowl-
edge sufficient to calculate the cubical
contents OF a stick of timber was 1uali-
ned for estimating pine timber on the
Indian reservations. Immediately upon
Secretary Smiths resignation and Sec
retary Francis assuming the duties OF
the interior department, 1 asked author
1ty for visiting Washington. This was
denied by the acting secretary. Where
upon L wrote the commissioner of In
dian affairs the following letter, under
date of Sept. 26, 1896:
1 am SO at loss to understand the reasons
Ior n refusing my recent request to visit
Washington for a conference with yourself
and the secretary that 1 am taking the lib
erty OF writing you on the subject. This.
and the extraordinary treatment accorded
me IN on a former visit, leads me to believe that
through some misunderstanding or misrepre
sentatlon there exists, suspicion or prejudice
against me on part of some of the officials
OF tne interior department. Unless this is
SO ! cannot account for the request of an
official in so important and responsible DO
s1tlon as that held by myself being refused a
conference on matters that l had assured
you We're of the greatest Importance II
rectly to the work of this commission were
sumc1ent warrant for my asking for a con-
ference, but, as 1 explained there are more
important questions-especially those pertain
Ing to the estimating of the pine timber of the
reservations, the dead and down timber and
the reported mismanagement of the corps of
estlmators, out Of which l fear scandal that
will reflect severely upon the interior de-
partment. y
l think you will remember that through nv
efforts the great irregularities. perpetrated by
the corps OF estimators during Mr.. Harrison S
administration were exposed. By direction of
the secretary l have been investigating the
work OF the present corps, and I am sure you
would be astounded should 1 send you copies
OF my letters TO the secretary on that subject
Strange rs 1t may seem, 1 have no replies
from these communications, nor, so far as
can learn, is there any action being taken to
correct the evils complain Of. = : .,.se
nave repeatedly said to the secretary that
a great scandal was growing out of the mis-
management in estimating the pine timber of
the Red Lake reservation. 1t is sure to
come unless we can devise means to prevent
it. In confidence, can you, will you tell me
why Secretary Smith has peen so Indifferent
TO these important matters? The Indians are
aware fully aware of the state of affairs and
IN al their councils urge and entreat me to
protect their interests.
II, as would seem, the Chippewa commission
has become mere adjunct to the Indian bu-
reau, then 1T must be from lack of confidence
in the ability or honesty of the present chair
man of that commission
A few days later, the 2Sth, I wrote
Secretary Francis as follows:
Recently I requested authority to visit
Washington for conference with yourself and
the commissioner of Indian affairs on mat
ters pertaining to the estimating of pine tim
ter on the several reservations. This request
was referred to the secretary of the interior
and by him refused: 1 had hoped through q
personal conference to give you an under
standing of existing conditions of the work
OF estimating the pine timber of the reserva-
tlons. rear L cannot accomplish that through
correspondence. Under instructions from youI
predecessor l had made some investigations
and reports, calling attention to abuses and
mlsmanagement and recommending remedies
The department. so far as l can learn has
taken no action.
AS member of the Fifty-third congress-
made an exposure Of certain Irregularities
committed by the estimators during Mr.. Har.
though l had the earnest support of Secre.
tary Smith for an honest, vigorous prose.
cut1on and early completion of the work Of
estimating the pine timber of the reservations
1t is now charged that the work of the pres
ent corps of estmators is in some instances
dishonest, incompetent and grossly miSman.
aged. All the information I have been abe
to obtain has been reported to Secretary
Smith. There is strong suspicion of dis.
honesty and positive proof of mismanage
closed-you will note that the secretary Of
the interior is authorized to appoint compe.
tent and experienced examiners, etc. OF the
present corps Of tWenty-nine men there are
fifteen or more who at the time of their ap.
pointment had no experience whatever in es
timatlng pine timber. 1t is no great exag
geration to say they did not know pine tree
from telegraph pole. This corps has beer
in the field about three years, and during thai
time has not accomplished as much as ex-
per1enced estimators under proper manage
ment would have accomplished in six months
The highest estimate that lumbermen and ex.
pert estimators put upon the cost of esti.
mating all the pine of the reservations, by
contract or day labor, is $25, 900. 1t has cost
thus far, under present methods, about $780,
coo, and not one-half of the work is CON-
pleted. Can you wonder, Mr.. Secretary, thai
the Indians, who bear all these expenses are
appealing to me for protection? l have time
and again called the attention of the depart.
ment to the terrible scandal that is growing
out of these conditions. =
An investigation will reveal, amongst other
things, that it has cost to estimate the tim
Der of the Rainy river district about SIG pei
thousand feet
enclose copies of several letters writer
Secretary Smith. The existence of the evils
1 have referred to is beyond doubt The
injustice and injury to the Indians is greater
than l can explain. A great scandal is Ger
tain unless something to prevent is done al
once; a scandal that will seriously reflect
upon the interior department, the administra-
tion and the Democracy of Minnesota.
The delays and other results of misman-
agement have already cost the Indiaps vast
lars. Whatever sub-officiais may say to you
1 assure you upon my honor that I am moi
needlessly alarmed, or have in any degree
exaggerated existing conditions.
The reply to the above letter granted
me authority to visit Washington,
succeeded in securing an order dis
charging the corps of eStimatorS and
arranged for an investigation, and my.
self selected Indian Inspector J. George
Wright to conduct the investigation
On my return to White Earth, 1 ad-
dressed, under date of Oct. 2S, the fol.
lowing letter to Secretary Francis:
Since my return to White Earth l have
been in communication, in person and by
letter. with several of the Minnesota pine
land estimators, and the accounts they give
me of the conditions are even worse than
reported at our recent conference, confirm.
ing all 1 stated in my letter of the 26tf
inst
In accordance with your request that com.
municate by letter with you any further in
formation regarding the estimating of the
pine timber of the reservations and submi
PLANS for the reorganization of the corps ant
its future work, 1 would respectfully submi
the following: You are now so well informed
of conditions that 1t seems unnecessary for me-