The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1898-01-29
SENATOR STEWART'S TOWN.
SITE BILL,

Senate Bill No. 2S73, 55th Congress,
End session, introduced Dec. II, 1897, by
Mr.. Stewart, read twice and referred to
the Committee on Indian Affairs. 1t
authorizes the inhabitants OF the town
of Wadsworth to acquire title under the
Statutes relating to townsites. Senator
Stewart has now taken the matter up
with the Department of the Interior
that there need be no friction and has
submitted the corresp IN lence so far
passed, some 40 pages of typewriter
matter, to our people for information,
instruction and guidance.
In the letter to the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs Senator Stewart states
that there is some uncertainty about the
line Of the Pyramid Lake Indian reser-
vation; that it is contended by some
that part or all OF the town OF Wads-
worth is included in the reservation
that, if so, it ought not to include it;
that the citizens of that town have lived
there more than thirty years, improved
the place, established homes, erected
public buildings, etc. - -, j
He further states that the reservation
was established only by Departmental
order; that it can be modified and the
boundaries changed by the Department.
that he does not even want to seem to
encroach upon the Indians in any form,
however; hence the letter.
He adds that he can zee no reason
why the bill should not pass; that on
the contrary it seems to him very nee
essary that it should that the townsite
will never be used for Indian reservation
purposes, and that the inhabitants of
the townsite will be greatly benefited
to get title to their homes.
In reply to the letter the Commission
er of Indian Affairs gives u full and COM
plete history of the reservation, which
is copy of the Information furnished
the Commission that CAME here in 1891
to treat with the Pah ties for the eur
render OF the southern portion OF the
reservation, embracing the town OF
Wadsworth. The agreement WAS made
with the Indians but it WAS not ratified
and confirmed by Congress. Hills hav-
ing for their object Il surrender OF Il por-
tioh of the reservation were introduced
in the Sind, 53rd and 54th Congresses
but none ever became IA law.
Tba pv ,I,,,
established Dec. 8. 1859, by the General
Land Office upon a request from the
Office of Indian Affairs and the atten-
ton OF the Interior Department was in
vited to the steps taken at that time.
The reservation exists today as origin
ally ordered (l859), as surveyed by Mon
roe in 1865, as set apart by Executive
Order OF March %, 1874, AZ re-surveyed
by Powers in 1887.
The Assistant Attorney General in an
opinion rendered July /. 1891, held that
the lands in the odd sections within the
limits OF the reservation did not pass to
the Central Pacific Railroad under the
road grant or by any grant or in any
way.
The Commissioner states further, and
nobody disputes the fact, that the Gov
ernment has recognized the rights OF
the Indians in the Pyramid Lake Reser- |
vation, the Congress having made an
appropriation OF $4,000 on March 3,
1891, to enable the Secretary of the In
terror to negotiate with the Indians for
the surrender of portions OF their re-
spective reservations and negotiations
having been had with the Pah Utes in
1891, as above indicated.
He says the town OF Wadsworth is
located on the reservation, on the
Truckee River and the Central Pacific
Railroad, about 20 miles south of the
upper end OF Pyramid Lake.
Whites have located farms for dis |
tance of eight miles down the river, on
both sides, some OF them claiming set
Element and improvements prior to the
PRONUNCIATION of the Executive Order,
March %, 1874, while others claim to
have purchased IRON the state OF New
ada.
The Pyramid Lake Reservation en-
braces about ;;22 900 acres. Its popnla-
tion is little over 500 In the year
1891. according to information then in
possession of the Commissioner. about
onr-iourth Tie entire lnlian popn alion,
Q L.. III