The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1898-01-29

I Wadsworth their home, having perm
anent camps established upon its out
skirts. 1t is presumed that many of the
Indians still make Wadsw"rth their
home, though the number is not now
definitely known to the Commissioner.
In view of the facts and the further
fact that the Indians appear to have Il
vested right in the reservation, The Com
missioner does not think Senator Stew
arts bill should pass without amend
ment, and, in brief, he recommends:
That lot, piece or parcel of land be
given any Indian located within the
boundaries of the proposed townsite at
the date of the approval of this Act.
That $1,000 he appropriated as compen-
sation to the Indians. That this Act
shall not take effect until it shall have
been presented to the Indians, and ac-
cepted and ratified by a majority OF all
of the male adult Indians l8 years of
age and over occupying the said reserva-
tion. That $500 be appropriated for
ways and means to obtain said consent
and ratification in such a manner as the
Secretary OF the Interior may deem best.
That the tract of land near to and to she
north of Wadsworth and on which is
located an Indian school house, shall lie
excepted and reserved and remain as it
now is intact and II part and parcel OF
the. Pyramid Lake Reservation. This
tract OF land contains ITO acres.
Senator Stewart writes here that
there onght not to be, if there il, any
Indian school in the town of Watsworth.
The Indians should he kept away from
the town. In order to meet the state
ments of the Commissioner and secure
the proper legislation, ii is necessary
for me to know the exact facts. Please
write to me in reply to this how many
Indians are living in the town, what
land they occupy, and What l,t islation
is necessary TO protect them in such
rights as they may have. may have to
amend the bill so RS TO give the Indians
the proceeds oi the sale of lots, which
would otherwise 20 to the general gov
ernment, but in order to do anything |
want to know the iacts. +" 20,
There is an Indian schoolhouse in the
town Of Wadsworth. 1t il at present
used rs dwelling house b. James
Shaw, Indian policeman. 1t was used
IN u school for several terms and then
abandoned at the recommendation of
the Indian Agent. Its principal USE has
been to serve AZ a monument to the
folly of some soft-headed Inspector,
doubtless cajoled by a fair maid who
held sway there while the school WAS in
session. Now il is OF no more use as n
school than dozen more legs would be-
to centipe,le. 1t cost probably be-
tween $500 and 1900.
: In Indian town here there are thirty
neat cabins built OF lumber and occu-
pied ky Indians and there are fifteen
campoodies bnilt OF tules. Not any OF
OF these dwellings are enclosed and few
are what might he called fixed habita-
tions because whenever n death occurs
in the cabin or campoody 1t is either
moved or destroyed. However, in every
town in the State some suburb il occu-
pied by Indians. And again il five
acres OF the proposed townsite were cut
into town lots 80 x so feet and allowing
ior streets there would he 65 lots, many
more than would be used in this ease.
In regard TO the 10 acres proposed by
the Commissioner TO be set aside, the
dwelling houses of the whites are now
built to the very boundary lines OF that
tract of land, the town is now building
that way entirely, and Il tOwnsite with
that tract reserved ior the use of the
Indians, would not, in our opinion, be
worth tinker's damn.
Big and little there are all told per-
haps few more than 100 Indians who
live in Wadsworlh at tiues. The very
best of feeling prevails between them
and the whites and We do not anticipate
much opposition from them in regard
to setting aside the proposed townsite,
particularly if they are allowed some
compensation by the Government.
In advance we feel very sure that our
people would just about AZ soon 90 with
ont townsite or title as to have that | 10
acre tract reserved, and to ascertain the
sentiment we will interview many inter
ested and publish the substance of the
interviews in the next issue OF the
blsPArCH.