The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-22
Land AT CASS LAKE
DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS 1T
DOES NOT BELONG TO THE
INDIANS
TITLE Is WITH GOVERNMENT
Site Not Open to Entry Until Sur
Veys Are Completed, but Settlers
Are Only Anticipating Actien by
the Department-No Trouble With
Chief Falmouth or His Tribe Is
Feared at Washington.

WASHINGTON, July H.-An official of
the land department, who is familiar with
Chippewa Indian affairs, made the some
what sensational statement today that
there is no Cass Lake reservation in the
sense that the lands embraced in that
BODY of land belong to the Indians.
Under the act of Jan. Il, 1885," said
this official, "the Indians coded this land
to the government absolutely, with an
agreement in writing that they Ghe In
dians) would remove to the White Earth
reservation. This eliminated Indian own
ershir and left the title in the govern
nlent. The Nelson act, however, provided
that the pine lands should be sold after
survey and estimate and the agricultural
lands after survey, and the amount real
lied should be placed to the credit of the
Indians. The estimates are not all COM
pleIed, nor are all the lands surveyed,
consequently this land is still held sub
iect to compliance with the law.
Now, then, all settlers on these lands
are there only in advance of the formal
order of the secretary of the interior Of
fering them for sale. If their presence is
not injurious nor inimical TO the interests
of the government there can be no Objcc-
ton to their remaining. 1t has been rep
resented that the presence of the whites
is a menace to good order and that is
why the secretary of the interior has de-
cided to put them off
So far as the Indians having claim
to the land is concerned, they are abso-
lutely without any The so-called Cass
Lake reservation is simply d body of pub
lie land held for disposal, subject to COM
pliance with the law. The Indians have
a right to take allotments there in lieu
of going on the White Earth reserva-
ton and that is as far as their rights eX-
tend"
1t would appear that Secretary Hitch
Geek has had some advice on this line
from Assistant Attorney General Wander
vanter or some other official, judging
from his action in extending the time for
the settlers to leave Cass Lake, and that
he is simply playing for time in which
to try and find some law which will
strengthen him in his determination to
eVict the whites.
Special Agent Jenkins, who has been in
vestigating Chippewa timber operations
with Inspector Nessler, returned to
Washington today. He has not been in
Minnesota for some time, but has been in
the Southwest on other business.
Jenkins refused to say anything as to
what he found in Minnesota, further than
that they found about $4,000 worth of
green timber, half of which was cut
from allotted lands. He says he will
make his report in conjunction with In
spector Nessler when the latter reaches
Washington,
Jenkins is of the opinion that there will
rot be any trouble with Falmouth and
his tribe over Cass Lake affairs
No information has been received at the
interior department or Indian office re-
lating to the action of Chief Falmouth
calling a meeting of Chippewa chiefs on
the 24th. Officials say Capt. Mercer is
on the ground and is thoroughly compe-
tent to deal with any situation that may
present itself AS he has a detachment
of the Seventh infantry at Walker his
position is regarded as specially secure.