The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-24
To PLEAD FOR INDIANS.
Governor Pjnsree to Ask Aid for the
CA~bo.Ea of Burt Lake.

ChrbozEans of Burt Like.
Governor Pingree of Michigan is ex-
pected to arrive in Washington today for
| consultation with the Secretary of the In
terror and the Commissioner OF Indian At
fairs with reference TO the Cheboygan
In1ians of Michigan whose condition is re-
ported to be pitiabIe-
1t was thought that Governor Pingree
would reach Washington this morning, but
at noon he had called neither at the Office
of the Secretary of the Interior nor upon
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs. The
Governor always stops at the Arlington
while in this city, tut he had not appeared
at that hotel up 10 l O'Clock
Il is reported that he is to come 10
ask Federal aid for the ChebGygan In
dams Of the village OF Burt Lake, who are
said to be homeless. The land on which
they lived was sold for taxes several
years ago, but by permission of the Cir
cult Court they had continued to live at
Burt Lake on their promise tC move away
last spring. AS this promise was not kept
by many of the Indians those who re-
manned in their old homes we're evicted
and their rude houses burned down. Some
of these homeless Indians are very old.
These Indians are no longer snder the
I jurisdiction Of the Government Persons
identify them as part of the combined
Ottawa and Chippewa tribes that formerly
| inhabited northern Michigan to the num-
Der of six thousand or more The agents
| appointed to take care of the ChebOygans
represented them as peaceful, honest, and
! intelligent They had the usual thirst for
liquor which. it is said. was encouraged
by the wEite traders who went among
them.
The last treaty OF this Government with
| them expired in 1872, and under a law
enacted by Congress their tribal relation
with the Government was severed and
they were given the privilege Of select
ing farms of eighty acres each. which
! they were TO hold by actually settling on
! them and entering upon course of i'm
| proVements- 1he Indian lands Tot thus
! allotted were opened to homestead set
/ tiement or passed into the possession of
! the State of Michigan. As the period
F.! within which the Indians were to make
! their selections was limited 30 six
| months and as the pQtenting Of The lands
| 10 them involved a more or less expensive
! journey to the land Office and the pay
ment OF SI4 in land Office fees. many OF
| the Indians could not take advantage OF
/ the allotment
It is said that meanwhile that Govern
nent fuactienaries charged with the
business of making the aIIOtments had
cOliuS matters 10 Se3n an extent tn4L
! the Indian Bureau and General Land Of
Zee were bewiidered- Il was not IN
common TO ind from two to eight IN
dams assigned to & single tract CT land.
/ or land set aside for an Indian which
belonged TO the State OF Michigan. Ssv-
eral attempts were made by the Indian
Bureau 10 unrayel the tangle. but with
/ cut success aud the tribe gradually dis
/ intsgrated, but some CT the more ProEre5-
I siyf one bought small farms and formed
/ the village Of Burt Lake
Slowly the white settlers moved in. and
the Indians found themselves unable to
pay the tax levied against their lands.
with the result that they have been. rs
already stated, eYicted-