The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-13
INDIANS OF WASHINGTON
Facts Concerning Them In the Re-
port of the Secretary of the
Interior.

WASHINGTON, Dec Elm his annual
report Secretary Hitchcock, IN touching
upon Indian affairs says that the Indians
residing in the vicinity of Mission and
wenatchee. Wash. known as the Wenat-
chi. and those scattered along the Column
bia river in that part of the state, for
merly known as the Palouse. but now
generally included under the head of We
natchi. have always been regarded as be-
longing to the Yakima nation. and the
Crow. Flathead. etc. commissioners, who
were authorized to negotiate an agree
ment with the Yakimas. made an effort
to persuade the Wenatchi to remove to
that reservation and take allotments, but
without avail. The Wenatchi claimed that
they were not a part of the Yakima ma
ton; that they spoke a different language.
and that they should not be affiliated
with them. The efforts to induce the In
dams, 1865 In number. to remove to the
Yakima reservation having failed. 1t was
decided to give them alotments where
they were living and in the vicinity of
Mission and Wenatchee. Accordingly
eighteen allotments We're made by a spe-
cial alletting agent, but sufficient un-
occupied land to accommodate all could
not be found Many of the Indians have
since expressed willingness to go on
the Colville reservation. and 1t is believ-
ed that In the near future they can be
provided with allotments on that reser-
walton.
Chief Joseph and His band.
Last March Joseph visited this city and
begged to be allowed TO take his band of
$50 Nez Perce Indians from their present
location on the Colvllle reservation Wash
ington, back to the Waiowa valley. IN
Idaho. An inspector was directed to PRO-
coed 70 Idaho and investigate the mat
the valley was quite generally occupied
by settlers who have most Of the arabic
land under cultivation: that they did not
desire Joseph there, and they do not wish
tn sell Josephs present location In the
Nespelim valley has a mlder climate than
the Wallowa valley, has better hunting
and fishing. and has plenty OF good ara
bic land, with timber. sawmill and a
-four mill. He has a good house and ev-
cry advantage, but he is nonprogressive
Indian who retards the progress OF his
est would be subserved by allowing him
TO remove from Nespelim.
Yakima boundary Claim.
For some years the Yakima Indians in
Washington have claimed that the south
ern and western boundary OF their rcser-
walton. as established by the government
survey, was erroneous. and that they Wera
deprived OF lands which should properly
be embraced within the reservation bean
daries
During the fall Of 1885, pursuan, 10 de-
partmentai Instructions Mr. f. c Rar-
nard, OF the geological survey. made an
dairy, He stated as a result OF his irves-
tigation that the wording OF the treaty.
OF iSS cannot be made TO conform 10 the
topography of the country. that The res
ervation az at present surveyed does not
extend to the main ridge OF the Cascade
mountains. as provided In the treaty and
that In his opinion the Indians have been
deprived by the survey OF the boundary
as IL now exists OF tract OF territory
embracing about 81 s7s acres. The boun-
dairy Of the tract claimed by the Indians
does. not extend as far west az Mr. Bar
nard thinks y should, and embraces a
tract or only 2,3 NJ acres or "a OF acres
less than he thinks they are entitled To-
April :. 1890. the department approved Mr.
Barnard's findings. at least 10 the amount
claimed by the Indians. 20, SCI acres, and
the Grow. Fiathead. etc. commission was
directed to adjust the matter. ~ possl-
Bile, by Inserting In any agreement nero-
tiated provision for the payment 10 the
Indians OF such sum as they could agree
upon as compensation for the excluded
lands, the terms 90 be Just both Ia ire
Indians and 10 the United states n ia
TO be hoped that II an agreement is con-
Guided with the Yakima Indians. "a in
dicated. an amlcable adjustment az I'M.
claim may be arranged and the same rati-
Ned by congress.