The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05

Hon. w. j. Mcconnell, FORMER SoNeihoi
of Idaho, arrived in the city last evening
and is stopping at the Hotel Northern
on his way to the Tulalip Indian agency.
Gov. Mcconnell is now United States
Indian inspector. and comes here from
the Yakima agency, to which he paid an
official visit. The Indians there were
found with a grievance, grievance WIN
some foundation, according to Gov. NC
Cornell, which made his labors somewhat
difficult. So few people are aware OF
the true condition of affairs existing on
these agencies that Gov Mcconnell glad
w gave information relative to the abo-
rhymes OF the Yakima reservation He
said:
1.-THE Yakima nation of Indians was
originally composed of fourteen separate
and distinct tribes. who entered into a
treaty with the United States through
Gov. Stevens, OF the territory OF Wash
ington. in 1855 These Indians came early
under the Influence of Christian mission
aries. and considering the fact that their
reservation is arid In natural character
and the further. fact that until recently
the government has done but little toward
furnishing them with means of irrigation
for the cultivation of their land. they
have gotten along admirably although
most of them are stil very poor.
Their Confidence shaken.
Zone of the difficulties the department
labors under at the present time is the
fact that the confidence of the Indians
in the intention of the whites has been
greatly shaken by an erroneous survey
which was made in 1890 for the purpose
OF establishing the western boundary of
their reserve. rms survey cut on from rom
the Yakima reservation approximately
800 acres of their most valuable timber
and grazing lands. | made an exhaust
i've report on this subject three years
ago, which led to an investigation and
resurvey by the geological department:
mis- was completed some time since, ana
the fact fully established that the con-
tention of the Indians was well founded
and that there was even more cut off
from their reserve than they had claim
ed.
but. in the meantime, since that err
roneous survey was made this land has
been opened for settlement, and title
has passed to innocent purchasers, ana
although no considerable amount has
been settled upon, yet enough has been
thus diverted TO make the 81 uation embar-
RAISING, as the Indians refuse TO sell aay
part OF the tract thus cut OH;
Another small tract has been con-
veved through errors to the Northern
Pacific Railway Company and has in turn
been sold. These transactions, as might
be expected, have had tendency TO
shake the confidence of the Indians. not
only in the white settlers themselves,
but in the department as well.
"A commission has been authorized to
try and adjust these matters, especially
that relating to the western boundaries,
but up to the present time they have
met with absolute refusal on the part
of the Indians to sell any part Of their
holdings. They held a council during my
recent visit at the agency at Fort Sim
coe, which was attended by many of the
leading Indians IL is quite customary
at all the agencies for the Indians to de-
sire to hold a council when an Inspector
arrives, they. believing that he comes
direct from the Great Father in Wash
ington This is the second council /
have held with these Indians, although
the last one was not full council of
tribes, while the former was nearly so.
sensible and Conservative.
"At both councils l found the Indians
very sensible conservative and a reason
able lot Of men. Their arguments are
such az are difficult to meet. They say
this reservation was set apart Tor us,
for our use and for the use OF our chill
dren; we were promised that the white
man should be kept on; that we would
have our hunting ground. our berry
patches and our pasturage for our horses
and cattle all to ourselves and undis-
turbed We were promised protection by
Washington, yet year after year en-
croachments have been made upon us,
and after our lands are occupied by
white people we are asked TO sell them
and whether we desire TO do SO or not,
they are taken from US, Two sawmiils
are now running within the boundaries
OF our reservation, our forest Is being
dennded, contrary to our Wishes They
ask me on their behalf to appeal to the
Great Father for Justice.
! told them the other day In council that
the mistake was not made by the sec
rotary OF the interior or the commits
sloner of Indian affairs nor was II made
according to the wish of the white peo-
ole OF the United States. but merely by
a surveyor. | told them that the depart
ment would gladly pay them fsr their
J lands. and tried to get them 10 fix a
price that would be satisfactory 10 their
people but their reply was: We do not
want TO sell any part Of our reservation.
we want to leave IL to our children All
we ask IL that the boundaries. as marked
out in the original treaty made witt
Gov. stevens in iNS. be restored. and
that We have that protection which we
were promised
Thus the matter rests. and although
some OF the emhafrassments viii have TO
be overcome. l am satisfied that Il is
not only the desire % the secretary Of
the Interior and the commissioner u
Indian affairs but ~ congress we'll
10 do justice 20 these people. and some
way will h. found 20 mete Il out"
GOV Mcconnell expects 90 start for
Tulaiip today. and will return to Seattle
IN about a week.