Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-04-04
The Secretary of The Interior De-
cldeS a Troublesome Question
About Reservation Lines
THOMPSON LINE THE TRUE ONE
Ead Of Controversy That Threatened 10
Gust Several Poilsteh Farmers
From Their Homes.

The Lewiston land Office yesterday re-
ceived the decision just handed down by
the Secretary of the Interior regarding
the disputed boundary line OF the Nez
Perce Indian reservation. This is a final
disposal of the questions arising ont of
the conflicts which originated when the
Briggs survey made a new north boun-
Diary line Tor the reservation and home
steaders laid claim TO farms long since
patented. In his discussion Of the ex
parte case taken to the Department by
X. B. Dobbins the Secretary said:
This controversy grows out of an al.
legged conflict of surveys along the north
boundary of the Nez Perce Indian reser.
vation i'll Idaho. In 1895 a petition was
filed in your Office by persons claiming
to be the owners OF lands along the north
| boundary of said reservation as surveyed |
| by David =. Thompson. They alleged |
that Edison ID. Briggs, deputy surveyor,
had since then established new boun. |
dary line, claiming that il is the same as
the Thompson line, but which the peti-
TONERS alleged is about a half mile north
of the old reservation line as established
by Thompson, aud that by reason Of the
erroneous survey by Briggs lands have
been allotted to Indians, but were for.
merly surveyed as public lands of the
United States and patented to settlers
who are now in possession thereof, and
who have occupied them for many years.
The petition was referred to the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs for informa-
tion as to the alleged allotments of lands
north of the Thompson line, who re.
ported that the Office of Indian Affairs
has been informed of the conflict OF sur
veys along the north boundary of the
!, Nez Perce reservation and that allot
/ ments had been made i'll the south half
] of sections ID, IS and 10 in the south half
, south half OF section rs and one allot-
nent extending north of the south bouu-
/ Diary of section II.
5 ! "Your Office directed the local officers
at Lewiston, Idaho, to suspend the dis
! posal of lands in the sections affected by
/ the alleged conflict i'll township 81 N,
a ranges /, and ; w, and directed II. b.
7. Holiday, a special agent, to obtain
e the necessary data from the field notes
G and plats of the reservation surveys made
). by Thompson, Of the surveys made by
s jnJ b. David north of the reservation
line under contract of May rs, 1880, and
Il of the surveys made by Deputy Brigg.
c within the Nez Perce reservation, and [,
r. proceed TO the field and make inspection
Of the lines as located upon the grount
Vi with view to ascertaining whether tn,
allegations of the petitioners as to tn,
II conflict of surveys are well founded. II
d compliance Herewith an examination o
II the surveys along the north boundary o
said reservation, through the township
1t above mentioned, was made by said spe
er cial agent who made report thereof You
at Office, by letter OF June s. 1899, ioun
of that ii did not appear from said repor
IN that the erroneous surveys constitute
Is sufficient ground for re-survey, eithc
Id Of the public lands remaining or of In
at lands secured by settlers, that the resel
A. vation line was surveyed and the latte
er was re-run in the same locality, and it
or not probable that two parallel lines wei
nd run and marked for said boundary. III
order of suspension was therefore revoke
IlAl r. ~ l.,
'e who complained Of said erroneous su
to veys, filed his appeal from said decisio
ur alleging that he purchased from the Sta
ad Of Idaho lots /, 2, 3 and of Sec 10.
III 81 N, l W., containing 100 acres, al
during the same month made homeste;
ers entry of lots 3 and of Sec. IS, san
OF township and range, containing g acre
ng upon which he is now residing, and III
an the survey of Briggs locates the nor
ais boundary of said reservation about OF
AID half mile north of the cid reservation Ii
wo as surveyed and located by Thouipst
ing aud takes from the petitioner the
the acres purchased from the state and the
acres embraced in his homestead viii
ing were shown to be public lands by the I
the proved surveys previously made.
ad. The survey Of the exterior boundar
of the Nez Perce Indian reservation "
ied made by ID. =. Thompson, deputy $,
len veyor, i'll 1870. In 1880 n survey of
! a public lands in township 27 north, ran
M west, lying north Of said reservati'
'ho was made by John B. David, deputy s.
the veyor, who, as shown by the field no
IN and plat, closed his survey upon the mo-
nee boundary line Of the reservation as est
ace lished by Thompson. The approved ?
ook was filed in the local Office March
The 1851, and lands lying north of and alo
red said boundary have been disposed Of
Isl cordiug TO said survey. Lots /, 2, 3 a
of section 70 are represented by the