The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-30
TO BUNCO THE INDIANS.
Crafty White Men Trying to Steal
Their Lands.

Crafty White Men Trying to Steal
Their Lands.
A very smooth swindling plan being
operated by white men on the Colville
Indian reservation has just been I'M
earthed by United States Indian In
spector w. j. Mcconnell and a report
will be made at once to the depart
ment of the interior, says the Spokane
Chronicle. The result may be look
ed for in short time, when it is ex-
pected the local police on the reser-
walton will be notified to forcibly eject
white men who are taking advantage
OF the mineral laws.
Mr.. Mcconnell, who is ex-governor
of the state of Idaho, is stopping at
the Grand hotel, having just returned
from his inspection of the Colville res
ervation, where he spent about two
weeks. During that time he has gath
cred plenty of data which will con-
vince the authorities at Washington.
D. c., that the Indians are being
fleeced out of their lands by the over
assertive white squatter.
The mineral law is the means by
which the sooners are committing this
unlawful act. Both lode and placer
claims are being staked out in all Sec
lions of the reservationL one man
sometimes taking five or six
claims, till he gets enough property to
make townsite.
The plan was described by the gov
ernor as follows:
During the short intermission be-
tween the opening of the reservation
and the time the allotments were is
sued to the Indians was when the work
was done. The Indians had been
placed on their ground, but the patents
to their land had not yet been oftici-
ally issued, and this short time was
taken advantage of by white men.
"They have located mineral claims
in large numbers and have encroach-
| ed upon the Indian allotments. The
Indians are powerless to protect them
selves and it remains for the authori.
ties to do this. They make these To-
cations with no other intention than
to plat townsites, and in time will
reap big profits. AS man is not
limited to any number of claims so
long as he does the assessment work
it is very easy matter to get enough
land in one plat. In one instance l
know where one of these located min
ing claims took in an old Indians barn
which he had used for years. The
white man afterward offered to sell
the Indian the lot on which the barn
stood for large sum and l suppose
there are other cases.
do you know mineral rock when
you see it? Well, let me show you
what they are swearing to be mineral
rock in that country"
Here the governor went into an ad-
joining room and brought out hand
kerchief, from which he produced a
piece of common country rock such
as might be found in any rough coun.
try. AS he showed the rock he indulg
ed in a hearty laugh at the idea OF
such rock containing even a trace OF
gold.
i "This is the first time I have ever
noticed a game of this kind being
worked on the Indians" he said, "and
| will make report to the depart
ment of the interior. What action will
be taken l cannot exactly state, but
the authorities will certainly not al
low the Indians to be imposed on II
= this way. They have their police OF
the reservation, and all that would b.
needed would be orders to forcibl!
eject these intruders. cannot sa.
!, exactly how many there are who ar
!. violating the law in this way, bu
there are great many of of them.
Il also find that white men VIII
have taken their homesteads are IL
eating mineral land adjoining thei
property to enlarge their places. o
course they swear it is mineral LAND
and that settles it. but there is no NOR
mineral in most of it than there is i
l. that rock.