Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-17


GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOLS.
The Penobscot tribe OF Indians is a
nation, so recognized by the State in
treaty, and so long as 1t shall so remain
land its members reside within the State
ofMaine," the treaty stipulstions OF the
State with the tribe will be fulfilled. The
Indians number 400, live principally on
Old Town Indian island, maintain tribal
relations, are amenable to our laws, are
not taxed, do not vote, have police regu-
Ialions, support a cornet band, enjoy re-
ligion as Catholics, and are quiet, peace
able, iaw-abiding citizens.
They furnished more than twenty re-
cruits to the army, in crushing out the
rebellion, although not liable to military
duty. They made good soldiers, had no
assertions, and some are receiving United
states pensions.
Tue special appropriations for their
benefit, by the legislature of Maine, are
small. To provide the additional amount
necessary to live through the year, which
they do, proves that these Indians cannot
be so indoient and improvident ms gener-
ally supposed. OF the two tribes in Maine,
many respects, quite kept pace with the
first named.
The Penobseot tribe was originally in
possession of very valuable timber con-
sisting of all of the land watered by the
Penobscot river and its branches, all OF
which have been secured by the states of
Massac husetts and Maine. The first
recorded purchase was made by Massa-
chusetts In 1876. Ia 1918, the tribe also
sold to Massachusetts, another valuable
tract, reserving from the latter sale four
towns hips and nil the islands IN Penob-
scot river above aud including Old Town
Indian island. Tue Islands have been re-
tanned and are still owned and occupied
by the tribe.
In payment for the tract sold in 1918
they were to receive annually five hun
dred bushels of corn, fifteen barrels of
wheat -four, seven barrels of clear pork,
one hogshead of molasses, and one hun
bred yards of double breadth broadcloth,
to be red color one year and blue the next
year, land SO on alternately, fifty good
blankets, one hundred pounds OF gun
powder, four hundred pounds OF shot,
six boxes OF chocolate, one hundred and
fifty pounds of tobacco, and fifty dollars
In silver" The treaty obligation was as
sumed by Maine in 1920. The require
ments, as stipulated, have been complied
with, and fulfilled yearly to the present
time. And the agent distributes each
wear the specified articles in the month OF
October.
PURCHASE OF TOWNSHIPS.
In 1888 Maine purchased the four
townships before mentioned, paying the
tribe the sum OF $4,000 ''5aid sum Of
fifty thousand dollars to be deposited in
the State treasury, and the interest, reck-
oning from the date hereof, shall annual
Iy be paid under the direction OF the gov
ernor aud council of said State, through
the Indian agent, for the benefit OF the
tribe, provided it should, in their opinion,
be required for the comfortable support
of said tribe, and II at any time, at the
annual settlement, any part of said inter-
est should remain in the treasury unex-
pended, it shall be added to the principle
OF fifty thousand dollars and become a
part thereof, aud said sum of fifty thou
sand dollars, together with such increase
as it may from year to year receive, snail
forever remain in the treasury, an ac-
cumulating fund, for the benefit OF said
tribe"
One million dollars would undoubtedly
be low estimate of the present value oil
the four townships, together with timber
previously removed from them. III the
tribe were now receiving the interest
annually on that million dollars they
would not need to ask for the amount
which is granted to them in form OF gra-
tuities by the State each year, Tor iagri-
cultural purposes, schools, etc., amount.
ing to possibly $500. The balance OF
their annual appropriations being the
outcome of treaty stipulation ana lne
payment OF interest on their own Trust
fund in the hands of the State, ana tne
distribution OF their own shore rentals
This deposit OF $4,000 constituted the
germ OF the trust fund held by the state
for the benefit OF the Penobscot INDIANS
january /, 1864 it amounted to S52 ,4Ss. a.
The shores of the islands, heretofore
mentioned, reserved by the Indians are
valuable. being used for the purpose oil
Troubles of a Minister.