Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-20

source but the only avenue from which
immediate assistance must come. So
| liciting your early consideration of this
matter, and thanking you In advance for
4 favorable response, | am very truly
yours, A. NJ. LINN,
In behalf Iowa Board of HEALTH
"A prompt response was received from
Secretary Hitchcock, stating that the
matter had been referred to Hon. Will
lam A. Jones, commissioner of Indian
affairs, for reply. No response having
been received from the honorable COM
missioner, after some two weeks waits
ing, / addressed himself personally upon
the matter. l especially urged upon his
attention the fact of the danger of the
spread of the disease. which obtained in
such serious form in this camp. l stated
to him that the government of the state
was not only unable, but had no au
thority, to enter the reservation for the
purpose of disinfecting it. Notwith-
standing that the original report was in
his hands, the honorable commissioner
TO this date has not by any sign or token
given any evidence of the fact that 1t
was ever brough. to his attention. Pos
sibly the subject may be pigeonholed in
his department. Possibly he may think
Il a subject of so little moment as scarce
~ to be worthy of consideration among
the serious social matters demanding his
notice. To the citizens of Iowa, and
especially to those living in cities ada
cent to the reservation, the subject is
one of very grave concern. Numerous
letters are received from the mayors and
health authorities asking that something
be done. They ask that the infected and
poisoned effects of the Indians, usually
property of little value, shall be de-
stroyed. The state, however, has no au-
thority to destroy them. Indeed, If it
had the authority from the interior de-
rartment, it yet has no funds with
which to compensate the Indians for
their losses. 1t is not at all probable
that the Indians will consent peaceably
to the destruction of their wickiups and
worthless effects. Whatever is done
must be done under the supervision of |!
the government and by the United
States authorities. If their huts are de- |
stroyed, they must be supplied at least
with tents. and with sufficient clothing
and blankets to protect them. The whole /
problem is very perplexing one. At
the present time / am informed the In
dams are demanding that the quarantine
restrictions be removed. The people liy- |
ing adjacent to the reservation are like I
wise importuning the health authorities
OF the state that the camp shall be reno
waited The state board of health has
asked from the government that means
be provided for doing so, and the gov
ernor. while anxious. is wholly unable to
grant the relief desired The govern
ment, having been importuned, has
failed to respond to this date The ques-
ton is therefore again respectfully sub
mitted to this board in the hope that t
some way may be devised whereby the
my be cleaned up. the IN
clans given relief and the quarantine
removed. The outgoing gov
ernor carries with him to Washington an
urgent appeal from the health authori-
ties of the state that the subject be CIV
i'll immediate consideration. The incom
ing administration is very anxious to
lend whatever assistance is in its power
to the accomplishment of the same OBJ
jcct.r
1--WE sincerely hope that some way
may be devised in the very near future
W Whereby the difficulties may be removed,
and the desired end attained. Very re-
submitted,
"a. NJ. LINN. NJ. D."