The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-17

's Agency -. -
pewa Indians. There were some items Of
necessary for the judge to
collect before the next session of con-
eress, 50 he decided to combine business
with pleasure and take his vacation here
and at the same time consult his dusky-;
hued clients. III --t.--. =,
Last Saturday, in company with Major
Scott, acting Indian agent, he went to
Onigum and soon had Chief Falmouth
and several other headmen In consuta-
ton. Simon Bonga acted as interpreter.
It seems that away back in the forties
when the Sioux and the Chippewas were
engaged in the work OF DISCRIMINATING
each other, a treaty was negotiated by
commission of whom Judge Wright, now
Of Washington, was one. BY this treaty
the Chippewas relinqutshed to the general
government 900 acres Of their lands in
Minnesota for which they were to be
paid $1.25 an acre. All the compensation
they have received so far amounts to
s14 900, and some Of that was paid in mer
chandise. It is natural for the ChippeWas
to desire theiropay. They have been stood
off from year to year with faint promises
and any white men would come to the
same conclusion as the >ChfppeWas} that
the government did not intend, to keep
faith with them. 49, -..-
Now. they are going to see whether the
government will keep it's solemn prom
Uses stipulated in binding treaty. In the
treaty was a clause that in order to stop
any further strife between the two tribes
the government should place a peaceful
and neutral tribe of Indians in the terri
tory occupied by the two enemies. This
was never done and it became necessary
for the Chippcwas, in order to live in the
rfr1y oil TO nj fnJ1v
History best tells how this was done
The Chippewas, having implicit confidence
in the honesty and integrity Of Judge
Matthews, engaged his services.
Matter Of AIIotments. r.. =
After the treaty matter was disposed Of
the question Of allotments under the Mel.
| son law, amended by the Morris law, wa:
| taken up. Then cropped out the restless
| and incontinent disposition Of the In
dams. Under the provisions of the Mel
son law every Indian on the Chippews
reservation was to be given an allotmen
Of eighty acres. The Chippewa commits
| sion did not do very good work in making
| the alotments., The law contemplate
! that the allottees should have only agri
cultural lands, yet large number Of then
have their allotments on some of the fines
| timber lands in the reservation. In orde
to carry out the provisions of the Morri
amendment to the Nelson law the Indian
! were to have their allotments before tn
land was opened to settlement or the tim
/ Der sold for their benefit. For more tina
a year Major Scott, acting Indian agen
has been busy trying to satisfy every In
dian.
! Those who had been given allotment
in swamps or overfiowed lands or othe
undesirable places have been placed Q
the best agricultural land that could
found, yet in spite of the work performe
by Major Scott in his efforts to carry OF
the law, many of the Indians will nc
even go near their allotments becaus
they want them with large quantities
pine. They know the law as well as an
white man governing their allotments.
Timber VS.. Agricultural Lands.
It was wise provision Of the govern
ment to place them on agricultural LAND
in order that they might in years to CON
have lands that would be valuable
them, besides learning to farm and az
sumo the habits of the whites. Whe
they made their complaints to their a
torney he told them there could be r
cause Of dissatisfaction on the grounds
!, not getting proper allotments. Howeve
, they cannot understand how it is thu
. some have valuable timber lands viii
. some have to take agricultural lands.
This matter being explained to ther
their next cause Of complain was th
under the provisions Of the Morris la
, 225, 900 acres Of land were set aside f
a forest reserve for which no provisit
. was made for their payment This lal
: contains a vast amount Of both whi
- pine and Norway and the Indians natu
!, ally wants to know who Is going to p;
= for this.
), Matthews Difficult Task.
= Then comes the reservation of Star a.
: other islands. in Cass lake and the Pi
Point reservation of several thousa
= acres in. Leech lake. 1t was impossible
- the time of the passage Of the Morris Il
= to incorporate any appropria tons in it
y reimburse the Indians for the think
= taken away from them or the reservatio
- made for the forest reserve or the Ian
., that go to the forestry bureau for ]
10 forestration purposes. The Indians {
Indebted to the general government
advance payments made under the n
- son law and they will be credited w
: the reservations taken from them.
- It will take long time to untangle
~ trouble, but Judge Matthews Is conf1d'
ar IL will be accomplished. Senator Cla
s who is on the committee of Indian affai
IA is very much interested in seeing that
Indians get all that is coming to them 8
will bend every effort to that end.
o. Judge Matthews gave his clients so
Id very. excellent advice. He explained
he them the slow process of getting anyth
;e, done in congress and for them to lis