The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-08-25
MONEY FOR INDIANS.
Government to Pay for Kansas Land
Granted to Settlers.
Nearly Two Million Dollars to BE DI-
vided Among 5000 Red Men of
the Six Nations dn New
York state.

The interior department, through
Indian Commissioner Jones, is making
preparations to pay 1898, 744 to the
Six Nations Indians of New York state,
awarded TO them by congress three
years ago, as the result of their fa-
nous Kansas land claim against the
United States government. The In
dians Who will receive the money mum
Der about 5000 and are included in the
O%nondagas, Oneidas. Cayugas, Senecas,
st. Regis, Tuscaroras, Stockbridges,
Muses. and Brothertowns tribes.
Each individual will receive approx.
imately $500, and the money will be
paid by check to prevent frauds, says
a Washington report.
The history of the Six Nations claim
against the government is interesting
and shows another attempt of the
white man to cheat the redskin out of
what was rightfully his. Several his
torical documents of almost priceless
value figure in the case.
One of the documents is a sheepskin
parchment, dated 1898, and signed
Knox, Secretary of War" This paper
was issued during Washington's ad-
ministration The paper is addressed
ITO the Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors
of the Six Nations,'' and is a request
from the government for the Indians
to hold a convention and sign a treaty
with the newly established common
wealth wrested from Great Britain.
As a result of this the treaty with the
Natxr NCrI TnIsaY,rH - I ~O4H ,-osr ~ rx,,I
which brought peace to the western
boundaries Of the infant republic.
The second document is dated "War
Department, May IA, 1885," and is
signed Joseph w. Henry, Secretary
of War" 1t is a statement from Uncle
Sam, showing that the sum of 100000.
had been received on deposit from the
Six Nations at the United States treas
ury. Both of these papers are orig
mails and very valuable. The $1,000
referred to is the sum received by the
Indians from Robert Morris, the Phila-
delphia capitalist. for 5000. 600 acres
of the richest land in New York state.
In 1897, when Morris bought the land,
he paid for it at the rate of W cents
an acre.
The Kansas claim originated in 1888,
although nothing was heard of it at
that time. In that year the New York
Indians decided to move west and pur-
chased 100000 acres of land in Wiscon-
sin. For some reason they did not
make the trip and the same wear the
Indians traded the land in Wisconsin
TO the government for 1,S24,000 acres
of land IN Kansas.
A pr oiect to settle on this land also
fell through. and the Indians did not
go to Kansas. In 1860. when the por-
tion of Kansas where the and lay was
opened for settlement, white men took
up the Indians land and in 1873 con-
gress passed a law to sell the Indians
land in Kansas to white settlers, in
spite of the fact that 40 years before
they had given this land to the Indians.
After 20 years of constant efforts con
ing the payment of nearly $4,000 600
for the land in dispute.
The Six Nations, now numbering
about 5000, still retain $1,000 acres in
the richest part of New York state.
They are wealthy and industrious. and
have in the United States treasury a
large sum of money. The 100000 OBJ
tanned from Robert Morris in 1897 is
still untouched and to that has been
added by various sales of land sums
which have made the total nearly $780,
600, on which the Indians annually
draw interest.