Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1903-10-23
MONEY FOR INDIANS.
Government to Pay for Kansas Land
Granted to Settlers.
Nearly Two million Dollars to ne nj
vided Among a,OOO Red Men oe
the SIX Nations IN New
York state.

The interior department, through
Indian Commissioner Jones, is making
preparations to pay Si,o0s,744 to ths
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
her about 6,oo0 and are included in TIL.
onondagas, Oneidas. Cayugas, Senecss
81. Regis. Tuscaroras, Stockhridges
Musees and Brothertowns tribes
Each individual will receive approx
imately $500, and the money will BE-
paid BY check to prevent frauds, SAYS
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 redslsin out OF
what was rightfully his. Several his
torical documents OF almost priceless
value figure in the case.
One OF the documents Is sheepskin
parchment, dated 1903, 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 request
from the government for the Indiana
to hold convention and sign treaty
with the newly established common
wealth wrestcd from Great Britain.
AS result of this the treaty with tho
New York Indians OF 1894 was signed,
which brought peace TO the western
boundaries OF the infant republic.
The second document Is dated "War
Department. May IA. i7os," and il
signed Joseph w. Henry, Secretary
OF War" 1t Is n statement from Uncle
Sam. showing that the sum of $1o0, 900
had been received on deposit from the
Six Nations at the United States treas
ury. Both of these papers are orig
inals and very valuable. The 100000
referred to Is the sum received by the
Indians from Robert Morris, the Phila-
delphia capitalist, for 100000 acres
Of the richest land IN New York state.
In 1897, when Morris bought the land,
he paid for 1t 1T the rnte of two cents
an acre.
The Kansas claim originated in 1898.
although nothing was heard Of 1t 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 year the
Indians traded the land In Wisconsin
to the government for 1924 900 acres
of land IN Kansas.
A project to settle on this land also
fell through, and the Indians did not
go to Kansas. In 1860, when the por-
tion OF kansns where the land 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-
gress in 1900 passed the law authorix~
ing the payment Of nearly $e,000,00o
for the land in dispute.
The Six Nations. now numbering
about 6,0o0 still retsin $4,000 acres In
the richest part of New York state.
They are wealthy and Industrious, and
hive in the United States treasury
Iarve sum ~ money. The 100000 OBJ
tained from Robert Morris In 1877 10
still untouched and TO that has been
added by various sales Of land sums
" hich have made the total nearly $780,
n0o on which the Indians annually
draw interest.