The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-02-05
FUTURE OF SEMINOLE
INDIANS OF FLORIDA
PFiIantElrOpic FI0ridianS Aided by Sena
tor TaIiaferrO-lndia Inspector Advises
Against Further AIIOtmentS.
Especial Cor jacksonville Times Union)

/ i ne JdChSOuN1liG lIuSS- OnlOn u
Thursday contained the following I'M
der Wilmington date line:
The future of the Seminole Indian
/ of Florida is a problem which has in
| terested a number of philanthropic cit
liens of Florida among whom are
Bishop William Crane, Capt. F. A.
| Hendry, of Lee county, and Mr.. J. e.
| Ingraham, of ST. Augustine.
In 1899 the Legislature of Florida
passed an act setting apart certain
! lands for the Indians, and these gen.
tlemen sought to interest the general
government in the proposition to CO.
| operate with the state government in
setting apart a permanent reservation
for the use of the Indians. These gen.
! tlemen communicated with Senator
! TaliafeTro on the subject, but at that
! time there were so many important
matters of interest to Florida, among
them the Florida Indian War Claim,
that it was found best to defer action
until later. -.-......s ...... -...
Some days ago Senator Taliferre adj
| dressed a letter to the Secretary of
the Interior on the subject, as toll
| lows:
Taliaferro's Letter.
Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of
the Interior, etc.: Ny Dear Sir.--I
beg to hand you herewith a memorial
| adopted by the House of Represents
tives of Florida in 1899 asking that
! certain government lands in the state
be set apart for the use of the Semi
mole Indians. / send also copy of
the act of the Legislature setting
apart certain lands in Florida for the
use OF the Indians.
1T is the desire of those who have
! inquired into the condition of the In
dians to secure for them an unbroken
tract of land as permanent reserva-
ton. You are familiar with the condi-
ton of the Indians in Florida, and it
is hardly necessary for me to call your
attention TO the fact that during the
I last few years south Florida has de-
velOped rapidly under the influence
of railroad constitution. and the influx
of large number of immigrants, and
/ that. as q result, the encroachment
4 upon the natural hunting grounds OF
the Indians has been rapid. The Sem,
| inoles do not appear to be ambitious
for education or to acquire the arts of
| civilization, and before very long il is
likely that they will be thrown un.
equipped into competition for a liveli.
hood against the civilized race.
Il shall greatly appreciate it if YOU
will look into this subject and give me
your views upon it, and. If, possible
! your cooperation in some measure BY
which the condition of the Seminoles
NAV be imDrOVed
JAMES P. TALIFERRo."
Replying to this, the Secretary OF
the Interior writes as follows:
Hitchcock's Reply.
jap. "a. 1905.-Hon. J. P. Italia
ferrO, United States Senate: Sir
| have the honor to acknowledge tbs
receipt of your communication of the
18th inst, inclosing a memorial adopt
ed by the House of Representatives
OF the state of Florida, in 1889, ask
ing that certain government lands III
the state be set apart for the use oil
the Seminole Indians, also a copy Of
an act OF the Legislature of the state
approved May 20, 1899, setting apart
certain lands specified therein for thu
use and benefit of the said Indians.
You ask for an expression of nv
views on the subject of the improve
ment of the present condition of these
Indians, and the cooperation of thi.
department in some measure by
which the same may be brought about
In response, | transmit herewith
for your information a copy of a re
port made by United States Indian In
spector G. +. Nesler, made under date
of February %, 1904, after an inves
tigation, under instructions of the de
partment, which shows the attitude O
the Indians and the local authorities
: in all attempts to better their condi
= lions. This department has mad,
earnest efforts for many years to in
= duce these Indians to settle in some
permanent home, and large purchase.
of lands have already been made by
the government for that purpose, bu
as shown in the inspectors repor
they apparently distrust all efforts e
help them, and it is believed unwise
as well as unnecessary, to make AM
further purchases of lands for theii
benefit. Very respectfully,
E. A. HITCHCOCK,
Secretary of Interior.
The report referred to is as fol
| lows:
Inspectors Report.
: Washington, d. c., Feb. %. 1904
Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of tht
Interior: Sir. BY department in
: structions of December 22,1903, / was
. directed TO ascertain if the Seminol,
Indians located in the state of Florida
were occupying the lands purchases
for their use; the present conditioi
OF the Indians and any facts concern
: ing their welfare that would enabl,
the department to determine what fur
Their action should be taken in regarC
TO them; also ascertain what provl
slons the state of Florida had made TO
said Indians.
These Instructions have been car