The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-11-19
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 $1,99s,744 to the
Six Nations Indians of New York state,
awarded to them by congress three
years ago, as the result of their ia
nous Kansas land claim against the
United States government. The In
dams who will receive the money num-
Der about 5000 and are included in the
Onondagas. 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
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 redsltin 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 1893 and signed
Knox. Secretary of War" This paper
was issued during Washington's adj
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 result of this the treaty with the
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, 179S," and is
signed Joseph w. Henry. Secretary
of War" 1t is n statement from Uncle
Sam. showing that the sum of 100000
had been received on deposit from the
Six Nations ct the United States treas
ury. Both Of these papers are orig
inals and very valuable. The 100000
referred to is the sum received Ey the
Indians from Robert Morris. the Phila-
Gelphia capitalist. for 100000 acres
of the richest land in New York state.
In 1897, when Morris bought the land.
he paid for it at the rate of two 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 end 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 goyos nment for 1,S24,0O0 acres
of land IN Kansas.
A ps oieet to settle on this land also
fell through. and the Indians did not
go to Kansas. In 1860 when the por-
ton of Kansas where the land Law was
opened forssettlement. white men took
mp the Indians land and in 1874 con-
gress passed law to sell the Indians
land in Kansas to white settlers. in
spite of the fact that 40 ye2rs before
they.had given this land TO tha Indians.
After 20 wears of constant efforts con
rress in 1900 passed the law authoriz-
ing the payment of nearly 100000
for the land in dispute.
The Six Nations, now numbering
about COCO, still retain $4,000 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 cb-
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 totalnearly $3.50
600, on which the Indians annually
draw interest.