The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-05-16

thirds OF this was low swamp land
and the high land on the tract is al
ready planted with Indians two and
three deep, as it has been used for
burial purposes for the last three
hundred years. The government also
agreed in this Morris act to disinter
all bodies of Indians to be found
around the lake and renter them
there. But not one has been removed
and probably never will. About this
time number of families removed
to White Earth, but about six hundred
still hang to their beloved Mile Laos
like grim death.
During the winter of 1900 the writer
was prevailed upon to take the four
main chiefs to Washington and en-
deavor to have treaty made to
satisfy the band by a payment of
some lump sum for their loss and
damages occasioned by the occupancy
OF their lands. previous to their sign
ing the Nelson bill, and which the
government conceded they had an un-
disputed right to before that time.
Arriving in Washington Senator Mel
son, with the assistance of Repre-
sentative Morris and the Indian
commissioner, did agree to certain
appropriations and had them embodied
in the general Indian appropriation
bill, which if it had been carried
through would have compensated the
Indians in large degree for their
loss. But another Beaulieu, a pre-
tended friend, who was there at the
time, having been refused recognition
by the Indian commissioner for the
payment of claim which he pre-
sented against the Indians, went be-
tore the cOncurrenceico of the
two houses with a few of his demo-
cratic senatorial friends and blocked
the whole matter. AS there was no
provision embodied in the bill there
was no chance for him to make any
illegal collection. The following
winter another bill was worked
through congress but for a consider
able less amount than first intended.
The wording of this bill was so loose
that Beaulleu managed to secure his
claim all right, although the secretary
OF the interior and the Indian commits
sioner both tried by every legitimate
means to prevent it. The next summer
Major Mclaughlin, the special agent,
and Indian Agent Simon Michelet,
with myself, made the appraisement
covering the forty thousand dollars
appropriated by congress for the
loss and damages, and which the In
dams accepted in full of all claims,
and agreed, upon the payment of the
same, to leave Mile Laos and remove
to White Earth.
The Minnesota legislature in 1901
voted to the Historical society of the
state a sufficient appropriation to en-
able it to prosecute a more satis-
factory archaeological exploration of
the northern part of Minnesota, and
especially to locate the great town of
Kathio, the home of the Nadouessioux.
Mile Laos lake occupies unique
position. There are no large streams
entering its waters. but it is fed by
forty-three small lakes which are
scattered about in four adjoining
counties. These lakes act as artificial
reservoirs for the main lake. The
lake has an elevation of twelve hun
dred and ffty-four feet above sea
level, the general contour of the coun-
try sloping off to the east, west,
north and south. The village of Ait
kin is tifty-fve feet lower than Mile
Laos.
Hon. j. V. Brewer was given
the task of definitely locating prehis-
torlc Kathio and he spent the most of
the summer of 1899 at Mile Laos, and
with the writer succeeded in mapping
the outlines of the original village.
The next summer he, in company with
D. j. Bushnell, jr., an accomplished
engineer, made much more complete
survey and a map was made of the
whole country, all of which is en-
bodied in a volume furnished the
Historical society, and from which
many of the items mentioned in this
article were taken.
j. V. Brewer was a forceful writer
and an elaborate accumulation of lost
and forgotten facts. He was a man
whose name should be honored, as he
has saved to our history a vast fund
OF information which would otherwise
have been lost.
In future years some scion of the
Mile Laos may succeed in searching
out and compiling, tie history of the
rise and fall of his race, and although
he will find an unbroken series of
broken promises and treaties by the