The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-04-15
ARE AFTER INDIAN LANDS.
White Men Await Opening of Yaki,
ma Reservation.

TOPPENISH. April 13.-The ques-
ton as to when the Yakima Indian
| reservation will be opened up so that
white men may purchase part of the
allotted Indian lands, is one that in
terests the whole state. but 'particu-
larly is 1t interesting to the people Of
the Yakima valley.
Its opening would furnish new
homes to the extent of $50 900 acres
of tillable and irrigable land. Con-
gresham Wesley L. Jones recognized
this fact from the very beginning of
his career as a servant of the state
He recognized. too, that to straight
en- out the tangled red tape that
wound in and around the admins.
tration and affairs of an Indian res
ervation was no small task Obsta-
Gle after obstacle had to be remov-
ed before final adjustment and ac-
tual sale could take effect. The In
dams rights must be protected The
Indian department and the sense of
justice of the people demanded this.
Throughout all measures introduce
ed by him affecting the reservation,
Congressman Jones respected the In
ing about legislation that would turn
the Indian sagebrush land into fertile
American homes it was necessary
that the land first of lal be irrigated
Special enactments were necessary
along this line before the irrigating
of the reservation could be turned
over to the reclamation service. it
being thought that the reclamation
service was in a position to much
more economically put water on the
lands than was the Indian depart-
ment. To put all irrigating work in
the hands of the reclamation service
would also smooth the way to adjust
many of the troubles that arose from
the conflicting interests. After this
problem was satisfactorily solved
Ar Jones introduced bill which be-
came a law, allowing the Indians TO
sell 90 acres of their holdings. the
Indian 70 retain 90 acres. which was
to be improved out of the funds re-
ceived for the 60 acres.
Jones Fights for Opening.
Had this law been put into active
operation it would have doubtless
satisfactorily settled the opening of
the reservation. but here again the
red tape tangled things up. In some
lneomprehensible manner il seems to
have been necessary for all OF the
inherent departments to have a
whack at the reservation before the
bill should take effect Amendment
after amendment has been offered To
this bill by Mr.. Jones in order TO
straighten things out. till it should
prove satisfactory TO the different de-
partments. At last it is firmly be-
lieved that Mr.. Jones persistent ham
mering away on this proposition will
bear fruit
Orders have been received bv Sn-
perintendent jay Lynch stopping the
giving OF any further titles to indi-
vidual Indians. This is a recognition
OF the Jones bill by the interior de-
partment that leads every one here
10 believe that the end is in sight and
that as soon as some minor red tan
ism is swept aside, Mr.. Jones long
continued efforts will be rewarded
hy the real opening of the Yakima
indian reservation. thus giving 10 tho
white mans use the splendid tract
OF land that Is now kept in sagebrush
by the indolency of the larger mar,
OF the Yakima Indians.