The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-06-21
OPENING Of SPO-
KANE RESERVE

Spokane, June although the
Spokane reservation in eastern Wash |
Rgton, to be opened to registration |
of applicants for homestead entry, |
July Is to August 5, at the United
States land Office In this city. con-
tains 1885, goo acres, of which $4,000
have been allotted to the Indians, !
only 5000 acres, classified as agricul- |
tural lands, will be thrown open to
settlement during the drawings at
Occur d 'Alene, Idaho, August 9. The
remaining $4,000 acres are timber
and mineral lands. The timbered
lands can not be entered. The res
ervation is 80 miles northwest Of
Spokane. AS proximity to markets
makes these lands desirable. it is
expected that thousands of homeseek-
ers will file applications.
The land surrounding the reser-
walton, which is served by the Co.
lumbia and Spokane rivers, has been
occupied for years. There are several
towns at distances of from IA to 20
miles on the south. These are Rear
dan, Davenport and Creston. Miles
Is on the reservation boundary, where
the waters Of the Spokane AMI Co.
lumbia rivers meet. The town was
formerly Fort Spokane. Captain
John MICA. Webster is the Indian
agent in charge. Springdale is three
aid one-half miles from the north
east corner of the reservation. At
each of these towns there are gener-
al stores and hotel and livery accom-
modations, while Reardan, Daven-
port and Springdale have banks.
These towns may be reached in a
few hours ride from Spokane and
from each is a good wagon road to
the reservation.
The land is level and is covered
with a scattering growth of yellow
pine trees, which will yield from
100000 to 100000 feet, board
measure, the quarter section. There
is little underground. There are two
sawmills, each within a mile of the
boundary of the reservation. The
soil is sandy with a little white clay
be rated as agricultural land of the
intermingled. 1t should probably
second class. The altitude Is 1900
ah lon or
than the city of Spokane. The eli
mate is similar to that of other por-
lions of the Inland Empire. There
are no high winds, as the valley at
that point is protected ymountain
hinges on both sides.
The land is best adapted to fruit
raising. Soil, climate and altitude
render it especially available for ap-
pie growing and small fruit culture.
To insure crops, irrigation sould be
provided. There is no water avail
able to be supplied by gravity, but
wells from 25 to 35 feet in depth
should provide ample supply.
Much of the land allotted to the
Indians has been and can be leased
through the Indian agent. When
an Indian dies his allotment, on ap-
plication of the heirs, is sold by the
Indian agent to the highest bidder
and the proceeds distributed among
the heirs. Lands belonging to In
dams, who are unable to utilize them
by reason of age, illness or disabil-
ity, may be sold in like manner.
Many OF these allotments are irri-
gible from springs and creeks cross
ing their own boundaries and are
suitable from the production of all
fruits grown in this climate. Peaches
and pears equal to the choicest fruits
exhibited in our expositions are
grown o nthese lands.
Chamokane creek, which bounds
the reservation on the east, is one
of the best trout streams in the
northwest. The reserve is a natural
haunt for pheasants, grouse and
quail, and there is some big game.
Heretofore whites were not permitted
to hunt on these lands without per-
mission from the Indian agent, and
asian Indian never carries a shotgun