Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-02-03
HOAIESTEADERS ASK
CONGRESS TO AID
Many Settlers on Occur d'Alene Res
ervation Unable to Make Pay
ments to Uncle Sam--Peti-
ton Congress for Aid.

The settlers who acquired lands
in the Occur d'Alene Indian reserve
in the drawing in August, 1909. have
prepared petition to congress ask
ing that they be relieved of payment
for the land, which was appraised at
from 81 to SIS per acre. Congress
is asked to make an appropriation
amounting to approximately $4,000
600, to make final payment to the
Occur d'Alene Indians for the land
appropriated for settlem ent. The
petition already bears the signatures
of practically all of the 1000 set
tiers on the Occur d'Alene reserva-
ton and is expected to be signed by
all before it is submitted.
Unless congress grants some sort
Of relief for the settlers it will be
necessary for the greater number Of
them to throw up their claims" says
Attorney A. G.. Elston of Spokane,
who is appearing for the petitioners.
1T is impossible for the settlers,
most of whom are without capital, to
support themselves and meet the
payments on their claims"
Lest congress refuses to comply
with the petition an alternative pro-
position is made in which congress
is asked to amend the act Of June 81,
1906, so as to provide that no pay
ments shall be made until proof is
submitted and then requiring those
making Communication proof to pay
only $1.25 an acre.
Inability to meet the next assess
ment or the subsequent payments in
the time allowed is given as the di-
rect cause for asking congress to re-
lieve them of further payment. The
petitioners declare that the physical
conditions, perquisite to crop cult
walton were not fully appreciated by
the settlers proir to the entry; that
the settlers who made entry under
numbers assigned to them were not
required to have seen the land be-
fore entry and all, excepting a very
few, had only enough capital to make
the first payment and build them
selves homes; that great many, in
fact probably majority of them,
came from states where the land was
prairie, level and suitable for till
age, and that the land ON the reser-
walton, although classified as agricul-
tural land, is practically timber land,
and that the timber will have to be
cleared before they can make a Tiv-
ing off the land.
The settlers assert that as they eX-
pended all their money in building
| homes and in getting settled and as
they have no sources Of income other
| than the land and crops they should
| be relieved of the subsequent pay
ments. AS the government does not
permit the settlers to cut the timber
except for the purpose of clearing
the land for agricultural purposes
aud as only about five acres can be
cleared year it must appear obvious
to congress that they will be unable
| to earn livelihood. In the major
| ity of the cases the settlers have
scant provisions for the winter
The settlers also set forth in their
| petition that timber from five-acre
or small tracts is not readily sold and
that until the soil is titled and cult
waited they have absolutely no source
of income. A majority of the set
tiers have no further means.
When the surplus unallotted lands
of the reservation were opened to
settlement and entry in 1910 the
lands were appraised by the secre-
tary of the interior at approximately
$500 a claim.
The first payment, amounting to
approximately 81 100000, was paid
the government and by the govern
ment to the Occur d'Alene Indians
during 1910.