Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-10-10
INDIANS WANT
THEIR LANDS
Quiniault Indians Complain to
Congressman Of Methods
of Handling Lands
THEY WANT ALLOTMENTS
Reserve Should be Opened to
Development. Would be
Source of Revenue

A congressional committee was in
Tacoma a couple of days this week,
inspecting the condition of Indian af-
fairs, and examined into charges made
by members of the Quiniault tribe in
reference to the leasing of their lands
for oil prospecting, by Superintendent
H. H. Johnson. These charges were
made by William Garfield, Joe Copo-
man and several Indians of Taholah,
who allege theip lands have been leas-
ed without their consent.
II wasn't even asked for a lease, "
said Garfield who was in Aberdeen
Tuesday evening, returning to his
home. He is one of the leading men,
bers of the tribe.
The we'll on which drilling was to
be commenced this week by the In
dian Oil company of Tacoma is on
land allotted to one of Garfield's sons.
"By whose authority are they drill
ing on my land when l have not CIV
en- my consent?" was the question Gar
field put to the commission and which
was passed on to Mr. johnson during
the investigation.
One of the charges is that Johnson
engineered a conference last Novem-
ber at which the Indians were depriv-
ed of their individual right to lease
their lands for oil.
Mr.. Johnson was called to testify
and said that a full council of the
Quiniaults would be a little more
than 100; that he didn't know how
many had been notified of the leas.
ing council by his representative; that
about so we're present; that 15 OF
them voted for the leases, and there
was not dissenting vote. 4.
Mondays session of the committee
lasted until II p. M, when the com
mission decided to prolong it's work
One of its features was the testimony
Of Joseph Capoman that his babe
less than two years old. had been in
duced to sign a paper leasing land
allotment to private parties for oil
prospecting.
Indians Want Their Lands
The Indians entitled to land allot
ments on the Quiniault reservation are
not pleased with the recent order
ctonrinO tho uork of a11otinv nc thov
believe they should have their land
in severality, and should reap what
benefits they may out of the enhanc.
ed value Of the timber and the pos.
sible oil development. The various
tribes interested are planning to send
a delegation to Washington to learn
the cause of stopping the work of al
lotment.
There are about 1900 Indians yet
entitled to 80 acres of land each on
this reservation, and it is contended
that If they all we're assigned their
holdings, it would permit the develop
ment OF that section Of the county,
and add materially to the taxable
wealth Of Chehalis county. Once the
Indians were served, the balance Of
this large. rich body Of land could be
placed on the market and sold, and
thus find its way to the local tax lists.
Sell Timber In Small Tracts
Doubtless, the government will de.
sire to get the most money possible
out Of the valuable timber in this re.
gion. and it is suggested that this will
best be accomplished by offering 1t
in tracts Of not more than 100 acres,
90 that persons of small means may
invest. It should be sold on contract
with a fixed number Of years in which
to remove it. and this timber could be
made taxable at once. This would
enable the county to develop that sec.
tion with roads and school houses and
would soon induce railroad construc.
tion.
To secure the small purchaser Of
SAAAO0ts Su0 oSA Va CO08IcUD &0SuVIlB'
ing the sale should provide that all
rail and logging roads built on the
reserve should be common carriers.
subject to the rules and regulations
Of the state public service commission
thus preventing any large concern
from bottling up the timber of the
smaller owners.
The Indians contend that the pro.
.ceeds Of the timber on their lands
to say nothing OF the oil prospects
would, If properly conserved, be su:-
ficient to place their lands in a high
state Of cultivation, and place them
in easy circumstances. They point
to the fact that few more than 1000
Indians on the klamath reservation
in Oregon, own nearly a half million
acres Of the finest forest land on the
Pacific slope. Their half million acres
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