The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-08-27

Seattle, August 16, 1915.
H,1 Bo. Sweeney, Assistant Secretary
Of the Interior, Washington, D. G.
Ny dear Mr.. Sweeney:-A few weeks
ssC I made trip into the Okanogan
country, primarily Tor the purpose of
Investigating questions relating to the
opening of the Colville Indian Rescr-
yaton. | had hoped to talk with you
personally about the matter when you
we're here in Seattle. but, unfortunate
y did not have the opportunity. am
therefore, writing this letter hoping
that may influence you to lend your
assistance to the end that this reser-
vatlon may be opened
will not take time to argue the
reasons why public policy demands
that this reservation be opened, OF
The advantages that will come from
ibis action. These arc well understood
aud admitted by all, but will attempt
70 give some answers to the reasons
you set forth in a recent letter to
Senator Poindexter in reply to his Of
april 81, 1915, as te why the opening
should be delayed.
We, Of this state, knowing you were
aVestern man, depended upon you for
assistance in these matters and we
did not expect you 10 be carried away
with the theories and vagaries born
Of the narrow Environments surround
ing the average man that deals with
questions of the public domain. Frank
Y, the people of this state have been
disappointed at the contents of your
letter. find that sentiment in favor
opening this reservation is univer-
sal among those who live in proxim-
unity to 1t and who, not from reports
per diem experts, but from
their own knowledge, know the facts
add conditions. Of course, selfish in
efests must be cons idered but selfish
interests in any American community
aonot entirely control it's judgment.
Will now answer in detail some o. the
objections set forth in your letter to
40 immediate opening.
lou say that from information re-
eelVed from the cha rman of the COM
Mission and from other sources not
aaned. you believe there would be
very little land left after allotment
uI would appeal to the homesteader.
| met and talked with several men
Sao are familiar with this reservation
aad who have been all over all, or the
greatest portion of it. Some of them
add oeen with the government party.
hol them spoke from personal obser-
auon and from knowledge gained not
aV oy having been over the reseva-
u@ out from having lived for some
''Ars IN the west, and every one of
usn unhesitatingly and emphatically
'~fadlcted the statement of the
chairman upon this oint.
lou Know the class of men that live
uis western country, and while it
va! De urged that their opinion may
~s~ayed by local influences, no one
WI claim that this influences their
ru0ic statements as to the facts
again, the chairman of the commission
aamlttedly an eetimable and able
uaa' but what qualification does he
seSess to know what lands in this
NS would appeal to the homesteader
'Ou and | know of many thousands OF
'NS IN this state pronounced a few
'' ago, by men os the highest intel
s'uce and with some experience in
A'' western country, as absolutely
''O''nless, that today bloom and
s'O'som as the rose" ard is among the
~Os' valuable land for agricultural
IpoSes in the wovld. From direct
Nsuce given to me, the chairman
NV most Of this reservation from the
ue OF the office at Nespelem.
'O' after all, the only man who ii