The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-26
!CATAWBA INDIANS
SEEK SETTLEMENT
Want Land Grants and Annual
Allowance

Rock Hill. Jan. 21.-At a meeting
held last night on the reservation,
the Catawba Indians decided upon
the terms of settlement they will re-
quest the state to make. For some
time past the special commission,
appointed by Governor Cooper TO
recommend n basis for settlement has
been busily engaged in looking into
the matter. The terms of the In
dians will be submitted to the COM
mission at a meeting here tomorrow
and the requests will be carefully
considered before the commission
makes q recommendation to the leg
islature.
Briefly stated the Indians want the
s.ate 10 allow them 60 acres of land
per head, in addition to what they
now own, the state TO retain title;
build suitable residences upon the
several tracts and provide working
stock and farm implements. In ad-
dition it is asked that the state make
an annual allowance of $500 per head
for the next 20 years.
For some years past the Indians.
the tribe now numbering 1876, have
been seeking 10 effect q settlement
with the state. II seems that about
1911 the state leased an area of about
l S square miles from the Indians, it
being alleged that the state agreed
to pay a rental of $4,000 a year for
period Of SO years. Meantime the
state issued grants Of the land to
settlers and the entire tract, with
the exception Of about $40 acres re-
Itained as the reservation, is now
owned by South Carolinians. Rock
Hill, Fort Mill and portions of Ches-
ter and Lancaster counties are in
cluded in the tract, il is said. The
indians contend that the state has
not paid rental Of $4,000 q year
When the lease expired the Indians
did not call for q return OF their
land, If II was due 10 be returned TO
them under the terms of the lease or
treaty They are not asking for this
now, but contend that they must
have more land and must be provid-
ed with means whereby they can
better themselves, have schools of
their own and bring their children up
to be Intelligent and enterprising
citizens.
The commission has gone into vari-
Gus phases Of the situation and is
still considering the matter from all
angles N order that the best possible
solution Of the problem may be
reached. Ono Of the citizens testify
ing before the commission pointed
out that the Indians were like chill
dren They must be taught to farm,
to provide for themselves and to
take care Of what they make. Even
the members Of the tribe admit IL
would be folly for the state TO give
them titles TO land. as they would
dispose Of it, make way with the
proceeds and then be in as bad flN
as ever
The Catawbas have ever been count
ed as the friend Of the settlers and
ii is understood that on many occa-
sions they so proved themselves dur
ing dark hours in the early life OF
the country when hostile tribes en-
deavored TO unite all members of
their race to rise and destroy the en-
crOachers upon their hunting
grounds.
Just when the commission will be
ready TO report is not known, but it
is stated that their findings will be
| made only after due deliberation. The
Indians express their confidence in
the men who have been selected TO
| make the recommendations as TO set
element and it is believed they will
gladly accept any recommendation,
| that may be made, whether the terms
are similar TO those asked or not.
| Members of the tribe have stated
that they feel the commission will
! reach a solution that will prove most
beneficial to the Indians and that it
the state adopts the recommendation
beneficial TO the Indians and that if
and carries them out, the day will
mark a new era in the life of the
Catawbas and will enable each in
dividuai in the tribe to place himself
| and herself on "a higher plane Of
| civilization. 1t will at least provide
| adequate school facilities, that the
boys and girls of the tribe will have
| a chance to obtain a common and
| high school education, and will espe-
cially fit them for agricultural pur-
suits.