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Show PYRAMID LAKE INDIANS, NEVADA. An agreement was negotiated October 17,1891, with the Pah.Ute Indians npon the Pyramid Lake Reservation for the surrender of the aouthern portion of the reservation, which includes the town of Wads-worth. This agreement was laid before Oongress Jauuaxy 11,1892, bnt it hasnot yetbeen ratified, although its ratification has been repeatedly recommended. Recently this office received an inquiry through Senator Jones, of Nevada, from an Indian of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, as to the status of that agreement, from which it would seem that the Indians are still waiting for the "Great Father" at Washington to take some action to carry it into effect. I am of opinion that even at this late date the agreement should be revived and confirmed by Congress: The citizens of the town of Wadsworth, in the southern portion of the reservation, are without title to their holdings, being, as this office regards them, intruders upon the rights of the Indians. The Indians feel aggrieved on account of the trespass of the whites npon their reservation, and thus the matter has been for years in an unsettled condition. I therefore respectfully suggest that Oongress be urged to ratify the agreement of 1891. NEW YORE IXDIANS. Mention was made in the last annual report of the fact that Mr. Philip 0. Garrett, of Philadelphia, had been appointed s commissioner to negotiate with the Ogden Land Compauy and with the Seneca Nation of Indiansfor the extinguishment of the claim of the company, as provided by a clause in the Indian appropriation act, for 1896 (28 Stat., 887). December4,1896, Mr. Garrett reported his failure to conclude an agree-ment either with the Ogden Land Company or with the Indians; and December 10, reporting more in detail, he stated that the lowest price at which the company offered to sell was $270,345, or some $70,000 more than the price at which the trustee of the company offered to sell a, few years ago. Mr. Garrett advises that the Government proceed to allot the lands in severalty, notwithstanding the claim of the company, as this course might at least force an issue in the courts and thus put the character of the company's claim to a direct test. These communica-tions were transmitted to Oongress and may be found published in House Doe. No. 309, Fifty-fourth Congress, second session. Mention was also made in the last annual report of an investigation of the lease question on the Allegany Reservation then being made in pursuance of the requirements of an item in the Indian appropriation act for the year 1897 (29 Stat. L., 340). United States Indian Agent Jewell, New Pork Agency, who had been directed to make the investi-gation, reported December 5,1896, giving some data with respect to theseleases, but stating that great difficulty is experiencedin obtaining |
