| OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF I~DI'AN AFFAIRS. XXIX The views of the Commission in regard to the futurc treatment of these Indians deserve careful consideration. The second agreement was with the Red LakeIndiaus, whose reserva. tion lies north of White Earth and embraces about 3,200,000 acres, a large portion of which is known to be rich in pine timber. , By the terms of their agreement, these Indians cede, relinquish, and convey to the United States, in trust, about 2,000,000 acres of valuable land, part timber and part agricnltural, with a ~ i e wto its being sold for thcir benefit. The Chippewa agreements, and accompanyingreport of the Commis-sion, together with the report of this office thereon, and the letter of the Department transmitting the same to the President, are printed in SenateEx. Doc. No. 115, Forty-ninth Congress, second session. It would be proper to state that the Indians are reported to .be very a~~xiofoosr the speedy ratification of these agreements. Itis to be hoped that Cou-gress will take early action thereon. Upon completion of the negotiations with the Ohippewas in Minne-sota, Bishop Whipple was compelled on account of the enfeebled con-dition of his health to resign his place on theCommission, and Dr. Jared W. Daniels, of Minnesota, was appointed in his stead. The next Indians visited by the Commission were the Ariokarees, Gros Ventres, and Mandans, of the Fort Berthbld agency in Dakota, with whom an agreement was concluded January 11,1887. By the terms of the agreement, the Indians cede about 1,600,000 acres of their reservation for the sum of $800,000, payable' in ten yearly instaumer~ts of $80,000 each ; the money to be expended in the civilization and edu-cation of the.Indians, and in establishing them in comfortable homes as an agricultural people. The agreement also provides for tho allot-ment of lands in severalty to saidIndians within the diminished res-ervation. There are various other provisions calculated to advance the Indiibns. in the paths of civilization. The agreement and accom-panying papers sere transmitted to Congresv by the President, January 17, 1887, and form the wbject.matter of Senate Ex. Doc. No. 30; Fort,y. ninth Congress, second session. The Indiansin northern Montana, belonging to theFort Peck, Fort Belknap, and Blackfeet agencies, were the next visited by the Commis-sion. Theselndiaps~occupy a reservation estimated to contain 33,830 square miles, or 21,651,000 acres. The agreement entered into with them provides for the cession to the United States of about 17,500,000 . Bores, and leaves three separate reservations of sufficient ares, it is be-lieved, to meet all their present and prospective wants. .In theopinion of the Commissioners, these Indians are not yet prepared to takelands in severalty, and even if they were so prepared, they declare positively that the country occupied by them is entirely unsuitable for that pur-pose. For these reasons no provisio~w~a s made in the agreen~entf or i A |
