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Show LXVI REPORT OF THE COYMISSLOXER OF IYDIAX AFYAIRS Band of Cherokee Indians was authorized to institute a suit in the 'Oourt of Claims against the United States- To determine the rights of the said baud iu and to the moneys, st.mk8, and bonds 'held by the United Statee in trost for the Cherokee Indiane, ariekg ont of the eslee of lands lying west of tho Mississippi River, and also in a. certain other fund, Wrn-manly called the permanent annuity fund, to which suit the Cherokee Nation, com-monly odled the Cherokee Nation west, should be made a party defeudant. The case is now pending iu the Oourt of Claims. UMATILLA RESERVATION. Bills were introduced in the last Congress (8. 143*, H. R. 2579) providing for the allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians resid-ing upon the Umatilla Reservation in Northeastern Oregon, for the granting of patents therefor, and for the sale of the remainder of the reservation in lxcess of 120,000 acres, the proceeds to be used for the benefit of the Indians, in assisting them to establish themselves upon their several allotments, and in the establishment and support of an industrial farm a.ud school for the training and education of the children in the arts and methods of civilized life. Although the bill introduced in t,he Senate passed that. body on April 24, 1882,* it failed to become a law. A large majority of these Indians hive expressed a strong desire to take lands in severalty; they have more land than they need for that purpose, or for their wants in their present situation, so that the sale,of a portion of their rertervation would furnish them the means necessary to a fair start upon their several allotments. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the eflort to secure legislation looking to that end will be renewed at the next session of Congress. The reservat.ion, which was established by treaty of June 9,1855 (12 Stat., 945), contains 268,800 aAres, or 420 square miles, 150,000 acres of which is tillable. The number of Indians residing upon the reservation. as shown by a e report of the agent for the present year, is 897; males, 398; females, 499. TOWN OF PEXDLETON, OREG. By section 5 of the act of August 5, 1882 (22 Stat., 297), Congress appropriated $1,500 to enable the Secretary of the Interior to dispose of certain lands adjacent to the tow11 of Pendleton, in the State of Ore gon, belonging to the Umatilla Indian Reservation, in order to afford said town proper and needful extension and growth. By act of March 3,1883 (Ib., p. 590), Congress appropriated au additional sum of $2,000 for the survey and appraisement of said lands, making a total of $3,500 appropriated for that purpose. Directions were given by the General Land Oftice, in the latter part of March last, for the executiorl of the necessary surveys, and a commission, composed of Nessrs. N. A. COP- 'See Coog. Reo. 701. 1'3, part I, pp. 3210, 3212, 3248. |
