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Show would make good use of it. They are above the average Indians and they should be given all the assistance that could be given. Some of them have good farms here that white people are ve% anxious to pur-chase, and some few of the Indians would like to sell and go to the reservation, while others do not wish to sell, but do want to provide lands for the children growing up. I ean not give you the number of Indians u-ho would accept lands on the reserva-tion, for the reason that they are nearly a11 away; however, I thinknearly all would aceept lands who are not owners of land. They will always spend more or less time here if allotted on the reservation, but at the same time as the children become old enough to farm they would gradually become weaned away from here and live upon their lands. The Colvilie Reservation was set aside by Executive order dated ,July 2, 1872, for the use of the Indians therein named, "and for such other Indians as the Department of the Interior may see fit to locate^ thereon." As the Wenatchi'disclaim all connection with the Yakiia, the o6ce believes that the Department would be warranted in settling snch of these Indians on the Colville Reservation as desire to go there for the purpose of securing homes, and that this should be done. It is believed, however, that it would not be proper to allot lands to them in severalty until all the Indians on the south half of the Colville Reservation come to be allotted. It is the desire and purpose of the office to settle the question of providing for homes for all these people at the earliest practicable date. With his report of June 22, 1900, Mr. Casson inclosed a census of the Wenatchi, including those scattered along the Columbia, giving names, ages, relationship, and stating whether they now have lands or not. The list contains 166 names. About' one-half the Indians now have lands, including the eighteen allotted by him. CHIEF JOSEPH AND HIS BAND OF NEZ PER&. Last March Chief Joseph visited this city and submittcd to this office a petition to be allowed to leave his present location on the Col-ville Reservation in Washington and return with his band of about 150 Nez Perch to Wallowa Valley, Oregon This, he claimed, was the home of his ancestors and was hi own home until he and his people were removed from Idaho to the Indian Territory in 1877, at the close of the Nez Perck war. By Department reference the o5ce also receivsd a communication, dated April 7,1900, from Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, United States Amy, recommending that Joseph's request be granted. April 21, 1900, the o6ce submitted a report to the Department on the history and status of tbis band of Nez Perch, the condition of the Wallowa Valley, and the treaties with the Nez Perch tribe, and it was recommended that Joseph's request to be removed to the Wallowa Valley or elsewhere be denied. Joseph, having been informed of this |
