Nisqually, Puyallup, and Muckleshoot Reserves. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: The treaty negotiated on the 26th day of December, 1854, with certain bands of Nisqually, Puyallup, and other Indians of Puget's Sound, Washington Territory (article 2), provided for the establishment of reservations for the colonization of the Indians as follows: 1st. The small island called Klah-chemin. 2d. A square tract containing two sections near the mouth of the She-nah-nam Creek. 3d. Two sections on the south side of Commencement Bay. The sixth article of the treaty gives the President authority to remove the Indians from those locations to other suitable places within Washington Territory, or to consolidate them with friendly bands. So far as this office is advised a permanent settlement of the Indians has not yet been effected under the treaty. Governor Stevens has formed the opinion that the locations named in the first article of the treaty were not altogether suitable for the purpose of establishing Indian colonies. One objection was that they were not sufficiently extensive. He reported that seven hundred and fifty Indians had been collected from the various bands for settlement. I have the honor now to submit for your consideration and action of the President, should you deem it necessary and proper, a report recently received from Governor Stevens, dated December 5, 1856, with the reports and maps therewith, and as therein stated, from which it will be observed that he has arranged a plan of colonization which involves the assignment of a much greater quantity of land to the Indians, under the sixth article of the treaty, than was named in the first article. He proposes the enlargement of the Puyallap Reserve at the south end of Commencement Bay to accommodate 500 Indians; the change in the location, and the enlargement of the Nisqually Reserve, and the establishment of a new location, Muckleshoot prairie, where there is a military station that is about to be abandoned. The quantity of land he proposes to assign is not, in my opinion, too great for the settlement of the number of Indians he reports for colonization; and as the governor recommends the approval of these locations, and reports that the Indians assent thereto, I would respectfully suggest that they be approved by the President; my opinion being that, should it be found practicable hereafter to consolidate the bands for whom these reserves are intended, or to unite other bands of Indians on the same reserves, the authority to effect such objects will still remain with the President under the sixth article of the treaty. Within the Puyallup Reserve there have been private locations, and the value of the claims and improvements has been appraised by a board appointed for that purpose at an aggregate of $4,917. In the same connection I submit the governor's report of August 28, 1856, which he refers to, premising that the proceedings of his conference with the Indians therein mentioned, were not received here with the report. SIR: I have the honor to transmit a communication of the 19th instant, from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to this department, indicating the reservations selected for the Nisqually, Puyallup, and other bands of Indians in Washington Territory, and to request your approval of the same. With great respect, your obedient servant, The PRESIDENT. Approved. JANUARY 20, 1857. R. MCCLELLAND, Secretary. FRANKLIN PIERCE. Puyallup Reserve. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, August 26, 1873. SIR: By the second article of the treaty concluded with the Nisqually and other Indians December 26, 1854 (Stat. at Large, vol. 10, p. 1132), "a square tract containing two sections, or 1,280 acres, lying on the south side of Commencement Bay," was set apart as a reservation for said Indians, and is known as the Puyallup Reserve. It appears from the records of this office that Governor Steveus, finding the Indians dissatisfied with the size and location of the reserve, as indicated by said treaty, agreed, at a conference held with them August, 1856, to a readjustment of said reservation, the exterior boundaries of which were surveyed and established by his order. This was done prior to the extension of the lines of the public surveys over the surrounding and adjacent lands. A map of the survey was transmitted by Governor Stevens to this office, under date of December 5, 1856, giving a description of the courses and distances of said exterior boundaries of the reserve as taken from the field-notes of the survey on file in the office of superintendent Indian affairs Washington Territory. This reservation, as readjusted and indicated on said map, was set apart for these Indians by executive order dated January 20, 1857. It was intended to have this reservation bounded on its western side by the waters of Commencement Bay, from the southeasterly extremity of said bay, around northwardly to the northwest corner of the reservation on the southerly shore of Admiralty Inlet. The survey was thought to be made so as to give to the Indians this frontage upon the bay, with free access to the waters thereof. More recent surveys, however, develop the fact that there is land along this shore, and outside the reservation, arising from an error of the surveyor in leaving the line of low-water mark, along the shore of said bay, and running a direct line to the place of beginning. In a report dated March 20 last, Superintendent Milroy calls attention to this inadvertence, and for the adjustment of the western boundary of said reservation, so that it may conform to the intentions of those agreeing to the same, as well as for the comfort and wants of the Indians, he recommends the following change, viz: Instead of the direct line to the place of beginning, to follow the shore line, at low-water mark, to the place of beginning. Inasmuch as the lands proposed to be covered by this change are in part already covered by the grant to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and by donation claims, I would respectfully recommend that the President be requested to make an order setting apart for the use of these Indians an addition to said Puyallup Reservation as follows, viz: All that portion of section 34, township 21 north, range 3 east, in Washington Territory, not already included within the limits of the reservation. This would give them a mile of water-frontage directly north of Puyallup River, and free access to the waters of Commencement Bay at that point. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The Hon. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. H. R. CLUM, Acting Commissioner. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communication addressed to this department on the 26th instant, by the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs, relative to the extension by executive order of the reservation in Washington Territory known as the Puyallup Reservation, described as follows, to wit: All that portion of section 34, township 21 north, range 3 east, in Washington Territory, not already included within the limits of the reservation. I agree with the Acting Commissioner in his views, and respectfully request that in accordance with his recommendation an executive order be issued, setting apart the tract of land described for the purpose indicated. I have the honor to be, &c., The PRESIDENT. W. H. SMITH, EXECUTIVE MANSION, September 6, 1873. Agreeable to the recommendation of the Acting Secretary of the Interior, it is hereby ordered that the Puyallup Reservation in Washington Territory be so extended as to include within its limits all that portion of section 34, township 21 north, range 3 east, not already included within the reservation. U. S. GRANT. Muckleshoot Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 9, 1874. It is hereby ordered that the following tracts of land in Washington Territory, viz: Sections 2 and 12 of township 20 north, rauge 5 east, and sections 20, 28, and 34, of township 21 north, range 5 east, Willamette meridian, be withdrawn from sale or other disposition, and set apart as the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, for the exclusive use of the Indians in that locality, the same being supplemental to the action of the department approved by the President January 20, 1857. U. S GRANT. Shoalwater Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSION, September 22, 1866. Let the tract of land as indicated on the within diagram be reserved from sale and set apart for Indian purposes, as recommended by the Secretary of the Interior in his letter of the 18th instant; said tract embracing portions of sections 2 and 3 in township 14 north, range 11 west, Washington Territory. Lummi Reserve. ANDREW JOHNSON. EXECUTIVE MANSION, November 22, 1873. It is hereby ordered that the following tract of country in Washington Territory be withdrawn from sale and set apart for the use and occupation of the Dwamish and other allied tribes of Indians, viz: Commencing at the eastern mouth of Lummi River; thence up said river to the point where it is intersected by the line between sections 7 and 8 of township 38 north, range 2 east, of the Willamette meridian; thence due north on said section line to the township line between townships 38 and 39; thence west along said township line to low-water mark, on the shore of the Gulf of Georgia; thence southerly and easterly along the said shore, with the meanders thereof, across the western mouth of Lummi River, and around Point Francis; thence northeasterly to the place of beginning; so much thereof as lies south of the west fork of the Lummi River being a part of the island already set apart by the second article of the treaty with the Dwamish and other allied tribes of Indians, made and concluded January 22, 1857. (Stats. at Large, vol. 12, p. 928.) Port Madison Reserve. U. S. GRANT. OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, SIR: In the absence of the superintendent of Indian affairs, who is now at Fort Colville or in that neighborhood in the discharge of his official duty, at the request of Hon. A. A. Denny, register of the land-office in this place, I would respectfully call your attention to the condition of the Indian reservation near Port Madison, concerning the enlargement of which the superintendent addressed you about a year ago, forwarding at the same time a plat of the proposed reserve. By reference to the treaty of Point Elliott made with the Dwamish and other allied tribes of Indians January 22, 1855, it will be seen that article 2 provides for them a reservation at this point. This was soon found to be too limited, and whilst Governor Stevens was yet superintendent of Indian affairs the Indians were promised au enlargement. That promise seems to have been renewed subsequently, but nothing definite agreed upon. Last July, Seattle, the principal chief of the Seattle band, with a number of subchiefs and others directly interested, visited the superintendency upon this subject At their request a thorough examination was had, the result of which was in favor of submitting their request to you, and recommending that it be granted. By reference to report of Agent Howe, which accompanies the last annual report of the superintendent for the year ending June 30, 1863, it will be seen that he is well satisfied of the absolute necessity of its enlargement. The accompanying plat shows what is proposed to be reserved, which is satisfactory to the Indians. As there were no instructions from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, these lands could not be reserved, but were necessarily offered for sale. There being no bidders the lands are still vacant. Immediately after the public sale the superintendent gave notice of the intention of the department to retain these lands for an Indian reservation, and the public have so far acquiesced as not to disturb these proposed boundaries. Still, as the lands were offered at public sale under the proclamation of the President, they are now, agreeably to law, subject to private entry. Should, therefore, application be made to the register for the entry of any of these lands, he would, as matters now stand, be powerless to prevent it. The register has just addressed the Commissioner of the General Land Office on this subject. Hence the reason of my addressing you without awaiting the return of the superintendent, who may be absent for a month, and respectfully asking that such steps may at once be taken as to prevent any lands within the proposed boundaries being sold by the register until he be further advised. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WM. P. DOLE, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith for your consideration a letter from C. H. Hale, late superintendent of Indian affairs for Washington Territory, by his clerk, calling attention to the necessity of immediate action in order to secure certain lands to the Indians therein mentioned, near Port Madison, for an enlargement of their reservation. It appears from the report of Agent Howe, made to this office last year, that the proposed enlargement of the reservation is deemed to be advisable, and I have to request that you will direct that the tracts of land described in the plat inclosed in the letter of Mr. Whitworth may be reserved from sale, so that they may be set apart for the Indians for whom they are intended. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. W. P. OTTO, Acting Secretary of the Interior. W. P. DOLE, Commissioner. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I transmit herewith a letter of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, of the 12th ultimo, covering a communication from the chief clerk of the office of superintendent of Indian affairs for Washington Territory, respecting the enlargement of the Port Madison Indian Reservation. Concurring with the Commissioner in his recommendation that the reserve be increased, for the benefit of the Indians referred to in the papers inclosed, you are requested to have reserved from sale the tracts of land indicated upon the plat herein inclosed. It is hereby ordered that the boundaries of the Snohomish or Tulalip Indian Reservation in the Territory of Washington provided for in the third article of the treaty with the Dwamish and other allied tribes of Indians, concluded at Point Elliott, January 22, 1855 (Stats. at Large, vol. 12, p. 928), shall be as follows, to wit: Beginning at low-water mark on the north shore of Steamboat Slough at a point where the section line between sections 32 and 33 of township 30 north, range 5 east, intersects the same; thence north on the line between sections 32 and 33, 28 and 29, 20 and 21, 16 and 17, 8 and 9, and 4 and 5, to the township line between townships 30 and 31; thence west on said township line to low-water mark on the shore of Port Susan; thence southeasterly with the line of low-water mark along said shore and the shores of Tulalip Bay and Port Gardner, with all the meanders thereof, and across the mouth of Ebey's Slough to the place of beginning. U. S. GRANT. Swinomish Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSION, September 9, 1873. Agreeable to the within request of the Acting Secretary of the Interior, it is hereby ordered that the northern boundary of the Swinomish Reservation in the Territory of Washington shall be as follows, to wit: Beginning at low-water mark on the shore of Sim-ilk Bay at a point where the same is intersected by the north and south line bounding the east side of the surveyed fraction of 9.30 acres, or lot No. 1, in the northwest corner of section 10 in township 34 north, range 2 east; thence north on said line to a point where the same intersects the section line between sections 3 and 10 in said township and range; thence east on said section line to the southeast corner of said section 3; thence north on east line of said section 3 to a point where the same intersects low-water mark on the western shore of Padilla Bay. U. S. GRANT. Quinaielt Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSION, November 4, 1873. In accordance with the provisions of the treaty with the Quinaielt and Quillehute Indians, concluded July 1, 1855, and January 25, 1856 (Stats. at Large, vol. 12, p. 971), and to provide for other Indians in that locality, it is hereby ordered that the following tract of country in Washington Territory (which tract includes the reserve selected by W. W. Miller, superintendent of Indian affairs for Washington Territory, and surveyed by A. C. Smith, under contract of September 16, 1861) be withdrawn from sale and set apart for the use of the Quinaielt, Quillehute, Hoh, Quit, and other tribes of fish-eating Indians on the Pacific coast, viz: Commencing on the Pacific coast at the southwest corner of the present reservation, as established by Mr. Smith in his survey under contract with Superintendent Miller, dated September 16, 1861, thence due east, and with the line of said survey, five miles to the southeast corner of said reserve thus established; thence in a direct line to the most southerly end of Quinaielt Lake; thence northerly around the east shore of said lake to the northwest point thereof; thence in a direct line to a point a half mile north of the Queetshee River and three miles above its mouth; thence with the course of said river to a point on the Pacific coast at low-water mark, a half mile above the mouth of said river; thence southerly, at low-water mark, along the Pacific to the place of beginning. U. S. GRANT. Skokomish Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 25, 1874. It is hereby ordered that there be withdrawn from sale or other disposition and set apart for the use of the S'Klallam Indians the following tract of country on Hood's Canal in Washington Territory, inclusive of the six sections situated at the head of Hood's Canal, reserved by treaty with said Indians January 26, 1855 (Stats. at Large, vol. 12, p. 934), described and bounded as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Skokomish River; thence up said river to a point intersected by the section line between sections 15 and 16 of township 21 north, in range 4 west; thence north on said line to corner common to sections 27, 28, 33 and 34 of township 22 north, rauge 4 west; thence due east to the south west corner of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 27, the same being the south west corner of A. D. Fishers claim; thence with said claim north to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of said section 27; thence east to the section line between sections 26 and 27; thence north on said line to corner common to sections 22, 23, 26, and 27; thence east to Hood's Canal; thence southerly and easterly along said Hood's Canal to the place of beginning. U. S. GRANT. |