The Chemawa American, November 01, 1914, Page 23, Image 27

THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
23
needs and wants of the tribe. A bill providing for the construction of
a building on the reservation, to cost $10,000, will come before the
next Congress. An appropriation for a $50,000 fish hatchery has al
ready been obtained for the tribe and other steps have been taken to
care for the Quinaults and to make their life better."
According to Mr, Johnson, the work which has been done for the
tribe during the past year is indirectly the result of the charges which
were made against the former superintendent and the alloting agent of
the tribe. These charges led to an investigation and the real situa
tion of the Indians and the deplorable conditions under which they
were living, resulted in prompt action on the part of the, Indian Affairs
Commissioner and Congressman Johnson in remedying these conditions.
The first thing done was the separation of the two Indian agencies
and the selection of a man to take charge of affairs at Tahola. ..This
was followed by taking up the matter of a fish hatchery to conserve the
Quinault salmon, a species of fish which is peculiar to the Quinault
River, and commands the highest price on the market.. Only the In
dians can fish for this salmon. The new hatchery for which Mr. John
son obtained an appropriation of $50,000 will be the most modern and
up to date in the nation and will mean thousands of dollars to Tahola
village. '
The Chinook Indians also were taken care of and their demands-which
have been made off and on for 63 years-- for $66,000 due them under
their treaties, was taken care of. The Indians will receive their money.
At the Quinault the new Indian agent is rapidly getting matters in
shape so that the tribe will soon realize their long dream of an inde
pendent village, with their own sawmill, their own fish hatchery, and
practically home rule for themselves.
Another bill was passed by the present Congress appropriating money
for a light at Cspe Elizabeth cn the reservation, and providing that the
Indians should be paid for the land taken. ' This is something the tribe
has been demanding for years, b it could get no hearing on, until the
investigation of the charges made against the former agent.
. "The charges made against the former superintendent and the allott:
ing agent, irrespective of whether or not there was any truth to them;
have resulted in lasting benefit to the Quinault tribe," the congress
man said. Tacoma (Wash.) Tribune, October 23. 1914.