Puyallup Land Sales Spark Tension With Federal Agent

Agent Eells, of the Puyallup and other Indian reservations, discussed the ongoing tensions regarding the sale of reservation lands. Some young men among the Puyallups have resented Agent Eells' statement that they are not able to handle the money derived from land sales. Eells noted that between $3,000 and $4,000 had been paid to the Indians on land contracts, but he argued that this money was largely squandered on luxuries or lost to gambling and drink. He warned that if the Indians sold all their lands today, they would be penniless in five years. Eells defended the government's role, asserting that current contracts were largely swindles providing for the sale of land at a fraction of its value. Meanwhile, tribal leaders like Augustus Kautz have denounced Eells, accusing him of misrepresenting their views and acting as an obstacle to their interests. Eells remains confident that government oversight is necessary to protect the tribe from exploitation by real estate sharks.