The Puyallup Indian Agency Was Abolished
Federal officials declared the agency obsolete, shifted its schools to a new superintendent, and retired Agent Eells after more than 23 years.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Puyallup Indian Agency has been abolished. Nearly all of the Indians in the agency are now citizens, and the government, in the interest of economy, has concluded that the agency has outlived its usefulness. The schools, of which there are six—four boarding and two day schools—have all been put under the charge of a bonded superintendent, Dr. Robert R. L. Newborne, who is also superintendent of the Puyallup Indian school. On the 17th inst., the property of the Indian day school at Jamestown, near Dungeness, was formally turned over by Agent Eells to the new superintendent, Dr. Newborne. This school had an attendance of about twenty-five Indians and is under the direct charge of Mr. John E. Matene. Agent Eells, after a continuous service of 23 years 6 months, now retires to private life, leaving the service with a clear record and with the confidence and esteem of all who have had business relations with him, and the universal regret of the employees of the agency and of the Indians, both adults and pupils.
“Nearly all of the Indians in the agency are now citizens, and the government, in the interest of economy, has concluded that the agency has outlived its usefulness.”
The abolition came during a national push to assimilate Native people and cut federal obligations. The Jamestown S'Klallam community near Dungeness still exists, and the transfer of its school is part of a longer story of tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
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