The Railway Bribe on the Reservation
A railroad company agent admits to a systematic scheme of paying Puyallup men to secure a right-of-way through their land.
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.
TACOMA, March 22.—An investigation was instituted at the Puyallup Indian reservation this morning as to the charges of bribery alleged to have been practiced by the Puyallup Valley Railroad company in paying Indians money to induce them to sell the company a right-of-way through their reservation to Brown's Point, opposite Tacoma. Indians told the council Monday that they had been bribed, and nearly a dozen laid down upon a table money that had been paid them by the company for the right-of-way. The leaders of the ward, some of whom are Frank Meeker and Fruit, took exception to the proceedings. They said the Indians had not had the matter fully explained to them, and that the Indians had been confused just as they went to vote by the cry of bribery. Mr. Dougherty, one of the members of the company, was examined before the Indian council. Chief Tommy Lane asked him where he got the money he paid the Indians. He replied, 'From the company to pay them for their trouble.' The witness admitted paying Indians $2 a day to work for the company and promised most of them $50 if the railroad company secured the right-of-way. 'Was this money paid as an inducement to get the Indians to give their consent to a right-of-way across the reservation?' asked the agent. 'Yes,' was the answer.
“The witness admitted paying Indians $2 a day to work for the company and promised most of them $50 if the railroad company secured the right-of-way.”
This 1889 account highlights the persistent struggle over tribal sovereignty and land access in the Puget Sound region. Just as the Puyallup people organized to challenge corporate coercion on their reservation, modern tribal governments continue to navigate complex legal and civic battles to protect their lands from encroachment and exploitation.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.