56 C. F. COAN
stated that the Indian laborers were indispensable to the settle- ments on account of the scarcity of workmen. 23
Two bands of the Molala Indians, and the Yamhill and Lakmiut bands of the Kalapuya tribe, made four treaties with the commissioners, May 14, 1851. The Indians refused to move east of the Cascade Mountains and demanded cash pay- ment for their lands. The upper and lower Molala agreed to accept as pay for their lands, the sum of $42,000, in twenty annual installments, one third of each payment to be in cash, and two thirds in goods. The Indians were to be allowed reservations of a part of the cessions of lands which they made. In the case of the Yamhill band, they were advised to move west of the Coast Range since their lands had been so completely occupied by settlers that it would be impossible to provide a reservation of sufficient size, of their tribal lands, to support them. 24
The policy concerning the western Indians of Oregon as formulated by Thurston was not followed in the treaties of the commissioners. In the place of the Thurston policy, they adopted a plan of their own, which allowed the Indians to remain in the Willamette Valley. They urged that the treaties should be ratified on the grounds that the treaties procured a valuable territory and justly compensated the Indians. 25 These treaties were not ratified. The delegate from Oregon, at the time that they came before the Senate was Joseph Lane. It is not probable that they had his support, because the treaties did not provide for the removal of the Willamette Valley Indians which he had recommended when governor of Oregon. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs did not oppose their ratification nor did he advise it. He stated that the treaties contained, "Novel provisions the practical operation of which could not be foreseen." 26
23 The Treaty Commissioners to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, April 19, 1851, C. I. A., A. R., Nov. 27, 1851 (Serial 636, Doc. 2), p. 467.
24 Ibid., p. 469.
25 Ibid., p. 471.
26 The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Annual Report, Nov. 27, 1851 (Serial 636, Doc. 2), p. 271. There exists:
"A copy of a treaty (April 16, 1851), negotiated by Gaines, Skinner, and Allen at Champoeg with subordinate chiefs of the Santiam band of the Callapooya Indians, with a journal of the proceedings. Treaty 5 pp.; Journal 62 pp.
"A copy of a treaty (April 19, 1851), negotiated by Gaines, Skinner, and Allen at Cnampoeg with the Twalty band of Callapooya Indians. 7 pp.
No treaties were found dated May 14, 1851, which were made by the com- missioners with the Molala and bands of the Kalapuya Indians. Letter from Dr. J. Franklin Jameson, Feb. 23, 1917.
