History Documentation:
LETTER ON INDIAN LANDS TO BE FLOODED 1916 December, 12
Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company
Operated by Kelsey, Brewer and Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Joseph H. Brewer
President
Grand Rapids, Michigan
December 12, 1916
Refer to L-4
TO: Mr. Henry J. McQuigg
Superintendent,
Hayward Indian School
Hayward, Wisconsin
Dear Sir,
Pa Kwa Wang Reservoir Indian Lands
Confirming Mr. McPherson’s oral agreement with you last week, the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company undertakes and agrees that it will reimburse the United States all expense it may incur in making an appraisal of Indian Lands in the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation which will be affected by the development of the Pa Kwa Wang Reservoir.
It seems desirable that there should also be made an appraisal of the lands which may be conveyed to the Indians in exchange for allotments which will be overflowed or cut off from the highways and, if you concur in this view and will have the appraisal made, the company will reimburse the United States for all expense it may incur in appraising the land west of Crane Lake and Crane Creek and south of the Chief River in Town 40 North, Range 7 West. These lands are on Sections 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 in Town 40 North Range 7 West.
It will be well also to have an appraisal made not included in the Reservation 3, 9 and 16 of Town 39 North Range 7 West and on Section 16, Town 38 North Range 8 West.
Part of the above described lands will be overflowed and it is only the highlands which can be conveyed to the United States in Trust for the Indians. These highlands can be located on the maps which have been furnished you.
The Company controls about nine-tenths of the land above described and can probably obtain any others that may be selected for the Indians, but as the Company has no power of condemnation to obtain lands to be traded to the Indians, it cannot in advance of information as to just what lands will be required, undertake that it will furnish all the lands on the sections above described. It will, however, be well to have all of them appraised.
If anything more is desired to enable the appraisal to proceed with all reasonable speed, will you please advise us.
Yours truly,
Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company
(Signed – Joseph H. Brewer)
President