The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-06-15
An ACT.

An ACT.
To provide for the removal of the Flsthead
and other Indians from the Bitter Root
Valley, Ii the Territory Of Montana
Bet enacted b. the Senate and House u
Representatives Of tie United !yates Of Aan-i-
Ga in GeSgrsss assembled, That it shall be
the duty of the President, a. soon a prac-
ticsble, to remove the Fla,head Indians,
whether Of full or mixed bloods,) and all
other Indians connected with said tribe,
and recognized - members thereof, from
the Bitter Root Valley, in the Territory Of
Montana, to the general reservation in said
Territory, Commonly known a. the Jocko
Reservasion,) which, by treaty concluded
at He'll Gate. in the Bitter Root Valley,
July sixteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty.
five, and ratified by the Senate March
eighth, eighteen hundred and fifty nine,
between the United States and the confede>
rated tribes of Flsthesd, Kootenai. and
Pen dOreille Indians, was set apart and
reserved for the use and occupation of said
confederated tribes.
SEC. 2. That Is soon ~ practicable after
the passage Of this act the Surveyor Gene.
raj of Montana Territory shall cause to be
surveyed, - other public lands of the Uni
ted States are surveyed, the lands in the
Bitter Root Valley lying above the Lo>Lo
Fork of the Bitter Root River; and said
lands shall be open to settlement, and shall
be sold in legal subdivisions to actual set.
tiers only, the same being citizens of the
United States, or having duly declared their
intention to become such citizens, said set.
tiers being heads Of families, or over TWEEN.
ty.one years of age, in quantities not ex.
ceeding one hundred and sixty acres to
each settler, at the price of one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre. payment to be
made in cash within twenty -one months
from the date Of settlement, or of the pas
sage OF this act The sixtecnthNnd thirty
sixth sections of said lands shall be reserv-
ed for school purposes in the manner provi.
led by law. Town.sites in said valley may
be reserved and entered as provided by law {:
ProVided, That no more than fifteen town
ships of the lands so surveyed shall be
deemed to be subject to the provisions of
this act: And previded turtAsr, That none
of the lands in said valley above the Lo.Lo
Fork shall be open to settlement under the
homestead and pre.emption laws of the
United States. An account shall be kept
by the Secretary of the Interior Of the pro.
do ne >E a..
moneys arising therefrom there shall be re.
served and set apart for the use Of said In.
dams the sum of fifty thousand dollars, to
to be by the President expended, in annual
insta)lments, in such manner as in his
judgment shall be for the best good Of said
Indians, but no more than five thousand
dollars shall be expended in any one year.
Sec. 3. That any Of said Indians. being
the head of u family, or twenty .one years
of age, who shall, At the passage OF this act,
be actually residing upon and cultivating
any portion Of said lands, shall be permit.
ted to remain in said valley and pre.empt
without c'st the land 50 occupied and cul.
tivated, not exceeding in amount one hun.
dred and sixty acres for each of such In
dams for which he shall receive patent
without power of alienation: Provided,
That such Indians shall, prior to August
first, eighteen hundred and seventy two,
notify the superintendent of Indian affairs
for Montana Territory that he abnnd"ns
his tribal relations with said tribe, and in
tends to remain in said valley: And proui.
ded further, That said superintendent shall
have given such Indians at least one
months notice prior to the date last above
mentioned of the provisions of this act,
and of his right to remain as provided in
this section Of this act.
Sec. T. That in case John Owen, an &C.
tual settler in said valley, above Lo.Lo
Fork, shall come within the provisions of
the act of Congress Of September twenty
seventh, eighteen hundred and fifty, enti-
tied An act to create the Office IF survey>
or general of the public lands in Oregon
and to provide for the survey, and to make |
donations TO settlers Of the said public |
lands. and the acts amendatory thereof. he
shall be permitted 70 establish such fact in |
the land>0fflcc in the SAID Territory of Mon.
tsna, and, upon proof of compliance with
the provisions of said act or acts, shall be
permitted ~ obtain title, in the manner pro.
vided therein. to such quantity of land as
be may be entitled to under the same. All
disputes ~ to title to any lands mentioned
In this vet shall be decided according to the
rules govern ing the decision Of disputes In
cases under the presumption laws
IF the United States.
tNoTE.-since writing the article on
his subject, the above Law, somewhat
from the Senate amendment, has
been transmitted to US with the letter Of
dr. Clagett. and We take the earliest oppor.
unity of presenting it to the people of Bit
er ROOTED. N. N. WI
The Territory IN Congress.
From the Congressional Globe, May ssth.
M0NTAMA rwn,A An -, -. |