Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-09-20
INDIAN LEASES.
An Opening for the Rental Of
Reservation Lands to
Stock Growers.
Northern Pacific Annual Meet.
ing-The Figures Present.
ed to the Directors.
Political and General Brevities-
Jottings From the Great
Cattle Ranges.


They csn Lease Indian Lands.
A 81. Louis dispatch says: In the
case Of Col. Boudinot against Robt. ID.
Hunter, A. Il. Evans, and II. i. New
man, the well known cattle men, to
recover 81 900 ~ q penalty for attempt.
Ing to lease grazing lands from the
Cherokee Indians In violation Of the
United States statutes, Judge Brewer,
Of the United states Circuit court to-
day rendered q decision, on demurrer
of plaintiffs that there was no attenrt
to negotiate the lease Of lands that
was In violation Of the statutes, and
dismissed the complaint. Hunter
and his associates leased some six
million acres Of land from the chief of
the Cherokee Nation for grazing pur-
poses, and, although Judge Brewer
states In his decision that the validity
Of the leases obtained and the question
whether they can be vacated was not
before the courts. Defendants consid-
cred they have won great vicOry,
and that the decision to-day virtually
settles the question of their right TO
lease lands from Indians. and they
will 60 on and establish their ranches
and grace their cattle. 81
Four other suits against the same
parties involving the same question
were ordered to follow.
A humber Of prominent cattle men
who have leased lands from Indians
In the Cherokee and COmanche strips
are here. Among them are Mr.. Dave
Hunter and Mr.. f, s. Newman.
brothers Of gentlemen interested In
the Cherokee land lease cases In
which the lessees have just had de-
cision In their favor. II Is evident
from conversation with these gentle
men that the decision Is very satisfac-
tory to them. 1t will result In a con-
tInuance Of leasing portions Of SOUTH
ern reservations from the Indians for
cattle ranges. aud will probably re-
move the question that has teen
raised regarding the right Of the chiefs
to lease reservation lands. These
lands reserved by the Indians In max
ing their treaties, are lease by the
chiefs In certain quantities aud the
rental therefor is usually about two
cents per acre annually. The In
dians are very particular to have the
rentals paid direct 10 the chiefs and
at stated intervals the payments arr
made ut the agencies and the chiefs IN
turn divide the receipts among Their
followers. Whv they are 10 particular
to not have the money paid to the
agents Is probably explainable In the
fact that were the leases made with
government Officers the money would
have TO 20 into the hands of the
United States and Ii would take q
good deal Of red tape to get II out.
This would certainly I've the case II the
leases were made with the approval
endorsement Of the Secretary of the
Interior which was held to Ike neces-
sary. There IN no doubt but that the
indians would he greatly benefited
by u more general leasing Of their re-
servation lands. The rentals of $780,
900 acres by the Cherokees bring them
sG0. 900 per annum, II snug sum to.
ward their maintenance. They can
increase their income almost beyond
measure, sufficient surely TO support
the Cherokee nation and Have the gov
ernment the expense Of feeding them
The same system can be carried on
successfully In Montana, on the Grow
reservation, for instance. That re-
serve, nearly 30 miles long and In
miles wide, In used but little by th,
braves excepting around the agency
aud they could derive large incom,
from leasing their lands Of which
they have &,7l3,O00 acres, more than
some 0f the states. There are only
about $500 Of them altogether, and o
that immense reserve they have at tn.
very utmost only l35 acres under cul
tivation. How much letter II would
he for the Crows to lease lands 70 the
highest bidder? How soon they
would bs free from dependeHcs on
Uncle Sam? The finest Agricultural
lands In Montana are within thslr
limits aad large portion u their ~
serve h suitable for grazing. IL 10
possible that these Crow indians arc
already too we'll fixed and tso lazy 70
bother with leases. Thers are other
tribes That could profit by The Chsfo-
kes method and unless some Of The
oflicIal are inclined 10 throw obstacles
In their way In order 70 serve Interior
purposes the northwestern warrion
will b able 70 ssoars . ccmpetence BY
taklnga ceuns slnilar - that ioI'
f~s-~~X ~ A.. a. $500 .fI u. TT u