Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-11-11
CONDENSED NEWS.
gnERKp nlx.

Annual Report Of Indian Commissioner Atkins,
Portions Being oRPartiellar Interest TO North.
wesseeAers.
Following are the extracts rom the In
dian commissioners report just issued
which are Of special interest to the north
west; During the year seventeen certii-
Gates OF allotment in severalty have been
issued to the Indians of Lake traverse
reservation under the treaty with
the Sisseton and with the Wahpeton
bands Of Sioux; two to lands on the White
Earth reservation under the treaty with
the Chippewas OF the Mississippi, conclud.
ed March 10, 1867; fifty-five TO the Sioux
Indians at the Rosebud agency. Patents
have been issued as follows: Two hundred
and eighty-ono TO the Chippewas OF Lake
Superior on the Bad river. Lac Court
Oreilles, Lux Anse and Vieux desert
and Fond du Lac reservations; three
to the sisseton and wahpeton bands
OF Sioux; 1913 to the Santee Sioux
Indians; 6S TO the Chippewas OF Saginaw,
Swan Creek aud Black River; 1877 to the
Puyallup Iadienss 46 to the Skokomish
Indians; one TO an Omaha Indian and one
to a Winnebago Indian. The total number
of certificates is Sc, and OF patents 600,
grand total, 776. Special agents are now
engaged in allottins lands on the Crow
reservation In Montana. During the sea-
son Of lsS5,Se lis contracts for the cut.
ting sale and delivery Of pine iogs
under department authority were made
by individual Indian patentees OF
the Lane Court d'Oreiiles. Bad River and
Fond du Lac reservations attached to the
La Poinl,e agency, Wis. Under this cen
tract the Indiana banked B3, 945, 100 feet
OF timber at prices varying from SO to So. 25
per Thousand feet. The net gain to the
Indians on these transactions was S131,-
2S1.4G. OF which SOS, 006.70 was taken
out in merchandise and supplies and the
rest, $73.274.76, was paid IN cash to the
Indians. Since the date OF my last annual
report the Milwaukee, Lake Shore& Western
Railway company has completed it's road
through the Bad river reservation in Wis
cousin. and has paid the Indians in their
tribal and individual capacity what is
deemed to be a just compensation for the
right OF way as provided for under the
terms OF the treaty under which they hold
their lands. The deeds from individual In-
dian patentees TO the railroad company
are now before the secretary awaiting his
approval. The Duluth, Huron Il Denver
Railroad company has applied for informa.
ton as to obtaining q right of way through
the Lake Trasers reservation, and has
been referred to congress for legislation.
Application has recently been made by
the 0rdway, Bismark & Northwestern
Railway company FOR authority to make
a preliminary survey for a railway project
ed from point about ten miles south OF
Fort Yates, thence TO run southwesterly
through the Sioux reservation ON the most
feasible route to the Black Hills. Ihays
referred the matter to the Indian agents
on the reservation, snd instructed them
TO aeertain and report the sentiments OF
the Indians on the subject. During the
year S244, aso.iS annuity or
TREATY MONEYS
were paid, and $266. 565.44 interest on in-
vested funds. The fear expressed in my
last annual report that cash payments to
the Indians in Wisconsin were doing them
little permanent good Is strengthened by
reports since received. lam informed that
much suffering is likely to ensue among them
during the coming winter. I have recon.
mended that q part OF their money be ex-
pended for them in the purchase OF subsist-
ence supplies to be distributed to them by
a special agent. In December bill was
introduced in the senate by Senator Dawes
to divide portion Of the reservation OF
the Sioux nation ofIndians in Dakota into
separate reservations, aud to secure the re-
oil the Indian title to the re-
mainder. This bill passed thesenate Feb. l,
1886, and favorably reported by the com
mittee on Indian affairs in the house ofrepre
sentatives. 1t Was never referred to this
Office TO report but in its main features
meets with approval. The rights OF the
Indians appear to be carefully guarded,
and their consent, as provided in the treaty
OF 1865. is necessary before the provisions
OF the bill can be carried into effect. The
Great Sioux reservation, including Grow
Creek, contains an area of 81 1893, 12S
acres. The area OF the square reservation
provided for in the bill is estimated at
acres, and q reduction
OF S,747, SOC acres. This reduced area
allows very nearly 500 acres for each In
dian. Recommendation was made last
year that congress be requested to appro-
pirate certain sum ofmoney to reimburse
certain bands OF Chippewa Indians for the
damages and injuries sustained by them in
the construction OF the upper Mississippi
II is hoped that thu recently
commission in its negotiations
with these Indians has arranged a satis-
factory basis upon which all compensation
may be made them for every injury they
may have sustained by reason oil the con-
struction OF such reservoirs