Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-02-13
SPARKS LATEST.
Washington National Republican.

STAnNS INuGots
Washington National Republican,
A recent dispatch states that the COM.
missioner of the land office has made
the startling discovery that the Indians
title to 100000 900 acres of land in North
Dakota, which is occupied by about TO-
900 people. has not been extinguished
in spite of the order by secretary Teller
IN 1882, and that this state Of things
would cause no end of trouble.
A reporter saw Commissioner Sparks
and showed him the dispatch. After
reading it, Nj. Sparks said, II am not
responsible for all these Munchausen
stories which come from the northwest.
1 did not authorize that story, as a MORN
ing paper represented, but it came from
Dakota, and I am, l repeat, not respon-
sible for it. 1 suppose ON fellow who
had nothing else to do sen that dis
patch, and attempted to create
a sensation similar to others
which have recently been pub
lished. The only foundation for the
story is that last month l wrote u letter
to the surveyor general of Dakota in re.
ply to his request for authority to make
a survey of lands situated in the region
lying north of Devils lake; that in view
Of the claim of the Turtle mountain In
dams to this land, and that the whole
question will be submitted to congress
for requisite legislation as to the regular
extinguishment of the Indian title, that
surveys within the described district
should be suspended. He was directed
to award no more contracts embracing
lands situated therein, and all such con-
tracts then pending were indefinitely sus.
pended. There were several reasons for
ordering a discontinuance of the con.
tracts. In the first place the land IN
North Dakota is covered With deep snow
and could not be surveyed. even If it
were ordered, and 1 did not think there
was any necessity for such surveys until
the spring. The statement that 100000
acres Of land is unvalued is erroneous.
I don't know how much land there is,
but not so much as that"
Dakota people were ready to expect
almost anything from Mr. Sparks de-
partment; yet they-or at least that
portion of them residing in the north.
western portion Of the Territory-were
hardly prepared to be thrown into All
Indian reservation. The region of ter.
ritory effected by Sparks last eccentric.
ity has fully $4,000 population. 1t EN-.
braces the largest and best part Of the
Devils Lake land district and a wide
strip in the western portion of the Grand
Forks district-all that section OF
country north and west of Devils lake,
comprising the 100000 acres Of land
thrown open to settlement in 1882, and
to which Little Shells handful remnant
of Chippewas-9bout It's bucks, squaws
and papooses-havo claimed title.
Mr.. Sparks, in his interview with the
Republican reporter as printed above
says he is mot responsible for the Nun
ohansen stories which come from the
northwest" Unfortunately for Mr.
Sparks, the "story" originated in the
general land Office at Washington
Sparks, further on in the interview,
clearly admits wherein he ordered the
suspension Of surveys.
Mr.. Sparks statement that North Da
kota is covered with deep snow i:
another evidence of his dense Ignorance
concerning this Territory. There is less
snow here than there is in Sparks state
Illinois. Further on he says he dom,
know how much land there is in the
effected section. He might have added
that there gre a great many other things
he don't know about Dakota.
While it would be preposterous &c
suppose that Mr.. Sparks order sus
pending surveys in this region on &c
count o fthe alleged existence Of au In
dian title was evidence that there is il
reality any such title, yet the injury te
this region hat his order will entail il
fully as great were there any reason
whatever for the belief OR assertion tina
an Indian title exists. Hundreds of PEG
pie who are now preparing to remove t.
this part Of Dakota, when they learn o
Sparks order are liable to change thei:
minds. Thus settlement will be retard
ed, and improvements postponed.
First, the honorable commissioner
says certain laws passed and amended
by many congresses, when Sparks was
boy, are void and without force; now h
declares the most fertile region in tn
west an Indian reservation. Next thin.
for Mr.. Sparks to do is to relegate all tn
territory west Of the Mississippi to tn