West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-08-15
SIOUX LANDS BOUGHT.
Eleven Million Acres to be
Thrown Open to Settlers.
The Terms Upon Which the Indi-
ans Surrended Their Domain.

Secretary Noble received tho following
telegram at the Interior Department in
Washington, announcing the successful com
pletion OF the work Of the Sioux Commits
sion;
FoRr GATES.
JOIN w Noble, Secretary Of the Interior.
We have won the fight. We will leave
here tomorrow for Chicago. win write
you fully from Chicago.
CHARLES Foster, Chairman.
Tho commission, composed OF Ex-Governor
Foster, Ma1or-General Crook and Hon Will
lam Warner, commenced their work among
the Indians some two months ago Their OBJ
1ect was TO secure the consent OF two-thirds
OF tho Sioux Indians numbering %. bfi7 20 a
surrender OF about onc-half of their roservn-
ton OF y, 600 acres of land TO the United
States Government. which it turn would
throw it open 90 public settlement.
According 10 the act OF Congress under
which the agreement was made, the unre-
lnquished portion of the Sioux Reservation
rs divided INTO six reservations as follows:
Standing Rock, Cheyenne River Lower Brule
Crow Creek, Pine Ridge and Rosebud
Tho land thrown open TO settlement will
aggregate about III 200, 900 acres and viii DO
disposed OF by tho United States 20 actual
settlers only, at tho following rates, 81. IS
per acre for all lands taken within the first
three years, after the act takes effect: as cents
per acre for all lands disposed of within tho
succeeding two years, and 90 cents per acre
for tho residue OF the lands then undispoeed
of. All lands still open 90 settlement under
the agreement at the end of ten wears from
the taking effect OF tho act shall he ac-
cepted by the United States at 90 cents per
acre. which amount shall be added TO and
credited to the Indians as part of their
permanent fund
The act provides for furnishing the neces.
sary seed TO the Indians for two years, for
which adequate appropriation is made. In
a, % 4.
sum of 81, 600 900, which is TO loo deposited In
the United States Treasury TO the credit of tho
Sioux Nation of Indians as n permanent fund
the interest OF which at five per cent. per an,
mum is TO be appropriated under the direc-
tion OF tho Secretary of tho Interior TO the
use OF the Indians. After the Governments
has been reimbursed for the money expended
fcI the Indians, under the provisions OF tho
act the Secretary. of tho Interior may I'm his
discretion expend, I'm addition to the interest
OF tho permanent fund, not 20 exceed ten
per cent. per annum OF the principal
OF the fund in the employment or
farmers and in tho purchase OF agri-
cultural instruments, teams, ETC. necessary
10 assist tho Indians i'm agricultural pursuits
AT the end OF fifty years tho fund is TO be ex-
pended Tor the purpose OF promoting educa-
tion civilization and self-support among the
Indians, on otherwise distributed among them
as Congress may determine.
All the new reservations include the land
I'm tho vicinity OF the agencies where the In
dians are now living. The land TO be
thrown open 10 settlement Is not occupied at
present by the Indians. The number OF In
dians on the reservation is %, ,567
The act provides that the agreement as
now entered into must be submitted TO Con.
gress at It's next session for ratification. In
case the agreement is approved and no fur.
ther legislation is enacted, the Secretary OF
the Interior will proceed TO carry into effect
the provisions of the law.
A. i. Lea, nm agent OF the Interior Depart
ment, is now in Dakota, and has been
ordered to proceed to take n census of the
Indians with view OF ascertain
ing how many Of them are able to
support themselves and thoir phys.
ical capacity 30 work the land owned
or occupied by them either individually OF
collectively; the value of the land, It's near
ness 10 market, its general productiveness, and
such other facts and circumstances as will as
sist Congress In determining how many of
she Indians ere capable of self-support.