Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-03-13

Contemplated ImpOSitiOnG on the Indians
Frustrated Land OfHce Officials Notified
to Do All in Their Power for the Protec-
tion Of the Nations Wards. Other South
Dakota News.
Hon. James Mcdowell and Hon. O. w.
Bair, register and receiver Of the United
States land office for the Huron district,
have received the following letter Of in
structions from Hon. Lewis A. Croft,
commissioner OF the general land Office at
Washington, which will terforize boomers
and town site adpenturers who propose to
grow fat by trading with Indians for
their land possessions. The letter is dated
March 4, and is as follows.
Gentlemen-H Il has been represented to
this departm that there are persons who
contemplated impositions on the Indians
now residing upon the ceded lands of the
Sioux reservation. lying in your districts,
and entitled, at their option, to take allot-
ments of the lands where they reside. under
section 10 Of the act of March 2, 1889, %
statutes, Ss8, by inducing the Indians to
sell out to them and thereafter appropri-
ating to themselves the lands on which the
Ipdians reside as settlers thereon, under
the provisions of said act. I desire, there
fore, to call your attention to the matter,
and say to you that it is the duty and in
tention of the department to protect the
Indians, as fully as possible, from the
wrong or imposition by which they might
be deprived Of the benefit intended to be
secured to them under the law, whether it
have the character of open violence or some
form Of trlckery and fraud, In the spacious
guise of mutual agreement for exchange of
values. In pursuance of this purpose,
no purchase, by white persons, of the
settlement or improvements of the In
dians will be recognized AS having any
validity, and their rights to take allotments
of the lands on which they reside at their
option will be recognized and enforced
whenever claimed by them within the
period of one year prescribed in said Sec
tion 13, notwithstanding any pretended
purchase of their Improvements that may
be set up against them, ors any allegation
that may be made of their removal from
the land and abandonmenttthereof in favor
of white claimants. The department will
expect the careful, intelligent AID efficient
cooperation Of oil its employees in
this purpose. You are to this END
directed to make yourselves acquainted
as far as possible, with the facts con-
nected with the Residences of the In
dians on the lands in question, and other
wise prepare yourselves to- extend protec-
duties, against any who may entertain de-
signs against them.
You will take all means within your
power to communicate the substance of
these instructions to al! persons concerned,
that none may be in ignorance on the sub
ject. You will endeavor to prevent any
filings or entries being made in contra
yention Of the rights Of the Indians, and
any filings or entries that Iuay be made
will be treated as subject to the Indian
right to take allotments as hereinbefore
indicated. Very respectfully,
LEWIS A. GRoFF, Commissioner.
Discovery of Valuable Coal Deposits.
Another vein of soft coal has been dis
covered about eight miles sonth Of Cham
berlain on the west side of the river by the
clerk Of the court of Brule county and q
number Of other prominent gentlemen of
Chamberlain. The vein was discovered in
the high bluff on the west side of the river.
The bluff being largely composed of chalk
rock they brought back as much
as could be conveniently carried,
samples Of which have been for
warded for examination. The coal
is of the camel variety and is
rather light, owing to a protracted
exposure to the sun and air, but burns well
AMI reduces to white ash. The pros
pectors have staked off mineral claims and
the necessary tools will at once be secured
for the development of the find and if the
indications as to quantity hold good steps
will be taken for the working of the vein.
Groupings have been found in several
places along the White river, but this is
the nearest yet found to the city. The
discovery naturally excites considerable
Interest in this section of the state, as the
fuel question is an important one east of
tho Missouri.
Press Association Organizers Appointed.
President Hopp of the South Dakota
Press association has appointed the fol-
lowing district organizers: First district,
w. C. Brown, Hurley Herald; Second dis
trict, N. G. Nash, Canton Meas; Third
district, L. D. Lyon, Watertown Public
OPINION; Fourth district, II. L. Mayhem,
Letcher Blade; Fifth district, George
Schlosser, Aberdeen Meas; Sixth district,
P. r. Goddard, Pierre Capital; Seventh
district, w. II. Stanley, Hot Springs Star;
Eighth district, Porter Warner, Deadwood
Times.
These organizers are to canvass their re-
spective districts and enroll every newspa-
per possible in the ASSOCIATION. President
Hopp suggests that deputies be appointed
that the work may be done thoroughly and
in time for the annual meeting next sum-
mer.
ro11 sr nry.S