Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-02-13
ANOTHER OKLAHOMA.
THE PRESIDENT THROWS OPEN THE
SIOUX RESERVATION.

Terms of the Act Approved Last March.
The Indians Protected in Their Prop
erty and Annuity Rights-A Warning
to All Persons-Secretary Noble Gives
Synopsis of the Report of the Com
mission-9, 900, 900 Acres of Land to be
Disposed of to Settlers.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-President Har-
rison has issued proclamation throwing
open to settlement the relinquished por-
ton of the Sioux reservation in accord
ance with the terms of the act approved
last March, dividing the reservation into
two separate reservations and providing
for the REIMBURSEMENT of Indian title to
the remainder. The president in his
proclamation, after announcing the ac-
ceptance of and consent by the Indians
to the provisions of the act and citing
provisions of the law protecting the In
dians in their property and annuity
rights, says: Subject to all the condi-
tions and limitations in said act con-
tanned, it is therein provided that all the
lands in the great Sioux reservation,
outside of the separate reservations
described in said act, except American
island, Farm island and Niobrara island,
regarding which islands special provis-
ions are therein made, and sections 16
and 36 in each township thereof (which
are reserved for school purposes) shall be
disposed of by the United States upon
the terms, at the price and in the man.
ner therein set forth, to actual settlers
only, under the provisions of the home
stead law except section 2301 thereof
and under the law relating to town
sites"
Concludes His Proclamation.
After reciting other provisions of the
law, reserving certain tracts from settle
ment for school purposes and Indian
agencies, the president concludes his
proclamation as follows:
Warning is hereby also expressly
given to all persons not to enter or ma Ike
settlement upon any of the tracts of
lands especially reserved by the terms of
said act or by this proclamation or any
portion of any tracts of land to which
any individual member of either of the
bands of the great Sioux nation or the
Ponca tribe of Indians shall have
preference right under the provisions of
said act; and further, to in nowise inter-
fere with their occupancy of any of said
tracts by any of said Indians or in any
manner to disturb, molest or prevent the
peaceful possession of said tracts by
- 1 l.,
of the lands to be restored to the public
domain under the provisions Of the said
act, and as in this proclamation set
as early as possible"
The proclamation throws opcn to set
tlement 5000, 900 acres of land, which
will be disposed of to settlers under the
provisions of the homestead law. In ad-
dition to the fees each settler will be re-
quired to pay 81. 25 per acre, and upon
the full payment of the money due will
be entitled to patent.
Secretary MOBILES Synopsis.
Secretary Noble, in his letter trans
mitting the report of the Sioux commits
sion to the president, gives a copious
synopsis of the report of the commission.
He states that the question of removal
of the Rosebud agency. recommended
by the commission, should be reserved
for further consideration. when proper
estimates for new buildings, etc, may
be prepared and submitted, if such re-
moval shall be determined on. With
reference to the recommendation by the
commission in favor of placing the
mixed bloods on the same footing as
other Indians on the reservation in the
matter of trading, the secretary thinks
that no action should be taken until the
matter shall have had more careful con-
sideration, because it is believed that
existing law is against it. The bill sub
mitted with the letter is executed and
signed, the secretary says, by 4,463
Indians, being more than three quarters
of the adult male Indians occupying or
interested in the great Sioux reservation.
"In my own Judgment" says the secre-
tary, 1.-The act of March 90, 1889, should
now be proclaimed, the surveys made as
soon as possible and the secretary of the
interior, as far as he may without
further legislation, to carry into effect
the recommendations of the commission,
and the further recommendations of the
commission be transmitted to congress
for action by it in accordance with the
spirit and fair understanding of the
negotiations exhibited to have taken
place between the commission and the
Sioux"