The Brookhaven leader., 1891-09-24
SETTLERS CAUTIONED.

Secretary Noble Says Mistakes Are Liable
to BE Made In the Rush For Lands In
OkIahoma-He Advises Carefulness In
Locating Claims.
WASHINGTON, Sept. l9.-Speaking re
garding the conditions governing the
opening of the ceded lands in Okla
homa, Secretary Noble said: THE
conditions under which the proclama-
ton of the president opens the Indian
purchases in Oklahoma territory Sep
tember 90, while similar in some par
ticulars to those existing when Okla
homa itself was opened, are yet very
materially different in others Each of
the Indians of the tribes selling to the
United States had the reserved right by
contract to to take an allotment and this
right he has exercised fully. The allot-
ments have all been made and the same
have been approved in the department
of the interior and to the Sac and Fox
Indians the patents have been issued.
The Sac and Fox took 54S allotments Of
100 acres each. The Iowas took 100, of
eighty acres each, the Pottawatomies
1868 of 100 acres each, and the absentee
Shawnees SOS of also a quarter section
each. These selections were made un-
der supervision of allotting agents of
the government and are scattered
| broadcast over all the lands purchased
The Indians are not on these allotments
yet, nor is there any mark on the
ground showing that that tract is
allotted. The settler is therefore IL
able to get on such a piece of land
unless he has a guide. So it is abso-
lutely necessary that the settler should
know what clear sections and quarter
sections are left outside the allotments
that he may make no mistake. If he
ignorantly should settle on an Indian
allotment he would lose his opportu-
nifty and be defeated. 1t has therefore
been absolutely necessary to put the
opening a few days ahead to get the
lists sent to the territory and published
there and distributed. These lists have
been prepared with the utmost care
and great labor and were forwarded as
soon as completed, and will be in the
| hands of the people there for use when
the opening takes place. 1t was
| also necessary to have a judge
of probate appointed for the new court
| and the new county seats surveyed fol-
| town sites before lots can be selected
there. This work is in progress anC
will be completed no doubt by Tues
day. The Indians have also to be con
, sidered and their patents issued. These
| have been forwarded when required
and the lists of allotments in all case:
| approved. The military will still have
| authority to protect these allotments
| and will remain for that purpose. II
was also necessary to put the opening
| far enough ahead to notify the troops
along the border of the day and hour
they could let the people enter
| There are no railroads there fol
the most part and it therefore take:
| time to do this. 1t is highly de-
sirable that the settlers should
fully understand the absolute necessity
of guiding themselves by the lists o
| vacant lands sent out They should
| not attempt to enter without the list
| The chances will be almost even for {
| fatal mistake. The lands have beer
| attached to the various offices at Guthrie
and Oklahoma City. 1t has not beer
uceIueu DcSI W suSPeAu Wills acIioh Al
| order to defeat fraudulent soldiers
declatory entries as it would also neces
sarily defeat some claims made by ole
soldiers in good faith. 1t is better the
| law should take its course than i
should be interfered with by executive
| action. Fraud can better be dealt will
by other means than through actual in
justice practiced toward the innocen
| to defeat the guilty"