The Red Cloud chief., 1891-09-25
SETTLERS CAUTIONED.

S>cresasy Noble Aays Mistakes Are Liable
to he Made In the Rash FOR Lsnds In
OklshomA-Hs Advises Carsfuiness In
Locating Claims
WASHINGTON. Sept io.-SpeAking re
gardipg the conditions governing the
opening Of the coded 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 %, while similar in some par
| t~iculars to those existing when Okla
homa itself was opened. are yet very
materially different in others Each OF
the Indians Of the tribes selling 10 the
| United States had the reserved right by
contract to 20 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 10 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
1865 Of 100 acres each. and the absentee
Shawnees J6s Of also a quarter section
each These selections were made IN
der supervision of allo,ting 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 or the
ground showing that that tract 10
allotted The settler is therefore Ii
able to get on such a piece OF land
unless he has a guide. So IL 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. IL he
ignorantly should settle on an Indian
allotment he would lose his opportu-
nifty and he defeated IL 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 a.
o as completed, and will be in the
hands Of the people there for use when
the opening takes place. II was
also necessary To hav. a Judge
OF probate appointed for the new court
and the new county seats surveyed for
town sites before lots can be selected
there. This work is in progress and
will be completed no doubt by Tues
day. The Indians have also t. be CON
sidered and their patents issued These
have been forwarded when required.
and the lists OF allotmcnts in all cases
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 Ia notify the troops
along the border Of the day and hour
they could let the people enter.
There are no railroads there for
the most part and it therefore takes
time to do this IL is highly de-
sirable that the settlers should
fully understand the absolute necessity
of guiding themselves by the lists Of
vacant lands sent out They should
not attempt tn enter without the Inst.
The chances will be almost even for a
attached Ia the various offices at Guthrie
and Oklahoma City. II has not been
deemed best to suspend this action in
order To defeat fraudulent soldiers
declatory entries as il would also nrccs-
sarily defeat some claims made 10y old
soldiers in good faith. IL is better the
law should take its course than il
should be interfered with by executive
action. Fraud can better be dealt with
by other means than through actual in
justice practiced toward the innocent
To defeat the guilty"