Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1891-05-28

United States; 90 U. S. 733-745; Hastings
etc, Railroad company VS.. Whitney, 132
u. S. 357-36O: opinion of Attorney General
MacVeigh. AZ, Op.. 16O,
No good reason is shown why the treaty
obligations and agreements with the
Sioux nation OF Indians may not be fully
executed without disturbing any .legal
adverse claim"
! / am therefore of the opinion, and so
advise you, that said question must be
answered in the negative.
The papers submitted are herewith re-
turned. Very respectfully,
Ia GEO. II. SHIELDS,
~ Assistant Attorney General.
=. LAND OFFICE NOTES.
Gen. Pcase will start tomorrow for
FaulktOn, where he delivers a memorial
address. When he returns next week he
will arrange time to meet Winnebago
settlers at Canning, Blunt and Highmore
to adjust their claims. In conversation
with the FREE PREss. the general stat
ed: "There was some excuse for the set
tiers who went on those lands in 1885, for
being mixed up. They kept no accounts,
being settled in the conviction that they
would never receive pay for being elected,
and thus are at a loss to give accurate in
formation. There were great many
more settlers on the tract than the de-
parment apprehended, in many parts
every quarter section having been occu-
pied, and can truthfully state that but
for the revocation Of Arthur's proclama-
ton it would now be the most thickly
populated portion OF the state. There
have been many cases brought to my no.
tice where extreme hardship was suf-
fered, they having sacrificed everything
and leaving without dollar, and no
means to provide food and shelter for
themselves and families. To show how
they are scattered to every part of the
earth, received three applications to
adjust claims for parties living in Eng
land, four from Norway, three from Den
mark, several from Canada, and they
come from every quarter, from Maine to
Texas. think it will take about three
months to close up my part of the busi-
ness, when the claims will have to 20
through department routine for ap-
proval" !"
Monday the officials of the land Office
resolved dispatch announcing that the
boundaries of the Pierre district had been
changed by proclamation so as to give it
about 100000 acres additional, the Cham
berlain district losing accordingly. The
change makes the southern boundary of
our district seven miles south ofits form
er location, caused by the correct estab-
lishment of range lines from the Black
Hills meridian and base line. This pracs
tically gives all of the Bad river valley to
the Pierre jurisdiction, and will prove
copyBnience to the settlers thereaway, as
otherwise they would necessarily have to
travel about 100 miles further to do busi-
ness at Chamberlain. All of Nowlin
county should have been included in the
change. The surveys are bringing to
light great many other matters hitherto
unknown regarding that vast section of
country.
A curious circumstance has been
brought TO light in the surveyor generals
Office by reason of the surveys made on
the late reservation. According to the
iinoH iu", ehe seosldphiChi lOcatlon vi
the course of the White river is found TO
be from ten to twelve miles south of
where it has always been marked on the
maps. AS this reduces the area of the
Lower Brnle, Rosebud and Pine Ridge
reserves, the query arises whether Poor
Lo will not have a kick coming and ask
the government to put the river back
where the map has always shown it. 1t
will restrict the country he uses for no
more noble and glorious purpose than to
exercise his pony on.
George Sergeant, who is landlord of
Onida's only hotel, was present at the
land office Monday, with witnesses, to
prove upon Sully county quarter.