The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-08-19
Maj. Roman Arrives and Com
mences the Work.
THE LAW AND INSTRUCTIONS
The Major has Full and Complete
instructions Favoring the
kootenai indians.

United States Indian Agent Peter
Roman, Of the Flathead Reserva-
ton, Montana, is now at Bonner's
Ferry, under special orders from
the Department Of the Interior, to
allot lands in severalty to certain
Indian families, who have conclud-
ed to remain upon the land they
have always claimed and occupied.
Other Indians have already moved
to the Flathead Reservation, while
several families will remain here
until September, in order to dispose
of their little improvements, and
good will of their possessions, to set
tiers who may desire to locate upon
the land they abandon to remove to
Montana. Maj. Roman informs us,
that none but heads of families
have applied to him for their
homes. 1t will be seen by his in
structions that children are entitled
to land as we'll as heads Of families,
but the Indian in chief on Tuesday
last, informed the agent, that they
were thankful to the government
for giving them such privilege un-
der the law, but that they would
not now ask for allotments to their
children, and only few heads Of
families who now occupy, and have
always occupied the land, would
take advantage Of the law. Maj.
Roman will commence in day or
two making such allotments under
his instructions from the Honor
able Commissioner of Indian affairs,
General I. J. Morgan; and it is to
be expected that he will meet with
no difficulty in alloting to Indian
owners the land which they occupy
and to which the law Of the United
States will protect them in their
title. The following is a synopsis
Of Agent Romans orders:
"You will proceed at your earlist
opportunity to the locality of the
Kootenai families Of Indians to
whom you refer, for the purpose of
assisting them in making applica-
tions for allotments under the 4th
section Of the general allotment
act, as amended by act Of Feruary
%, 1891 (26 Stat, p 794), a copy
of each act herewith enclosed. 1
also enclose herewith for your in
formation in connection with this
work, copy Of Il circular issued Sep
tember II, 1887, to the Department,
showing what is necessary to be
done, how to proceed, and the proof
required under the act first named,
and copy Of a circular issued to the
Department July 2nd, 1891, setting
forth the amendments to the gene
raj allotment act, as made by act
Of February 2S, 1887.
You will observe from the act
and circular last referred to, that
each Indian whether adult or min
or, married or single, is allowed, if
entitled to an allotment under ex-
listing law, so acres, unless the
same or some legal subdivision
thereof is valuable for grazing pur-
/ poses only, in which event allot-
ments may be made in double
quantities
You will assist all the Indians
who are members of the families
referred to as beieng entitled to
allotments, in making applica tions
for 80 acres each and furnishing
any proof required, if there is suffic-
lent land subject to allotment in
that vicinity, and it is presumed
form your statement there is. If
however there is not sufficient land
in the vicinity for the purpose indi-