The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-04-03

so much has been said about the state
appropriating the lands OF the 1ankton
reservation for school purposes that
Land Commissioners Lockhart has made
a public statement OF his side OF the case.
1t explains his position quite fully but
fails to show why the act OF congress OF
March2 2, 1885, should take precedence OF
a treaty stipulation Of later date with
the Indians and ratified by congress,
specifically providing that these lands
can be taken by actual or bona hde SET
tiers only. Commissioner Lockhart says:
The impression has gone out that In
dams have selected all the best lands on
the reservation. Such is lot the case,
although they have selected some very
tine land, and they have also selec.ed
some that is very poor. Taking into
consideration all the land selected by
the Indians, it will not average as good
as what is left for the settlers. In max
ing my selections for the state, l have
~endeavored to take the lands in n body
so as 70 leave the remainder In large
bodies, so as not to ~interfer with the
formation OF school districts. Nearly all
of the lands left are of excellent quality
and we'll adapted to farming purposes.
The amount filed on by me for indem-
nifty school lands is 1855 acres; for agri-
cultural college purposes, lO,O83 acres;
for deaf and dumt school; 1882 acres;
for school of mines purposes, 100; acres;
making a grand total OF 5s,7l4 acres.
The authority given the state by act
of congress, approved March 2, 1885, is
very plain and 10 as sollows:
THAT any state or territory entitled to
indemnity school lands, entitled to selec
lands for educational purposes under ex-
listing laws, may select such lands with
in the boundaries Of any Indian reserva-
ton, in such state or territory, from the
surplus lands thereof purchased by the
United States, after a!lotments have
been made to the Indians OF such reser-
walton, and prior to the opening Of reser-
walton to settlement
The general government realizes that
South Dakota was kept GU of the Union
long after she was entitled to admission,
when all of her best land had been taken
and owing to this fact we have been
until the passage of this law allowing US
to select land from Indian reservations.
Had We been able to select average
lands, our appropriations for the main
tenancs of our schools and public insti-
tut,ons would soon be wiped out and our
tax would not amount to half as muct,
as 1t is today. The government has Civ.
Us q chance to get the balance OF our
lands from the best they have to give,
l believe that it il the duty Of the state
to take advantage OF this. The selections
for the Springfield normal school, 4O,OOC
acres will not come from the reserve.
There is another rumor ia circulation
that the state las withdrawn other sc.
lectlons Of lands IN other parts OF the
state in order to select these lands. Tha'
Is false. These selections are made fol
the purpose Of liillng the mount o
lands granted the state under the en-
abling act, and after these lands hav,
been selected there still remains 6O,OO
acres TO select. without withdrawn,
any filings that have been made.
The annual report OF my predecessor
Mai. Ruth, showed that there wer
LOCO acres Of endowment lands to selec,
but l found 1900 acres yeI to be selec,
ed, besides $4,000 acres Of iudemnit
land making in all $4,000 acres mp t
the time l took charge of the office
school and public lands OF this state.
pierra lisnatch 1. The attOrnay uer