Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-05-15
MILE Laos SETTLERS.
It Seems the Indians Will be
Allowed the Lands. T..

, - :
Senator Nelson has been working
10 get the Mile Laos lands for the
white settlers, but it appears that
the department IL not en-
couraging his efforts, and has made
reports that throw great difficulties
in the way Of getting any legislation
that will help the settlers get the
land. When Nelson appeared before
the SENATE committee on public lands
III the interest of his bill to aid the
settlers. the committee requested the
interior department. for Information
In the matter. The. department
then had report made as to the
former rulings, treaties and laws,
and the. reached in the
reports were strongly 'againat che
Settlers Apart of the report was
as follows: :5
sit clearly appears that since the
passing If the act of July g. 1894,
said lands have: not been open to
settlement. and any persons who
have gone there for such purpose are
trespassers, and can have no right,
legal Or equitable, as against the" In
dians. See public notice issued by
the Secretary of the Interior under
date of March S, 1890. for the intor-
nation of any who might contem-
plate settlement thereon. Copy here
with. See also letter from the
acting commissioner OF the general
land Office to Knute Nelson, U. s..
senate, under date OF the 18th ut
January, 1896. Copy herewith"
1T was stated by the acting COM
missioner of the general land office,
under date the 18th OF February, 1896,
that the examination of the Mile
Laos lands as provided by said act
Cannot be given until the allOtments
to the Indians have been completed,
as it will not be known until then
how much OF said lands will be sub
ject to disposal rs aforesaid.
ut cannot be legally ascertained
which of the lands are agricultural
except by examination under said
act, which has not as yet been made.
nor can it he determined which lands
occupied by settlers will be required
for allotments to Indians until after
the allotments provided for. are COM
pleted.
1T appears that lands were re-
served for the Mile Laos Indians on
the White Earth reservation. if they
should elect to go there, but they
have not 50 elected, refusing. on the
contrary; to leave the Mile Laos
reser> alton, on which they have
long lived, and asking that lands be
allotted to them thereon in accord
ance with the understanding with
them when they gave their assent to
the act of January IA, 1889. The
matter OF allowing allotments in the
Mile Laos reservation is now under
consideration in the department.
elm this case the prospect appears
to have beeen held out to the Indians
from the first that they would be al
lowed to retain their old homes. and
not compelled to go elsewhere, but
most of the lands which might .have
been appropriated for homes tor
them in accordance with this under
standing appear to have been other
wise disposed of to white people.
"There are some five or six thou
sand acres remaining in the Mile
Laos reservation not embraced in
valid adverse claims. a quantity in
adequate to give allotments to all
the Mile Laos Indians, several hum
dred in number, and it Is believed
that if the rights of persons. who
have gone on these lands while re-
served from settlement under exist
ing law, for the benefit of the Indians,
contrary to the published notice OF
the Secretary of the Interior above
mentioned, and who now assert
claims of settlers, are confirmed by
special legislation in their favor as
proposed. there will be no lands lett
for allotments to the Indians