The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-11-15
ON TOWNSITES.
AGENT Wisdom. In Mia Report 60 the
Secretary. Suaaesss . PIsa For
That Much Needed Reform.

~. VI. w lsuOHs Union luulhn
Agent, has submitted his report to /
the secretary Of the interior. He
touches very strongly on the ques-
tion of townsites. That part of /,
his report suggests a plan which |
appears practicable and feasible |
and is as follows:
Congressional action is needed
and recommended on the matter Of |
townsites. Stable and permanent |
improvements have been made in
our towns by non citizens. or by
citizens of the United States; and,
in nearly every instance, the right
of occupancy to the ground occu-
pied was purchased from the indi-
vidual Indian, and a fair remunera-
tion paid therefor at the time.
The occupancy, then, was obtained
by the consent of the Indian; and
the non citizen, it is fair to as
sumo, acted in good faith when the
purchase was made. The ques-
riOn is:
How, and to what extent, shall
he be protected in his holdingsP
A simple plan has been suggest
ed, somewhat as follows, to-wit:
Let the United States govern
ment buy, outright, through com
missioners appointed for the pur-
pose, the ground upon which the
towns stand. The improvements
thereon-it has been decided-be-
long to the occupants and cannot
be confscated. 1t is proposed, by
this plan, to sell each individual
holding to the party who occupies
lit, for a reasonable price. and that
he pay in addition thereto a sum
sufficient to defray the expenses of
J., a survey and in securing a patent
therefor. The land to be appraised
by said commission according to
its value i'm its raw or unimproved
state at the time of the original
purchase.
1t is believed that the consent of
the Indians can be had to such
proposition, and that such consent
will be made in conformity to the
congressional law upon the subject.
If such legislation is enacted. the
towns would enter upon a boom of
prosperity; home markets would be
established, and the Indians would
receive enough money by the adOp-
ton of this plan to pay off their
national Indebtedness, and still not
materially reduce the aera of their
reservations.
Some such legislation on the line
of this suggestion would protect all
men in their rights, and would cut
off land sharks and spectators who
desire to force fictitious values and
despoil the rightful occupant of his
D heritage or claim. 1t would be q
short cut to a solution of the town
site matter, and would, in my opin'
ion, be far better and simpler than
: the lease method provided for il
the Curtis" bill now before con-
gress. No lease, even for ninety
nine years, is equal to an estate il
fee. The lease system may put 1
quietus upon the townsite question
for the time being, but it leaves i
open to be settled by the genera
tions that come after US. Th'
= townsite question is second in i'm
portance to allotment in severalty
and it should precede it-if pos
sible-and it should certainly b.
simultaneous with it.
''Of course, by the plan abov,
mentioned, the money paid by th'
United States, for the purchase o
townsites, in the first place. woul'
60 into the treasures Of the differ
ent nations, or be placed to thei
official credit; and the money aris
ing from the sale to the individua
holders of lots in said townsite
would be paid to the United State