The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-06-14
TERRITORY TOWNS.
ADVISED TO INCORPORATE AND
BE READY FOR APPRAISERS.
Preparing PIsns tor Three United States
Jaiis-BIds for Their Construction
VIII Soon be Called fOr-They
VIII Cost $4,000 Each.
CneciaI to the Ardmoreite.

recently published statement TO the
effect that the Secretary of the Inter
ior has rendered decision which Will
allow the citizens of towns In the
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations TO
decide for themselves the main ques-
tions relating to the laying out OF
their towns, the size of the lots,
blocks. the width of the streets, etc.,
are correct to q certain extent. The
other day called on Secretary Hitch
cock and asked him for definite
statement inregard to this q"@ stion.
The secretary referred me to Judge
NTH, chief of the Indian division of
the department, for information on
the subject.
l asked Judge Smith whether the
secretary had recently made ruling
which would permit the citizens In
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations
to decide for themselves these ques-
tions. He replied:
The statement is true to a certain
extent. The secretary believes that
these are questions which should be
left to the citizens of the towns
where practicable. 1t must not be
understood that their decision, un-
der the recent ruling, is final. The
citizens of the various towns are
authorized to formulate plans for the
laying-out of the towns, to prepare
maps and charts in accordance there
with. and to forward them to the
townsite appraisers for approval.
The recommendation. together with
the maps and charts, will be acted
upon by the townsite commission,
: aud will then be forwarded to the
Dawes commission. The latter will
: either approve or disapprove the
plans and will forward the papers to
the Interior Department for final ac-
t ton. The object of this is to pre-
: vent irregularities in laying-out the
. towns For instance, we want the
streets and lots to be uniform in each
town. We do not want the streets
to be too wide, nor do we want them
to be narrow thoroughfares which
would resemble more nearly alleys
e than streets. We believe that II
most cases the citizens are more
competent to settle this question TO-
a themselves that anyone else, but WI
: do not intend that their action shall
l. be final. 1t is, therefore, for thel
: own protection that we will exercise
supervisors authority. In most case
I have no doubt the recommendation
of the citizens will be approved"
then asked Judge Smith whethe
le it would be advisable for the citizen
il to proceed to incorporate towns
w the two nations.
oe 81 cannot see any reason why the
should not" said Judge Smith. "A
le soon as they decide upon Peneri
Y. plan for the laying-out of the city
and prepare maps and charts in al
G. cordance Herewith to be forwarde
be to the department, they might Pre-
sc ceed immediately to the incorpori
ton of the towns. If the depar
ment approves of the general pia
IL everything would then be in read
ness for the immediate appraisemeI
of the property and would in tn
wav greatly facilitate the work.
as believe it would be a good idea f'
IN the citizens 20 follow up their recon
- mendation with the Incorporation
the towns.
'0 Acting Commission of IEdian A
he fairs Tanner has forwarded to Il
nd Interior Department recommend
az ton on this subject contrary to Il
above decision of the Secretary
the Interior. The latter recommen
-. that the people of the various tow
shall be allowed to make a recor
-iIo mendation as to their wishs and tn
ess in the event there are any charts
i'd maps already made they shall
ide forwarded with the recommendatio
oro of the citizens to the Interior d
partment. In the event the pla
and maps have not been prepar
TAI they recommend that the draftsm
of the townsite board shall prepare
rough sketch of the town and fC
r ward it through the OFFICIAL chann'
'hv to the department for action. Th'
" recommendation is also adverse
to. the incorporation of any towns un
they are finally laid out by the tow
oo site board. 1t is scarcely expect'
the however, that this recommended
ion from the Indian bureau will have q
we effect as the secretary has alreat
acted
i, Of Plans are being prepared now
!, the engineers division of the In
'A-0 rior Department for the construct
nan of the three jails to be located
aanS AInnIrnnno Gnnfh Mo- Iaafar