Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-04-28
THE UTE RESERVATION.
Indian Lands In Colorado Now Opened fol
Settlement

WiSu iulputleuce LOT Ulduy nOuLuS,
has at last been accomplished, the
President having issued his proclama-
ton on April 4th, announcing the OPEN
Ing of these lands for settlement eff
fective Mt noon, May 4, 1899.
This Nist area Of arabic lands. flf-
teen by sixty miles in size, located on
either side of the Denver Il Rio Grande
| railroad, south and east of Durango,
cannot foil to attract large and de-
| sirable class of settlers. The Ute In
| nians are entitled, under the law Of
1895, to 374 allotments out of the en-
tire tract. All the remainder of the
area, about 63G,000 acres, will be sub
| iect to entry under the desert home
stead, timber and townste laws, and
the laws governing the disposal of coal,
mineral, stone and timber lands. and
many Of the Indian allotments will be
leased by intelligent white men at rea-
sonable rates. The lands embrace both
valley and mesa or uplands, but the
supply Of water for irrigation is many
times greater than will be called for.
The soils are the semi-adobe, sandy
loan and red-the former being pecu-
liarly adapted for the growth Of grain
md grasses, while the soils last named
nre unequalled for the growth of vege-
tables, alfalfa and fruit trees. Owing
to the percentage of gypsum in the bot
tom lands. the yield of clover is as
high as three and one-half tons to the
acre.
Aside from the agricultural future Of
this great area of virgin soil, the stock
industry gives promise Of almost IN
limited growth. The plateaus afford
range for tens of thousands of head of
cattle, horses and sheep. while tribu-
tary mining camps supply an abundant
market noted for good prices.
- Under Federal enactment. Ute In
dams who so elect may accept allot-
ments in severalty. The lands allotted
to the Southern Utes aggre-
gate about sixty thousand acres,
divided equally between agri-
cultural and grazing lands, and allot-
ments are generally in compact form.
The Indian may lease his allotment for
n period of three years, for agricul-
tural and ten years for mining and
grazing lands. The advantages of the
leasing system are:
First-The lands are exempt from
taxation and free from cost of water
ClitAlS cS, tS luc wv IL thC NthuAS
and bitches.
Second-The rental in most instances
n small amount in cash and share OF
the crop-one-fourth or One-third.
Third-Indians can be hired to work
at small wages and spend their money
at home, thus keeping the money in
circulation in the community.
Fourth-The Utes are paid $4,000
annually by the government. The
treaty provides that this payment shall
continue forever" This money goes
into circulation in the immediate re-
gion where it is distributed from the
bountiful hand of Uncle Sam.
The act of Congress of February 20,
1895, which fixed the time for the
Presidents proclamation six months
from that date, but which has been de-
layed until now. cites how the land
shall be taken up by the whites, and is
as follows:
"And shall be subject to entry under
the desert, homestead and townsite
laws, and the laws governing the dis
posal of COAL mineral, stone and tim
Der lands. but no homestead settler
shall receive title to any portion Of
such lands at less than one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre, and shall
be required to make n cash payment
of fifty cents per acre at the time filing
is made r~on any of said lands"
The advantages of cash payment OF
fifty cents per acre are many. 1t shuts
out the professional boomer" and
leads direct to n first-class citizenship
that is, men of thrift, energy and in
dustry.
The location of the lands IL question
ends the public domain entrys in Colo
RADIO. so far as valuable farming lands
extends. forever, as this particular area
embraces all that has been, by virtue
of being an Indian reserve, Withheld
from entry. 1t is the last chance for
cheap, fertile and enviable homes.
The land Offices are in the city of
Durango, which is the commercial,
manufacturing and educational center
of southwestern Colorado. The city
enjoys a population Of 5000 and the
singular distinction of being the best
built city of it's size in the West, be-
ing largely of brick and stone and en-
bracing among it's edffices many costly
business and residence structures, as
we'll as expensive modern public, school
and church buildings. Durango num-
hers among it's business enterprises the
San Juan branch of the Omaha Grant
smelter, employing hundreds Of men,
several large coal and coke companies,
electric street railways, two daily pa
pers, iron works, Touring mills, manu-
featuring enterprises of various de- :
scriptions and many extensive whole
sale and retail establishments. The
city is the terminal of the Rio Grande
system and enjoys rs tributaries a
large section of the San Juan mining
as we'll as the agricultural, or
chard and range sections Of southwest
arn Colorado, northern New Mexico
md southeastern Utah. Durangos
and commercial Importance
will be materially increased by OPEN
ng for public entry under the home
stead, timber and mineral laws the ur-
allotted lands embraced within the
boundaries of the Southern Ute reser-
vation and provided for by congress
sional enactment, as the soils subject
20 entry are susceptible to the perfect
growth of cereals. grasses, fruit and
vegetables, and tributary to the best
ash markets the West affords. To i'm
press the homeseeker and those of an
agricultural inclination with the SUI
,erior market facilities of this section,