Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-04-27
THE UTE RESERVATION.
Indian Lands In Colorado Row Opened for
Settlement

4 Indian Lands In Colorado Now Opened for
settlement.
A Washington dispatch says: The
| opening of the Southern Ute Indian
| Reservation, which has been awaited
with impatlence for many months.
has at last been accomplished. the
President having issued his proclama-
ton on April 18th, announcing the open
Ing OF these lands for settlement eff
fectiye at noon, May 4. 1899.
This vast area OF arabic lands, fif-
teen by sixty miles in size, located on
either side of the Denver x Rio Grande
railroad, south and east of Durango,
cannot fail to attract a large and de-
sirable class of settlers. The Ute In
dams are entitled. under the law of
| 1870, to 3I4 allotments out of the en-
! tire tract. All the remainder of the
area, about 638,O0O acres, will be sub
| Ject to entry under the desert home
stead, timber and townsite 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 scmi-adobe, sandy
loan and red-the former being pecu-
liarly adapted for the growth of grain
and grasses. while the soils last named
are 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 Us
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 UNI
limited growth. The plateaus afford
range for tens of thousands of hend 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 aggrc-
gate about SIXTY thousand acres,
divided equally between agri-
cultural and grazing lands, and allot-
mcnts are generally In compact form.
The Indian may lease his allotment for
Il period of three years, for agrlcul-
tural, and ten years for mining and
grazing lands. The advantages of the
leasing system are:
FirSt-Thc lands are exempt from
taxation and free from cost of water
charges, ns the Indians own the canals
and bitches.
Second-Thc rental In most instances
n small amount In cash and Il share OF
the crOp-onc-fOurth or One-third.
Third-Indinns can be hired to work
ut small wages and spend their money
Mt home, thus keeping the money in
circulation In the community.
Fourth-Thc Utcs are paid $4,000
annually by the government. Tho
treaty provides that this payment shall
continue forever" This money goes
into circulation in the Immediate re-
gion where 1t Is distributed from tho
bountlful hand Of Uncle Sam.
The net 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
us follows:
"And shall be subject to entry under
the desert, homestead and TOWNSHIP
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 mt less thnn one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre, ana shall
be required to make a cash payment
OF fifty cents per acre Mt the time filing
Is made upon any Of said lands"
The advantages of cash payment OF
fifty cents per acre are many. IL shuts
out the professional boomer" and
leads direct to Il tirst-class citizenship
that is, men OF thrift, energy and in
dustry.
The location of the lands in question
ends the public domain entrys In Colo
RADIO, so far ms 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 educQt. nal center
of southwestern Colorado. The city
enjoys n 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 edfices many costly
business and residence structures, as
well as expensive modern public, school
and church buildings. Durango num-
bers among Its 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
| T.. Of thn Juun mining
country as well as the agricultural, or
chard and range sections Of southwest.
ern Colorado, northern New Mexico
and southeastern Utah. Durango's
prosperity and commercial importance
will be materially increased by open
ing for public entry under the home
stead, timber and mineral laws the TN
allotted lands embraced within the
boundaries OF the Southern Ute reser-
walton and provided for by congress
sional enactment, as the soils subject
to entry are susceptible to the perfect
| growth OF cereals, grasses, fruit and
vegetables, and tributary to the best
cash markets the West affords. To i'm
press the homeseeker and those of an
agricultural inclination with the SUI
| perior market facilities of this section,
il Is only necessary to call attention to
the fact that the extensive mining in
terests embraced In the San Juan coun.
try afford employment to many thou
sands of men who depend absolutely
upon tributary agricultural sections
for the products Of the ranch, range,
orchard and garden. Durango Is not
dependent upon the ebb and flow OF
any one industry, but blends smelling.
manufacturing. mining (coal, iron and
49, Ial xtytt N