The Globe-republican., 1899-04-27
THE UTE RESERVATION.

THE UTE RESERVATION.
1,dlaa Lands In Colorado Now Opsasa IL
Settlement.
a Washington dispatch says: The
opening Of the Southern Ute Indian
Reservation, which has been awaited
WIN impotence for many months,
mas at last been accomplished. the
PRESIDENT having issued his proclama-
uon on April 18th. announcing the OPEN
Ing Of these lands for settlement ef.
iective at noon. May 4. 1899.
| This vast area Of arabic lands. If
teen by sixty miles in size. located on
either side Of the Denver 4 Rio Grande
railroad. south and east OF Durango.
cannot fail to attract 4 large and de-
sirable class Of settlers. The Ute In
dians are entitled. under the law Of
1870. to S14 allotments out Of the en-
tire tract All the remainder Of tn
area, about 6S6OOO acres, will be sub,
| !ect TO entry under the desert home
stead. timber and TOWNSHIP 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 n rea-
| son2oie 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.
HE soils are the semi-adObe. sandy
Team and red-the former being pecu-
Aariy adapted for the growth Of grain
ana 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 IS
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 un-
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
dians who so elect may accept allot-
ments in severalty. The lands allotted
to the Southern Ctes 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 TO-
period Of three years, for agricui-
tural, and ter years for mining and
leasing system are:
First-The lands are exempt from
taxation and free from cost of water
charges. as the Indians OWL the canals
and bitches
Second-The rental in most instances
small amount in cash and share OF
the crop-one-fourth or one-third.
Third-lndianS can be hired to work
ut small wages and spend their money
at home, thus keeping the money IL
circulation in the community.
Fourth-The Utes are paid $4,000
annually by the government. Tie
treaty provides that this payment shat.
continue forever" This money gocs
into circulation in the immediate re-
gion where il is distributed from tue
bountiful hand of Uncle Sam.
The act Of Congress of February 90.
1885, which fixed the time for the
Presidents proclamation six months
from that date. but which has been DIS
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 a title to any portion OF
such lands st less than one dollar and
twenty-five cents Per acre, and shah
be required to make cash payment
Of fifty cents per acre at the time ming
Is made upon any of said lands.
The advantages Of cash payment OF
fifty cents per acre are many. 1t shuts
out the professional boomer" anj
leads direct to a first-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 as valuable farming land.
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 FOL
cheap. fertile and enviable homes.
The land offices are in the city o.
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 beS
built CITY Of its size in the West, be
ing largely Of brick and stone and EN-
bracing among its editices many costly
business and residence structures. al
we'll as expensive modern public, schoO!
md church buildings. Durango num-
bers among its business enterprises the
San Juan branch Of the Omaha-Gra
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 as tributaries
large section Of the San Juan mining
country as we'll as the agricultural. or
chard and range sections Of southwest
ern Colorado. northern New Mexico
and southeastern Utah. DurangOs
prosperity and commercial importance
will be materially increased By open
ing for public entry under the home
stead. timber aEI mineral laws the IN
N--ifl ho