The evening times., 1899-12-22
The Logging Contracts.

Inc Logging Contracts.
Accordingly, on March 30, 1899, / di-
rected the Commissioner of the General
Land Office 20 suspend until further notice
all estimating. appraising. examining, and
cutting of timber, and the sale of the same.
as well as the letting Of further logging
in the State OF Minnesota. and the sale of
the lands in said reservation; to notify all
persons employed in connection with the
estimating, appraising. examining. and cut
ting of timber on the Chippewa lands that
they were furloughed without pay until
further notice, and 10 take no further steps
locking to the publication of advertise
ments for the sale of lands in the Chippe-
wa reservations. which were contemplated
to be made on the 10th and 18th of May
1899, respectively.
This order was modified on March 81,
1899. so as not to Interfere with the COM
pletiou of the then existing logging con-
tracts. Thereafter, on April and 6, 1899.
the work of examining the timber was
stopped and the examiners left the field.
The act of March l. 1899, making ap
propriations for the Indian service during
the fiscal year 1900. provides, among other
things. that:
The Secretary of the Interior is hereby
authorized and directed to cause an inyes-
tgation by an Indian inspector and a spe-
cial Indian agent of the alleged cutting OF
green timber under contracts for cutting
'.deNi and down on the Chippewa ceded
and diminished reservations in the State
Of Mi islesota. and also whether the pee
ent plan OF estimating and examining tim
ber on said lands and sale thereof is the
best that can be devised for protection of
the interests Of said Indians: and also in
his discretion to suspend the further es
timating appraising, examining. and cut
ting of timber, and the sale OF the same.
and also suspend the sale of the lands in
said reservation
How Estimates Were Made.
THE investigation conducted by the Of
ficers designated for the purpose under
the statute disclosed the fact that the sys-
tenn in vogue of estimating and examining
timber on the Indian lands was defective.
and not in the interest Of the Indians; that
gross frauds had been perpetrated under
the contracts for cutting dead and down
timber, and that the contractors had been
compelled to pay by way OF compromise for
timber unlawfully cut by them under cover
of their contracts the sum OF $55,74S.47.
This money was turned over to the In
dian agent to be deposited in the Treasury
for the benefit OF the Chippewa Indians
generally. The result of this investiga-
tion demonstrated the wisdom Of the
course pursued by the department in stop
ping further work on this reservation as
| being in the interest of the Indians.
During the course of this investigation
/. was disclosed that certain persons. in
2hjio.52-i::n of a sale of the lands in May
tnierei th:rcol and constructed buildings
Fne agent in charge of the Leech Lake
. :+.-e-c: reported that 1t was indispensable
| az tie proper organization and the conduct
Gf tGs agency under his control that these
! I~espassers should be removed. Notice
wss accordingly given them to remove
from the reservation within a designated
time. but before the expiration OF such
+; period numerous petitions from the set
+, tiers and from prominent people through
! out the State were received protesting
| against the proposed action and setting
| forth the hardships that would result from
an enforcement thereof.
After due consideration Of all the facts
| presented it was concluded that some relief
might be afforded by offering for sale the
| north half of section 15 as pine lands. and
| public notice was given that such sale
would take place on the 1st day of Novam-
| Der, 1899; that no settlement nor rights
| whatever could be obtained upon any of
| the lands included in the act of January
| II, 1893, eAcSpt as 10 the lanQS formerly
| embraced within the Red Lake Reservation
| that had been offered for sale, and warned
| all persons not to go upon said lands for
| any purpose whatever; and that all persons
found upon said lands would be dealt with
as intruders and trespassers.
LAS advertised, the lands embraced in the
| north half of section Is, known as the Cass
Lake town site. and embracing an area of
251 1-2 acres. were sold, the cash receipts
| therefrom being $17,994, or more than s16,-
309.62 in excess Of the assessed valuation of
s., 1,ss4.3s.
| More Timber Cut.
| 1.-The logging operations on the reserva-
tion, authorized by the act of June I, 1897
| $50 Stat, 90). were resumed in August.
1898. and continued up to. the time covered
by the orders Of March 30 and 81, 1899, re-
spectively. stopping further operations
During that period contracts to cut and
bank timber to the amount of 18.C10. 900
feet at prices ranging from $3.50 to $3.50
| per thousand feet, entered into between In
| The popularity Of Heurich's beer has been at
tanned by the superior qualities Of Maerzen Sen.
aate. and Lager. Phone 6s4. Arlington Bcttling