The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-03-22
TIL INDIAN TIlRITORI TOuHyTt5
AN APPROPRIATION BILL AMEND
MENT PROVIDING FOR SURVEY
Work Of the Delegation In washInetOn
Representing the South MeAlester
tfon.-Reservatlon of Lands
From Allotment Provided For.


ton to represent the South McAlester
in the work CT securing |
better conditions in the Indian Ter
ritory has completed the amendment
which it desires to have offered to
the Indian appropriation bill provid-
ing for the survey and appraisement
of townsites. The amendment has
been submitted to Indian Commits
sioner Jones and approved by him.
Senator Jones now has it and will
offer it in the senate when the Indian
appropriation bill comes up. The
amendment in full is as follows:
ga townsite commission for eao b
town in said Ohoctaw, Chickasaw,
Creek and Cherokee nations, to con-
sist of one member ,tolbe appointed by
executive of such nation, who shall
not be interested in town property
other than his home, one member to
be appointed by the secretary of the
interior and one member to be Sc
lected by the town or city council;
the council fail to select members as
aforesaid, they may be selected and
appointed by the secretary of the in
terror. The agreement of any two
members of said commission as to
the market value of any lot shall
constitute a determination thereof,
subject to the approval of the secre-
tary of the interior, and if no two of
said members are able to agree the
matter in dispute shall then be de-
termined by such secretary.
Provided further, that the coun-
Gil of any city or town in either of
said nations may, in its discretion
and at the expense of such city or
town, proceed itself to cause such
city or town to be surveyed and plat
ted as contemplated in said sections
Is and 20 of said act, approved June
%, 1898, entitled AN act for the pro-
lection of the people of the Indian
Territory and for other purposes,
and file the plat thereof as therein
directed. which shall be subject to
to the approval of the secretary of
the interior.
"As soon as the survey and plat of
any town is approved the commits
sion for such town shall with all
proper dispatch proceed to make the
appraisements of the lots and the
improvements thereon in manner as
provided and prescribed in said Sec
tions 15 and 20 of said act, approved
June %, 1898, and file their report
with the secretary of the interior.
provided further, that if at the
expiration of elk months from the
approval of this act, being the time
allowed for city or town council to
exercise the option to survey and
plat, any town has not been survey
ed and plated as herein provided,
the authority of the town or city
council to survey and plat the same
shall then cease, and the powers in
relation thereto shall deYolve upon
| the commission of such town, who
shall cause the same to be surveyed
and plated and make their report
thereon, as well as the report of the
appraisement thereon, through the
United States Indian inspector for
the Indian Territory to the secretary
of the interior :or his approval. The
commissioners for unincorporated
towns shall proceed with dus dill
gence to survey, plat and appraise
such towns and make their report
thereon IS herein contemplated.
"All towns and villages which al
the approval of this act, or that may
prior to the allotments of the lands
on which the same may be situated
have population of 100 or more,
shall for the purpose of this act con-
stitute town.
"Ths commission of the five civil.
lied tribes is hereby authorized, up.
on application by any interested
parties, to set aside and reserve from
allotments to individual citizens oi
the ave civilized tribes any lands in
the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole
Greek or Cherokee nations, In the
Indian Territory, not exceeding 16C
acres in any one tract, at such points
as may be found necessary and de.
sirable for townsite purposes, on the
line of any railroad which shall be
constructed in the Indian Territory
prior to allotment. Such townsiteE
shall be selected, surveyed and plat
ted and lots disposed of for the bene
fit of the tribe, under rules and reg,
ulations prescribed by the secretary
of the interior.
"It shall be unlawful for any per
SON to sell, or attempt to sell, occu
pancy rights to lots in any town Of
said nations which may be reserved
fromlallotment under the provision,
of this act, or to settle or attempt tc
settle any lands as towns until the
same shall have been set apart fol
townsite purposes as hereinbefore
provided, or as otherwise expressly
provided by law.
Amy person who violates the pro
visions of this section shall be deem