The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-25
TO LEASE
LANDS OF
SEMINOLES
By Consent of indians, Lands
Will be Leased.
TERM OF SIX YEARS
Leases Must be Farmers by
Profession.
TERM OF SIX YEARS

Guthrie, 0. T, June Every few peo-
pie Of the Territory know that the Semi
mole lands, considered the richest in the
Indian territory, are now ready for leas-
brought about by the fact that people
are interested in the opening Of the Kio-
wa, Comanche and Apache reservations
and have not thought OF securing lands
elsewhere.
The seminole country has always been
looked on as the finest country in the ter
ritory and as such is ready for leasing.
Under a treaty OF 1897 the Indians con
eented to the alotting Of their lands
and have selected their anoments. The
allotting forces went TO work the first Of
the month and covered a greater portion
Of the work.
The Seminoles, for all they are Indians,
are determined that only first class peo-
pie shall settle in their country. The
deeds for town lots are drawn up 50 that
there shall be no gambling houses, no
saloons or disorderly places, and il the
property is used for such after the docu-
ment is drawn up, the property reverts
TO the school fund Of the country
The Indian reservation consists OF
Sc, ,000 acres Of land, which, less reserves
for schools, etc, is to be divided between
2.757 Seminoles at the rate of 60 acres
per capita Of the first class land, or at
the rate Of 120 acres Of second class land,
or 24o acres Of the third class land
eople who have been through the reserva-
ton consider that two-thirds Of the land
is as fine for agricultural purposes as can
found. The other third Of the land IS
good for grazing purposes, and as mat
ter of fact. is considered as good as
some Of the Oklahoma land which is now
under cultivation.
The rolls OF the Seminoles are made and
this land is surveyed into townships
ready for leasing. The intention is, at
the present time, to lease for term of
six years The leasees must be farmers
by profession, they must have teams,
cove. plows and other equipment, and
last but not least, must have visible
means of support for at least one year.
in other words. enough Of the cash of
Uncle Sans domain to carry them over
the farming season.
The leases must ne people who believe
in good education, and the farmer who
pretends to farm with a Winchester win
not have an opportunity Of leasing the
land in the Seminole country. The lands
leased must be fenced by the tenant.
good house and barn must be built and
good orchard started. lans with speci-
fcations viii be attached with each lease
and the leasee must live up to the re-
quirements il he expects to reside in the
reservation
Arguments wiz be made when the lease
is written out that the farmer VIII pro-
vide Cor the payment Of the lease a por-
ton OF the cash OK crop rental each year
OF the six. AT the end OF the lease the
value of the improvements made on the
farm at that time will be credited on the
balance due on the lease. 1t is 10 be sup
posed that a greater portion Of the money
for the leasing of the six years shall be
spent IN improving the farms and by the
time six years roll by. the reservation
VIII have wei cultivated farms with
good houses. II may seem strange TO
the average white man, but these Semi
nole Indians VIII require q bond TO be
given in order that the lease is carried
out in fun There Is q provision. how
ever, that If a man desires to throw up
his lease. he must give the principal
chief six months notice. At the time he
gives lup his farm. the value of the i'm
provemeuts viii be deducted from the
amount due on the lease. at the time of
giving 1t up.
After the Seminole government ceases
- exist. win be a number Of years yet.
the Indians win have permission to sell
al of their auotmonts. This VIII enable
white men to secure well improved lands
at coed prices. But it is not known when
The tribal government viii cease to ex-
ist IS the time is not stated in the last
treaty John +. Brown. commonly known
rs Governor Brown. has been the prin-
Cipsl chief Tor the pasct fifteen years.
3Ie is the principal chief at this time and
his people look on him as very gifted
man. Governor Brown was born in the
Cherokee nation in 1913 ana received
limited education In the schools of that