The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-02
Will FINISH THIS MONTH
Government Land Appraisers Hurry.
ing IN Thefr Work

ing Up Their Work
Guthrie, O. T., Jan. 1.-The Ardmori
correspondent Of the Daily Capital. writ
ing about the work Of the government
! land appraisers in the Chickasaw nator
says they are hurredly classifying tn,
lands of this nation. and the work yiI
/ be completed, it is thought about Janu
airy 15 1901
/ Persons unfamiliar with the duties Of
I a land appraiser know little # the WORK
which is now being rapidly finished, only
that it was the preparatory step thai
would eventually place into the hands OF
the individuals Indian title, and for this
reason alone there is rejoicing on the
part Of both the non-citizen and the In
/ dian. The appralsing parties are now
working toward Ardmore as a central
point and viii close up in this vicinity
The working forces from both the east
and west win come together on a line
almost due south Every one of the 5000
900 acres in the Chickosaw nation viii
have been classified by the nine apprais-
ing parties IN the field.
The Dawes commission win open a land
office and the value of the lands viii be
determined by them after the classical
ton has been made. Under the schedule
there are ten grades Of land with three
subdivisions to ach grade. Naturally, open
bottom land is considered the best class.
This grade Of land is subject to three di-
visions-good, medium and low.
The character OF the land has been one
of the principal objects of the apprais-
ers work 1t is the purpose Of ire gov
eminent to equalize the lands Of the In
dian Territory one Of the features Of
the land is that it prevents persons from
holding excess lands; that is, land in ex-
cess Of their share, and also from grab
bling the most fertile land Each In
dian viii get his allotment Of perhaps
500 acres as contemplated by the govern
ment While many persons are holding
the best lands in excess of their share
Il Is only q question Of time until they
must relinQuish this land in order that
others may take the allotment due them
as members of the tribe.
Tt is believed that the Dawes commits
sion viii be able to make its report Of
the work done in the Chickasaw nation
next year. The citizens cannot get pat
ent to his allotments until the report has
been made and approved by the secre-
tary Of the interior. Many outsiders are
under the false impression that there viii
be demonstrating ia the Indian Territory
as there Is in Oklahoma. Every foot of
land not reserved for townsites, Gene
teries. city parks, schools. colleges. etc,
win be allotted. and there viii be no
demonstrating in the five civilized tribes,
nor viii there be surplus lands. Each
auottee viii select as his allotment a
homestead Of 100 acres. for which he viii
get separate patent which shall be
lnalienable for twenty-one years from
date lie Is free to sell all land aIo.el
to him in excess Of his 169-acre home
stead one-fourth in one year after he
gels his patent 0ne-fourth In three years
and the rest i'm FIVE years.
Land speculation at present offers no
opportunity to persons seeking 10 take
advantage Of the Indian The lana c7n
only be leased. and the great bulk of It
Is leased 90 farmers who nave cultivated
crops of cotton. corn. wheat etc at a
profit which is shown by their present
condition. While many people have LETT
the Indian Territory owing 10 the unset
tied condition. there has been a steady
influx from the state of people who say
they are willing 10 lease the lands ard
later purchase farm lands from tie In
dams in excess Of their allotment