Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-15
is NOT AFFECTED.
ottumwa Oil. & Development Com
pany's Land Is Safe.

ottumwa Oil. & Development Com.
pany's Land Is Safe.
The Courier is in receipt of a letter
from ]. A. Mangan, who is at LaWton,
Okla, which sets at naught the belief
that some Of the lands claimed, by the
Ottumwa Oil & Development Co. IN
Oklahoma cannot be held because OF
the recent decision by the secretary
of the interior. Mr.. Mangan says that
the decision referred to in. the article
has no bearing on the lands claimed
by the Ottumwa concern, fact which
will set at rest the minds of some of
teh stockholders, among them the
Courier's informant, who, 1t seems,
misconstrued the decision also. Mr..
Mangan mentions a situation with re-.
gard to Indian lands and suggests
that the best solution for this problem
is the leasing Of the land from the In
dams providing the consent of the gov
eminent can be secured Contrary to
previous reports Mr.. Mangan says that
some of the holdings of the Iowa Oil
Co. are included in school land which
lies in the very center of the oil field.
/ Mr. Manuan's Letter. q
Mr.. Mangan's letter follows: q
ED. Courfer:-In late issue of
your paper appeared an article anent
the condition of some Ottumwa. oil
companies, which is misleading and
in some RESPECTS wrong. The Iowa Oil
Co. has an interest in quarter secs
ton of school land lying right in the
center of the oil field The late deci-
sions Of the secretary of the interior to
which YOU refer has no bearing whats
ever On the mineral question. The
decision simply asserts the right of
the territory to the indemnity land Sc
1ected by the territory in lieu OF
school sections lost to the territory by
indian allotment or otherwise. This
does not affect the miners rights on
these lands in any degree whatever.
The last mineral decision affecting this
country declared unequivocally the
miners, rights to enter, prospect and
develop minerals on school land in the
ISioWa; Comanche country In other
words Che department submitted to
the, sineyitable. The law opening the
country extended the mineral law over
lit and that law must stand until abroi
gated BIZ the law-making power-sons
gress. NJ Under the law and decisions
both, the 0ttumwa Oil &. Develop
aent. Gp, has clear right. to develop it's
three! yquagte sections of school land. y
I3sa Il; " The Indian Lands. sr "
Il This t;same company claims rights
for several quarter-sections' that have
been allotted to Indians. The status of
these claims is this: The land was
allotted to the Indians before this COM
pany located mineral claims thereon.
Title has thereby vested prior to loca-
ton. 1t had ceased to be government
land. The only splans that Seems at
present feasible, is to- hi lease these
lands. Some time since leases were
refused because of "a suit pending in
the, District Of Columbia. About two
weeks ago this suit was decided in ia
vor of the lessees, The belief is prev.
alent here that the department will
soon grant leases for mineral rights on
a royalty basis. The Consolidated Oil
& Gas Co. Of Lawton SO believes, and
has before the department applications
| to lease a large amount of Indian land
These applications show consent OF
1 the Indian, and approval by the Indian
agent: sJir sts4 -
= tThe purpose of this article isssimp
ly to make clear to interested parties
/ in Ottumwa the present status of tteil
holdings insOklahoma
4 - 81 s'Yours truly,
1 r. .f-jc5t 81 A. Manpan - 8