Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1902-11-13
WRIGHTREPORTS.
Satisfactory Progress Made
During Past Year Says
the Indian Inspector.
FINAL DISPOSITION
or the Lands d the Five Civilized
Tribes and the Dissolution Of
the Tribal Government
Will Soon be Accom-.
plished.

Ht'NHNNs
The progress Of the work and
some Of the difficulties encountered
10 administering an estate Of more
than 10. 100000 acres are set forth
in detail in the annual report OF
J George Wright, United States
Indian inspector for the Indian
Territory, TO the Secretary Of the
Interior which has just been made
public.
The work for the past year has
been more satisfactory, sccording
to the report, than at any time
previous, and the wsy is now sp.
parently paved for the 6nal dispo.
sition Of the Indian lands and the
dissolution Of their tribal relations.
Inspector Wright shows that the
total population Of the Indian
Territory lie S97, 900, Of which S4,.
600 are members Of the Eve civil
lied tribes. These own 9,776, 1856
acres Of lands, which is now in
process Of allotment. Mr.. Wright
explains in detail the plan adopted
by the Secretary Of the Interior to
prevent coal companies from Sc
curing possession Of all Of the coal
lands Of the territory. Mr.. Hitch
cock has insisted that no company
should be granted a let for more
property than II was abl, 20 actu.
ally operate, and then only upon
conditions that were profitable to
the Indians. The adoption and
enforcement Of this policy has re.
suited in largely increasing the
number Of lessees and increasing
the output Of the mines.
The Indian inspector has also
prevented, where his authority ex.
tended, the establishment Of un.
warranted townsites in the terri.
tory, This was for the purpose Of
checking the schemes Of q syndi-
cate Of town.site boomers who
were locating towns on about every
alternate section in the territory,
purely for speculative purposes.
The report shows that the tribal
revenues have constantly increased
since the enforcement Of Mr..
Hitchcock's policy Of compelling
cattlemen and others leasing lands
from the Indians to pay a just
rental for them. Ths Creek tribal
revenues for the year ending June
30, 1902, we're sl7, 1913 and the rev.
enuss Of the ChGrokees but 500
less than that amount. the
schools Of the territory are all re
ported in a prosperous and sAiis
factory condition. Mr.. Wright
concludes his report as follows:
"In view Of the recent supple.
mental agreements with the sew.
eral tribes, which have had the
careful consideration of the de.
partment before being submitted
to and ratified by the last session
Of Congress, no recommendations
for additional Legislation are made
at this time, the work to be per.
formed being to carry out the pro.
visions Of these agreements. / do,
however, respectfully invite alten.
tion to the urgent need for some
provision being made requiring
deeds, mortgages, etc, to be re.
corded.
"a bill introduced at the last
session Of Congress providing for
the protection and preservation OF
game in the Indian Territory failed
to become a law. Such a law Is
much needed and desired by all,
and l therefore respectfully rec
ommend that the matter be again
submitted for the consideration OF
Congress-"