The Saint Paul globe., 1902-03-16
INDIANS SOLD LAND
MAI. MLAUGHLHN ARRANGED DEAL
FOR QUARTER MILLION
ACRES
PRICE Is A MILLION DOLLARS
Goes to Washington to Report-Be-
Heyes That Congress VIII
Open Lands for Entry
by October.

Maj. James Mclaughlin. the Indian
| inspector, was registered at the Mer-
chants yesterday, enrOute to Washington
| from the Red Lake Indian reservation,
| where he has closed deal for large
| tract Of land in the reservation for the
| government.
| Maj. Mclaughlin was sent to the
reservation about two weeks ago, with
| instructions to negotiate with the Indians
| for the purchase of that part of the
reservation lying in Red Lake county,
| comprising about 256,000 acres. The price
| agreed on is 81, ,000,000. He says ne ex-
| perienced considerable difficulty in making
| satisfactory arrangements with the red
| men. When they learned that the gov
ernment desired the tract, they at once
| set fabulous price on the land, and 1t
required considerable dickering on the
part of the major, to induce them to cede
| the tract on the above conditions.
The major was accompanied by Mayor
Kratka, of Thief River Falls and Ben
Failbanks of White Earth, both of whom
rendered valuable service in negotiating
with the Indians. Maj. Mclaughlin tells
an interesting story of his work with the
Indians. He reached the agency Tuesday
morning Of last week and his arrival hav
ing been expected the most Of the Indians
had congregated and were waiting for
him.
At o'clock in the afternoon of that
day the first meeting was held between
the Indians and the major at which he
outlined the object of his visit there.
At first the Indians were not inclined to
| regard the proposition favorably. They
had many grievances to complain about
and it was necessary to give them time
to tell of these before they could get
down to business with the matter in hand.
From the time they first lit the council
fire late Tuesday afternoon it was not
extinguished day or night until o'clock
Of the following Monday, at which hour
the agreements had been made and the
Indians present at that time began the
signing of the treaty. Within an hour
and a half 108 signatures had been affixed
to the agreement and the following morn
ing the number was increased to upwards
of 200. This was sufficient to comply
with the laws governing treaties, which
require the signatures of a majority Of
the adult members of a band to all agree
ments made. There are 334 such in the
Red Lake band and 168 signers would
have been sut1cient.
Price Was S3 80 Per Acre.
The first offer made by Maj. McLaugh-
lin to the Indians was a lump sum of
$3. rs per acre. After nearly a weeks
delay they accepted $3.50 in ten install
ments. According to the figures given
en- the annuity rolls, which, instead of
the census report, is the basis of treaty
agreements, there are 1882 Indians enti-
tied to participate in the benefits accru-
ing from the sale, and the number Of
acres being 256,152, at $3.50 per acre, gives
each Indian the sum of $746.24, as his
proportion of the results of the sale.
Upon arrival at Washington the major
will lay the matter before the secretary
Of the interior. The report will be exam
ined, and it not in conflict with any rul-
ing or established usage it will probably
go to congress for approval. Mayor
Kratka will accompany Maj. Mclaughlin
to Washington for the purpose of using
all possible means of Fastening congress
Sional action. The majors success in
negotiating treaties in the past is such
as warrants the belief that he has made
no false move in this instance, and it is
believed that there will be no serious de-
lay in the opening of the line
After the ratification of the treaty six
months must elapse before the lands can
be opened This is for the purpose Of
giving the Indians an opportunity to har-
vest any crops they may have planted
and to remove their dead from the ceded
lands Owing to this fact the opening
will be delayed until late this fall. Grant
ing a month for the treaty to get through
the interior department, and to be rati-
fed by congress, the lands cannot be
opened for entry before the middle Of
October.
Maj. Mclaughlin says the land may
be offered by the government for the
exact price paid by the government,
which would be nearly $4 per acre. Con-
gress may see fit to have the land sold
at auction, in which case the land would
go for an even higher sum.
The inspector considers that the price
is q very fair one, both to the Indians
and the government, and he is positive
that congress will ratify the purchase.
In case that the matter cannot
be brought before the present congress
the reservation will not be opened up for
two or three wears