The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-24

round numbers, 12,O00,OO0 feet Of green
timber had been nlnlaWfully cut under
dead and down Co acts. and over $780,
900 feet cut without authority on indtvi-
dual allotments. They collected from the
parties; so offending, without resorting to
legal proceedings, over. $55 900. 4 Against
one firm, which made repeated efforts to
compromise for less than the value Of the
timber, a judgment of $93,56060 was
finally obtained ~e..
During the summer of 1900 represen-
cations were made to the department by
the senators and representatives in con-
gress from Minnesota that it would be
to- the interest of the Indians that the
pine lands in the four ceded townships in
the White Earth reservation in said state
be sold and the agricultural lands opened
for disposition under the homestead laws.
II accordingly referred the matter to
the commissioners: respectively. OF the
general land office and of Indian affairs,
and upon receipt OF their~repcrts that no
practical objection existed to the DISPOSE
ton OF said lands as provided for under
said act of Jan. IA, 1889, and the amend
ment thereto Of Feb, 26, 1896 go Stat. L.,
~, on Oct. 6, 1900, directed that the pine
lands in said four townships be Offered
for sale: on Nov. ~, 1900, and that the
agricultural lands be opened for DISPOSE
ton unde, the homestead law on Dec. 4,
1900; and the order Of March 80, 1899,
suspending all proceedings in relation to
said lands, was modified accordingly.
ION Nov. y the sale Of said ceded
lands occurred as ordered, Soon there
after, authentic and reliable information
having reached the department that the
bidders at said sale had colludcd and con-
spired to keep down the price Of the ladns,
[ directed the commissioner of the gen
eral land office not to approve any of the
purchases made at said sale nor to issue
any patent thereon until further advised
by this department. Subsequently in sew
eral cases directed that where purchas-
ers came forward and showed that they
had made their purchases in good faith,
and had paid a reasonable price for the
land, and were not parties to any col
fusion, or conspiracy. to keep down the
price, said order would be modified, the
purchases would be approved and patents
ordered issued thereon; such has since
been my known attitude regarding the
purchases made a t said sale, but, notwith-
standing that fact, only few Of the
purchasers at said sale have come for
ward and submitted proof as required to
enable them to obtain patent to the land
ITO correct the evils and abuses out
lined above, and to furnish law that
would adequately protect the rights OF
the Indians and obtain fer them the value
Of their property. the act of June q, 1907
(Public--No. 175). was passed.
Every foot of timber cut must be PAID
for before it is removed, and the Indian
must receive the full value Of his timber
and the price fixed by; law for his agri-
cultural lands.
"Another feature Of the bill is the reser-
walton of 2ooo acres of said land for a
forest reserve. o,>,...: 49,. e.
1.-THE examination 81 the ceded Chip
pewa lands will be resumed as soon as
sufficient corps of examiners has been
appointed. When. said lands have been
examined and classified and the Indian
allotments% completed, the agricultural
lands will be opened to settlement and
entry >:,s"u'