Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19
EFFECT OF SEALED BIDS
HIGHER OFFERS RECEIVED FOR
GOVERNMENT LANDS
Secretary Hitchcock Much Gratiied
With Operations of the
Morris Law. ai+

Secretary Hitchcock of the Department
of the Interior is much gratiied with the
result of the recent sale of the timber on
the coded land of the Chippewa reservation
the returns regarding which are Just being
received.
This sale was conducted under the rules
and regulations prepared by the department
for executing the terms and conditions of
what is known as the Norris bill, enacted
at the last session of Congress in substitu-
ton of previous legislation known as the
Nelson bill, the latter being amended in
many important particulars, more especial
ly relating to the reservation of the.land for
homestead settlers instead of selling it. as
heretofore, with the timber and the matter
of scaling the timber when cut but the
most important of all being the sale of said
timber under sealed bids.
When the Morris bill was before Congress
strenuous efforts were made to prevent its
passage, and since its enactment they have
been repeated with a view of restricting
the bids and reducing the number of bid
ders who have heretofore practically con-
trolled the sales of this timber but Deem
Der about 2l3,000,0cO feet of white and
Norway pine We're offered, for which sea led
bids were opened from fourteen bidders
covering over 800 bids, the timber on every
acre offered being sold at about an average
of 81 a thousand feet, or at least So higher
ment, the prices realized being the highest
heretofore obtained for such timber in the
state of Minnesota.
The results are all the more important
as it established beyond question the alb
soute correctness of the sealed bid method
the value of which has been heretofore
fully demonstrated, beginning with two
years ago III the leasing of the Kiowa graz
ing lands, for which the Indians who own
them are now receiving $4,000 annually.
as against $4,000 previously; in the sales
OF inherited Indian land and again in the
sales of allotted lands in the Indian terri
tory, the last two applications of the sealed
bid policy showing a gain in values re-
ceived for the lands ranging all the way
from 70 to 125 per cent.
The policy thus demonstrated in the
cases of pasturage land and timber sales
has already resulted ia the advantage OF
the Indians to the eXtent of millions of
dollars, and it is claimed that there is no
reason why. such policy should not be
hereafter adhered to in all such cases
The information now being received with
reference to its action in restoring to home
Steaders and settlers such portions of the
public domain as have heretofore been il
legally fenced for cattle grazing lis most
gratifying to the department. Some of the
most aggressive leaders in violation of the
law have recently been indicted by the
United States courts including the officials
OF one of the largest cattle companies in
the country, who We're charged with having
in one inclosuae alone some 30 600 a. ores of
the public domain, and with whom it has
heretofore been impossible to agree upon
reasonable terms or conditions rrJorl which
1t might be found practicable to protect as
has been the desire of the department. the
great cattle-raisng industry. d