The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-09-03

successfully under the shelterA
ing wing Of the federal court,
reflects no small shadow Of re-
proach upon the justice and de-
cency Of the times.
A land office was established
the work of which was, TO as
sign TO each Indian his proper
portion OF land called his allot-
ment. The method devised for
ascertaining the size of this
allotment in the Cherokee ma.
tion was not a little curious.
After setting apart all reserves,
it was assumed that the inter-
est of each Indian in the re-
mainder was worth Just
1926. 65; this sum divided by
the appraised value per acre Of
the land in question, gave the
dimension Of the allotment.
The division, however, was
arbitrarily required to show a
quotient which could be exactly
divided by 10; but if ssuch
quotient could not be thus di-
vided, the allottee had to for
felt the odds. To illustrate
Land at So per acre showed an
allotment OF 65.13 acres ; but
as the allottee could take only
80 acres, he was simply shaved
to the amount of 5.18 acres.
This species of petty trim
ming, as carried out in the
scheme Of Cherokee allotment,
amounted, in the aggregate, to
many handsome estates.
The Dawes commission, who
were responsible for this little
variety OF questionable doing,
apologized for it by saying that
the 18th section of the Cherokee
agreement required each allot-
ment to consist Of a certain
number Of ten acre tracts, and
without any fraction thereof.
But this construction of the
section was obviously incorrect.
II says, in substance, that in
preparing the ground for allot-
ment, the least legal subdivis-
ion, that is to say, the least sub
division that shall be conceived
OF as having been made in a
square, according to the general
plan of the government survey,
shall be ten acres. There is a
material difference between the
meaning of the word "legal"
and that Of the word "lawful. y
II was not intended to be said
that the least ''lawfuP subdi-
vision must be ten acres in a
square. The statute intention r
ally left the allotting commits
sion at liberty to make any
other still smaller subdivision,
and in any shape that might
best suit the convenience Of the
allottee.
There was developed under the shadow
Of the land Office a curious kind Of indus.
try which deserves eominemoration, as an
illustration Of the wonderful persistence
with which avariee hangs upon the heels Of
the Indian. No sooner had the Office come
to rest upon rs foundation, than moneyed
centers We're located At convenient range
all around Il, in banks, land agencies,
trust companies, (and what moi d for the
purpose Of purchasing, or leasing, allot.
ments as soon As they were assigned.
These institutions, by means Of timely
survey, had acquired exact knowledge Of
the tracts Of which they desired to OBJ
tain control Agents went out amo ng the
Indians whose business Il was 10 bargain
with, and bring in, such indiscreet mem.
bers Of the tribe as they could prevail
upon, mostly young men and plant.
minded negroes, and, by paying them the
merest tihe Of present money, Induced
them 70 "dle upon" and lease the pre-.
scribed tract; whereupon the real estate
turned aud let out the same
tracts, At enormous rental, to full-handed
strangers from the states.
The authorities Of the land ofBce by no
means discouraged this kind Of dealing.
The floors Of the Office was generally
hronged with agents whose business il
vas to rope in these pitiable objects Of
imposition.
Il Is curious TO observe how the bes,
aid plans for good can sometimes be per.
ferted 10 the basest Of ends. Apparently
rom the noblest Of motives, the allotting
'omuislion bad made rule giving the
ffull tanaan nhealnfa s4,,bt - -. a. Il.