The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-08-28

the finest agricultural land in the
county. The ranch in question is a
portion of what is known as Indian
allotment lands and is claimed bv
white settlers and number of In
dians, the latter claiming it as an al
Iotmont made them by Major Roman
when he was Flathead Indian agent
in October. 1891.
At that time the land was all IN.
surveyed and although no definite
survey of the north line of the 7eser-
walton line had been made. it was
known that the land was outside Of
the reservation In all there were
~ allotments made. each consisting
or 100 acres or total of 3O4O acres.
TWO years afterward a survey was
made OF the lands and settlers came
IN and took up ranches, but as the
Indians contested their attempts to
tile claiming prior right. they have
never been able to secure title to
their farms. Contests were heard in
the local land Office and with the ex-
ceptiOn of the case of c. e. Proctor
resulted in favor of the Indians. An
appeal was taken to the general
land office at Washington for final
settlement, which is now pending.
In Mr.. Proctor's case he proved
that he had a prior right and the de-
clSlon was made in his favor. The
Indian department is backing the In
dians in the matter while the IT, S.
land office is taking similar view
of the settlers claims Chief Cos
tatata is one of the Indians interested
and his portion of the allotment be-
ing contested by Frank Kane led to
the present intention of the land Of
flee to settle the matter for good.
TO this end searching investiga-
tlon has been made which tends to
discredit the Indians claim to the
lands and gives a taint of fraud to
the whole matter. From personal
inquiry, and after going over the
ground 1t is claimed that enough has
been discovered by the agents of the
land office to show that the Indians
who took up the allotments did so
at the request of cattlemen, with the
implied understanding that the latter
We're to secure the lands on payment
OF small sum for each 100 acres
whcn accepted by the department.
bill making the alOtments was
pushed through but before final ac-
tion was taken jor Roman who. it
is alleged, was behind the movement
died, and the cattle company of
which he was the head. took no
further action. The Indians never
severed their tribal relations, and
beyond building small cabins and
raising small quantity of garden
stuff, they failed to comply with the
laws regarding the allotment ques-
ton.
1t is regarded as an act of injustice
on the part of the government that
the settlers who occupy the lands are
refused a clear title especially as
majority of them have made their
homes there for years.
While the date for the hearing in
the matter has not yet been set it
will undoubtedly be in the near fu-
ture and will result in the final set
tlement of the veXed question. If
the claim of fraud is substantiated as
it is declared it will be. the Indian
claimants will lose their case, and
after lapse Of many years the white
settlers will be permitted to secure
clear title. AS evidence of fraud.
it is stated that the Indians who be-
long to the Kootenai tribe have vii
lage about two miles inside the reser-
walton line where they have resided
since the allotments We're made and
although to hold the lands it is neces-
sary for them to sever tribal rela-
tiOns they have failed to do so. The
land Office officials have clear case,
so they claim, and will put up
strong fight against what they claim
is rank injustice.