The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-26
Tells Great Amount of Work
Done and Relates Diff
ficulties.
CAREFUL COURSE NECESSARY.
Twenty Million Acres of Land Ap-
praised and Allotted in Seven
Years at Cost of 10
Cents an Acre.

Washington, Dec. 25-The annual re-
port of Tie Dawes Commission on its
work for the Five Civilized Tribes of In
dams in the Indian Territory which was
made public to-day Is n general review
of the partition and allotment Of the lands
OF those Indians during the last six years.
The time consumed in the change from
the old system 10 the new" the Commits
sioners say. has been most irksome
period to the people Of Indian Territory.
and the commission Is not unmindful OF
the fact that 10 many candid observers
the execution OF the task has seemed to
be both tedious and expensive
While admitting that criticism WAS 10
BE- expected. the report goes on to say
that it is not just. and to show that the
time has been well occupied in securing
a correct roll of the people. and In OBJ
tanning n correct inventory OF their prop
e:;E and improvements.
Of the difficulties Of these divisions of
The work they say:
Every adult or head of a family in
total OF more than 10000 citizens anu
claimants was personally examined ard
his previous tribal record was looked up.
of this number, and in this way, more
''.'N'i '-o,VV' nave Dten examined since
June ~. 1895. The proceedings were all
taken down, especially as every case could
be carried TO Washington on appeal and
oiten the record OF a single case was hun
.Neds oil pages in extent. OF the above
number of people. approxima tely % go will
ne hnaily adjudged to lawfully possess tri-
hai member ano property rights. and il
can readily be seen how n less careful
oisslpaten the properties OF the tribes.
APPIsAJSEAiF,NT or ItNn
As to the appraisement Of the land it
was thought that tracts of forty acres
or a quarter of a quarter of section
was as small division as could reason
aolE pc made the subject of personal in
Ree''1di fRe nnii y, This acreage was adopted as
value of the land. but even thia reouired
1he locating. inspection classifying and
fa.aaing OF nearly $4,000 tracts of land
AS Tor safeguarding the occupancy and
Improvement rights Of tho nsopIe +be;r
honses, barns, fences and other improve
msnts me- Us; nad to be located by actual surveys
~ man in the Territory knew The SOC
nonal divisions of his farm or the section
:, iosca'ion OF single one Of his improve
accurate information respectinf, these mai
.ers, except the surveys and location of
improvements made by the commission.
Tbe report adds:
DISTRESS OF PEOPLE.
w. "oNS oSeu udily witnesses of the
distress OF the people caused by DELAY
not only of the approximately 30 90 citi
kens OF the tribes but also OF tho esti
iated bu.po other residents whose Iegit-
inate interests suffer from an rnsetflnd
state OF affairs. 1t will he seven Years
consumed In this work. IL IT is compIeted
sS we expect, by July ]. 1856. and the ad,
Hinistratfon Of these communal estates
amounting to nearly 20gnocO acres of
~ iand. and to perhaps hundreds of millions
consumed that amount of time and cost
iess fhan 10 cents per acre
we trust that a consideration of the
1acts here stated will lead TO tho conc,,-
SION that under the circumstances the
time consumed has not been unreasonsbie
or the cost unduly great
speaking of the difficulties connected
with the allotment work. the Commission
ers say that speculators not overscrup-
ulous IN their business methods have at
tempted In every way to influence tile
work with view to personal gain
One OF the methods of the spec,,lators ;s
outlined as follows: %
favorable scheme has been to induce
1uH-blood Indians to take in allotment
widely separated tracts OF ten or more
acres each, in order that they might NOT
be in position to take possession Of and
improve their allotments. This matter was
invited to the attention of the department
IN the month of August. 1903. and the
70 prevent allotments OF this character
Under the law, however, certain privileges
are guaranteed to citizens in the selection
OF their allotments. making 1t difficult for
the commission to fully protect their in
terests." "