Gilpin observer., 1904-12-29
INDIAN ADVANCE
DAWES COMMISSION REpoRF

Preparing for Allotment Of Lands-
Ninety Thousand Families to Re-
ceive Farms. - Seven Years Of
Work.
Washington. D. c.. Dec. 26.-The an
nual report of the Dawes commissions
on its work for the FIVE civilized tribes
Of Indians In Indian Territory. which
was made public to-day, is a general
review Of the partition and allotment.
Of the lands Of those Indians during
the past six years.
THE time consumed in the change
from the old system to the new," the
report says, has been a most irksoms-
period to the people of Indian Terri
tory and the commission Is not un-
mindful OF the fact that to many can
DID observers the execution Of the
task has seemed to be both tedious and
expensive"
While admitting that criticism was
to 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 q correct roll Of the people
in obtaining a correct inventory Of
their property and in locating i'm
provements.
OF the difficulties Of these various.
divisions Of the work the report says
Every adult or head of q family in
total of more than 100000 citizens
and claimants, was personally exam
ined and his previous tribal record was.
looked up. OF this number and in this
mr.
amined since June 28, 1898. The pro-
ceedings were all taken down, espe-
cially as every case could b. carried to-
Washington on appeal. ana often tho
record of a single person was hum
dreds of pages in extent.
"Of the above number of people. ap-
proximately 10000 will be finally ad-
judged to lawfully possess tribal mem
bership and property rights, and it can
readily be seen how a less careful
course Of procedure would have ut
terly dissipated the properties of tbs
tribes.
las to the appraisement of the land;
1t was thought that tracts Of forty
acres or quarter section was as
small division as could reasonably be
made the subject of personal inspec--
ton. This acreage was adopted as
the unit in determining the grade and
value OF lands; but even this required
the locating, inspection, classifying
and valuing of nearly 100000 tracts Gk
land.
"As for safeguarding the improve
ment rights and occupancy rights Cf
the people. their houses and barns
fences and other improvements had to
be located by actual surveys and with
vvrtv TO- -
in the territory knew the sectional ds-
visions OF his farm or the sectional 10
cation of q single one Of his improve
of accurate information respecting
these matters except the surveys ana
location Of improvements made by The
commission"
The report adds:
We have been daily witnesses O6
the distress of the people caused ~
delay. not only of the approximately
90. 900 citizens of the tribes but also OF
the estimated 100000 other residents
Of the territory whose legitimate inter
ests suffer from an unsettled state Of
affairs.
There will have been seven years
consumed in this work II 1t is conn
pleted, as we expect. by July !, 1905
and the administration of these coD
munal estates. amounting to nearly ze--
000, 900 acres of land and to perhaps
hundreds of millions Of dollars in act
ual values, will then have consumed
that amount Of time and have cost less
than 10 cents per acre."
I'VE trust that consideration of tho
facts here stated will lead to the COIL
clusion that under the circumstances
the time consumed has not been UNI
reasonable nor the cost unduly grea1
Speaking Of the dificulties con-
nected with the allotment work The
commissioners say that "speculatoFs-
not over-scrupulOus in their business
methods, have attempted in every way
to influence the work with q view Os.
personal gain"