Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1905-10-19
LAND MAY De THROWN OPEN.

Government ls Now Investigating
Leased indian Lands.
An investigation into the practical
workings of the leasing Of Indian lands
Tor grazing purposes is in progress at
the Cheyenne agency west OF the
Missouri river in South Dakota, under
the direction of Al attache Of the in
terror department and an attorney
representing the Indians Rights asso
citation.
The big cattle raisers, who for many
years enjoyed the free range and who
made millions out of the business, are
said to have complained to the associ
alton, which in turn complained to the
department of the interior that the
leasing system was not working to the
advantage of the Indians. The pres,
ent inquiry, which has been under way
for several weeks, was undertaken as
result OF the complaints.
Prior to three years ago few big
stockmen and cattle syndicates in
Sioux City, Omaha, Chicago, Kansas
City and elsewhere grazed thousands
of head of horses and cattle on the
lands of the Indians of the Cheyenne
reservations absolutely free, except
for small sums paid 'sQuaw men" and
halfbreeds who possessed influence
with the Indians and who acted as
their representatives. In 1901 Maj
Ira Hatch, the agent of the reserva,
ton, undertook to clear the reserva
ton Of trespassing stock. 1t was esti
mated that there were 10000 head
grazing on the range at that time, for
which the Indians received nothing
The total value of this grazing at $40
a head amounts to $5,7O0.0O0.
Maj. Hatch succeeded in putting
into force the leasing system, and as a
result the Indians have already receiv.
ed in rentals $29S,00 or nearly s25
for every man, woman and child on
the reservation, the total population
of the reservation being in the neigh
borhood of $500. But the time is
nearing when the leases will expire
and, as South Dakotans acquainted
with the situation state, the cattle
barons are seeking to regain the hold
on the reservation which they former.
~ possessed, and are trying to achieve
their ends through the misplaced sym
pathy of the Indians Rights associa.
ton.
The Cheyenne reservation is nearly
100 miles long and rs miles wide. 1t is
conceded to be the finest grazing
ground in the United States. Where
crops have been planted they have
yielded abundantly. For long time
the cattlemen prevented the Indians
from taking land in severalty, as they
knew this action on the part of the In.
dams would hasten the time when the
reservation would be opened to set.
tlement. As the influence of the cat.
tlemen has decreased the Indians have
commenced to take their lands In sew.
crafty, and now nearly all of them
have selected their lands. This leaves
an immense area of fertile soil that
now lies idle except as 1t is used for
grazing purposes, with one head OF
STOCK to every thirty acres. Should ii
be opened to settlement it will fur.
nish comfortable homes for thousands
OF white families. People who have
traversed the region say it is as fine
as any section of the Northwest, and
that should it be opened the rush win
be enormous. 1t is believed the in.
vestigation at present under way will
hasten the opening Of the reservation
TO settlement.