The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-01-04
RED CLOUD PICKS OUT FARM.
OgaIaiIa Sioux Are Now Expected to
Take More Freely to Civilization.

Take More Freely to Civilization.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Jan. 3.-Ofi-
Gals of the Indian bureau were much
gratified to receive the report of Allot-
ting Agent Bates to the effect thai
Chief Red Cloud of the Ogalalla Sioux
had decided to take an allotment on
the Pine Ridge reservation in South
Dakota. 1t is regarded as move in
the direction of the breaking up OF
the tribal relations Of that band, as
undoubtedly many of the Indians have
been prevented from taking allot-
ments by the failure of the old chief
to avail himself of his privilege.
Provision for dividing the Great
Sioux lands in severalty among the
members of the various bands and
tribes was made in the Great Sioux
treaty of 1889, but there was no
compulsion about the division. No
Indian was to take an allotment I'M
less he SO elected, and it is believed
that many of the younger and more
band would have taken their allOt-
ments long ago had not Red Cloud
stood in the way.
Allotting Agent Bates does not state
the reason for Red Clouds determina-
ton to take up a farm of his own.
But there is a suspicion here that he
was induced to do so by members of
the tribe who nave an eye to gain in
the future through the sale of inherited
lands
LandhoIding System.
Under the system of holding lands
in common, no gain comes to any in
dividual member of the tribe when one
of his relatives dies. The reserva-
ton belongs to all the living members
each having like share in the COM
mon property of the tribe.
Individual allotments, however, are
in a different class in their disposition
after the death of the original allottee.
Such lands, known commonly as in
herited lands, are sold for the bene-
fit of the heirs of the deceased, under
the later acts of congress and regula-
tions of the Indian bureau.
Indian allottees usually pick out the
most desirable land on the reserva-
ton, SO that, with the scarcity Of good
tillable public land, these inherited
lands, when put up for sale, usually
bring fancy prices. There have been
instances recently on the Yankton
reservation in South Dakota, where an
allotment of 100 acres sold for as
much as $4,000, with other sales of
similar tracts at nearly as high figures.
A general allotment on the Pine Ridge
reservation may now be looked for,
with a prospect of some Of the In
dams eventually realizing we'll through
the death of relatives and the sale Of
their holdings.
Civilizations Influence.
1t is not believed here that this
sordid and mercenary spirit animates
all the Indians who have taken or
will take allOtments. The influence
of civilization is on the increase among
reservation Indians everywhere, and
it is believed that number of the In
dams have taken lands in severalty
because of their desire to own their
own farms and homes and to be indie
pendent of their fellow tribesmen.
Some of the more progressive of the
Pine Ridge Indians undoubtedly re-
Trained from taking allotments because
Chief Red Cloud had refused to take
one, and it is expected that these MEM
bers of the tribe will soon apply for
allotments, as we'll as those who may
be actuated by less worthy motives
Alotting Agent Bates undoubtedly
had considerable to do with inducing
Red Cloud to take an allotment after
refusing to do so for fifteen years, and
credit is given him in the Indian bu-
reau for his work.