The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1905-12-28

towns i'm the coal belt of the Choctaw
Nation, was a most successful, inter
esting and noteworthy event. 1t ac-
complished its purpose with a vim.
There was enthusiasm about it. The
participants knew they were working
out solution to most important
issue, and they labored with caution
and earnestness.
1t is the hope of the convention to
secure an amendment to the Curtis
bill which will incorporate the views
set forth in the following memorial,
which appears in its amended form:
MEMORIAL.
We the representatives of the var
ious cities and towns within what is
known as the segregated coal lands of
the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations OF
Indian Territory, in convention assem-
bled at South McAlester, |. T., this the
2lst day of December, 1905, respectful
ly beg to memorialize and request your
honorable bodies that the previous bill
entitled. ...................
being senate bill. and
house bill ...................., be eX-
tended so as to provide in detail the
manner of the sale of said segregated
coal lands, to the end that the surface
| of said coal lands, other than that in
cluded within existing townstes, may
be Immediately sold at public auction,
to the highest bidder, in tracts of not
less than 10 nor more than GAO acres,
the terms Of said sale to be one-fourth
cash, the balance in three equal annual
installments without interest; provid-
ed, that at the time of paying the Sc
cond of said annual installments the
purchaser shall make satisfactory
proof, in such form as the secretary OF
interior shall provide, that he has
in good faith resided upon said land for
not less than one year; the object and
intent of this act being to dispose of
said lands to actual and bona fide set
tiers. The coal under such tracts to be
expressly reserved from such sale, and
to be disposed of separately from the
said surface.
Provided, that such bill shall also
contain provision that all leases of
any coal lands now operating coal
mines or coke ovens on any of said Sc
gregated coal lands, under existing
leases now approved by the secretary
Of the interior, may, within 90 days
after the passage and approval of said
act, designate by maps or plats, to be
filed wiih the United States Indian
Agent at the Union Agency in Musko
gee, !. r., so much of the surface OF
any of said leases as may be needed TO,
coke ovens, miners houses, stores ano
supply buildings, and such other struc
lures, machinery and appliances as are
generally used in the production ant
shipment of eoal and coke, and If th'
lands so designated shall appear tt
said Indian Agent to lie reasonably ne
cessary for the present or prospective
: operation of such coal leases, he shall
approve such maps or plats SO approved
shall be reserved from the sale OF thes'
surface lands hereinbefore provided
for. If it shall appear to said lndial
: Agent in any case that more land i
: covered by any such maps orplats thar
is necessary for the operation of sale
coal leases or mines as aforesaid, thel
d he shall determine and designate wha
portion thereof is necessary and tn
Y lands so designated 10y him shall be re
served from the sale as heretofore pro
! Ixy;I