The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-08-16
70 PROTECT THE INDIANS
Governments Endeavor to
Make Them Good Citizens,
LAND DEALING LAWS.
Leasss Expire at End of Five Years
Dispensation of Proceeds of Sales.
Becoming AVerse TO Mortgages
and Notes Considers Carefully
Before Enterinu Into Contracts.


Union Indian agency at Muskogee,
which administers the laws OF Con-
greSs ana the regulations of the Sec
rotary OF the Interior for the purpose
ct keeping the fullblood in possession
Of his worldly goods, says the Kansas
City Journal. Every foot of lard the
funblood sells must be alienated with
the consent Of the Interior Depart
ment, either through the remove al Of
his restrictions or the posting III his
and to be sold to the highest bidder
through the Creek land sales division
Ct the agency. The fullblood cannon
sell nor incumber his homestead for
period of twenty-five years, and
can only ALLEVIATE the other portion OF
his allotment with the consent aSA
under the supervision OF the Govern
uen He is not allowed to lease MS
-and for agricultural purposes for
/, period OF over i've years, and he
ea1not lease it Tor mineral purposes
except with the approval OF the lnte-
1Or Department and upon proof being
submitted thai he is receiving ade.
quate compensation for the lease.
AT present the only fuAbloods who
can sell their land at ali are citizens
Of the Greek Nation. In the Chero-
kee, Choctaw and Chickasaw na.ions
the delivery of deeds to allotter: has
not been completed, and therefore
Indian lands there are not yet alien
able. At present from 5000 to 5000
acres OF land a month are sold through
the Creek land sales department Of the
Union agency at prices ranging from
$12 to $50 an acre for raw upland
farms
BY this system the fullblood Indian
gets the greatest possible protection
He must first dle a petition with the
Indian agent for the sale Of his land
He must stipulate how much land ne
desires to sell, AMI what he intends
to do with the money. He is also
asked about his age, physical and T.
a2ncial condition and all of these
things are taken into consideration by
the Government before action is taken
upon his petition. If the Government
believes it is to the best interest OF
the Indian to sell portion of his
surplus holdings, his land is posted
tor sale and sealed bids are received.
upon it, At the expiration of sixty
days these bids are opened and the land
is sold to the highest bidder If, how
ever, the Secretary of the Interior be-
ttEkfrXgea 663d1h The r6 BRlfgsatien rjeU ted
and the land readvertised
1t would naturally be supposed the
protection to the fullblood would stop
here, but it has only begun. The Gov
eminent next ascertains through the
the Indian owes, if any, and how much
of the money he receives from the
sale of his land it is necessary for
him to have Immediately. This is paid
over to him in cash, usually small
sum. and the rest Of it is held in
trust for him at the local United States
depository in Muskogee. According to
the rules of the Secretary, he is al
lowed to draw upon this sum at the
rate C $50 month.
The fuliblood, before he is allowed
to sell his land, is usually compelled
to- promise that he will use most OF
the money in building improvements
upon his homestead. AS soon as he re-
ceives his first payment he is instruct
cd to go ahead and have the improve
do .,.Yac,1 4<ar.c,
and has buildings erected, and some
times has a few acres Of his homestead
broken for cultivation. When it is
all done 81 Government inspector goes
30 the place and inspects the improve
ments and ascertains if they were
properly made. The fullbloCd is then
required to send the bills submitted
by the contractors and others who
have done the work, as well as the
bills for material, to the Union agency
where they are reviewed, and if the
Indian has been overcharged they are
cut down. They are then approvedand
paid out of the funds realized from the
sale of the Indians land which are
being held in trust for him. If any Dne
las a bill or note against the Indian
representing debt contracted beDre
the land is sold, these are sent to the
Union agency, where they are revitw-
ed before the money is checked Out to
the Indian so he can settle the OWL
cation.
In going ahead and engaging his Own
labor, buying the material and suptr-
intending the work of having his in
provements made, he is given all tie
advantage of managing his own Il
fairs without being subjected to dan
ger of being grated in the proceeding
Indian agency officials say. that a
fullblood seldom breaks his prombe
to use and make improvements Is
agreed when he is allowed to alienae
his land Another admirable trait n
the fullblood is that he seldom sens
to the agency for a monthly install
ment of the money due him in advane
OF the stipulated time, and if he is Mt
actually in need of the money he a.
lows the payments to run over for ser
eral months without drawing, thereE
receiving interest He is also becOn-