The National tribune., 1907-03-14

ADAD hSeSeKSul10u IN WVuhNhu
Probably Not to be Opened UntH the
Spring Of 1908.
For the benefit Of The National Trib-
une readers. the following Information
concerning the opening of the Fiathead
Indian Reservation in Montana has
been compiled.
AS considerable time must elapse
before the survey Of the lands will be
completed. allotments, classification,
and appraisal made, 1t is not possible
at this time to state approximately the
date when the reservation will be OPEN
ed, but timely notice of the opening
will be given to the general public thru
The National Tribune. Incidentally,
however, it Is quite safe to state that
nothing can be done toward opening
this reservation much before 1908. BY
the act of April 23, 1904, (33 Stat, 302),
1t Is provided that after the survey Of
all of the lands within the reservation
and allotments to the Indians, the resi-
due of the lands shall be classified and
appraised as, first. agricultural land OF
the first class; second, agricultural land
of the second class: third. timber lands.
to be more valuable for their timber
than for any other purpose; fourth,
mineral lands; and fifth, grazing lands.
as to value.
After classification and appraisement
the lands. with the exception OF sucn
as may be classed as timber lands, and
such as may be reserved for school and
other purposes. are to be disposed of
under the general provisions Of the
homestead, mineral, and tOwn-site laws,
and will be opened to settlement and
entry by proclamation of the President,
yrl-tri, ha1 ha hn,
and the manner in which, they shall
be settled upon, occupied, and entered
by persons entitled to make entry there
of, and no person will be permitted to
settle upon, occupy, or enter any of said
lands, except as prescribed in the proc
lamation of the President.
The act provides that the rights Of
ex-soldiers and sailors under sections
2304-23O5, Revised Statutes, shall not
be abridged.
The price to be paid for the lands
| shall be the appraised value. HON estead
entrymen to pay one-third Of the APP
praised value at the time of entry, and
the remainder in five equal annual pay.
ments, and in addition the sams fees
and commissions at the time of COM
mutation or final entry as are provide
by law when the price Is $1.25 per acre.
and no further charge of any kind shall
make the payments. or any of them,
within the time stated, all rights in and
to the land covered by his or her entry
shall at once cease, and any payments
heretofore made shall be forfeited and
the entry Cancelled.
The lands entered under the home
stead laws shall be subject to commu-
tation under section 1901, Revise
Statutes
Lands classified as mineral are to be
disposed Of under the mining laws only,
but mineral locations and entries may
! be made upon any of the lands opened,
IL same are mineral in character with
out regard to the classification, it being
provided, however, that no mineral To-
| cations shall be permitted on any lands
allotted to Indians.
Timber lands are to be disposed OF
under sealed bids, or at public auction,
| as the Secretary of the Interior may de-
termine, to the highest bidder for cash
The lands that will be thrown open
to settlement and entry will aggregate
approximately, 100000 acres.