The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-10-02
OPENING INDIAN RESERVA.
TONS.

The large Indian reservations To-
Gated in Montana will coon be trans
formed into homes for thousands of
Industrious and thrifty settlers, who
will assist in the work of making
Montana the most wealthy and pros
porous state in the Union. The big
Grow reservation in eastern Montana
was opened to settlement about q year
ago: the Flathead reserve, in western
Montana, will soon be ready for oc.
cupany by farmers and stockmen: the
Blackfeet reserve, in Teton county,
will be subject to entry by settlers as
soon as surveys are completed, and
it is now announced that a treaty for
the surrender of Fort Peck reserva-
ton lands in Valley county has been
arranged with the Indians.
The treaty, according to advices
from Poplar, was signed by nearly
400 Indians, the negotiations being
conducted by Major Mclaughlin,
agent in charge, as representative of
the government. The terms of the
treaty are given in this general out
line:
The Indians bound by the agree
ment are the Sioux and Assinniboine
tribes belonging and having tribal
rights on the Fort Peck reservation.
The Indians agree to surrender to the
government all lands within the reser-
walton provided that all allotments OF
32O acres each shall first be made to
every man, woman and child belong.
ing to or having tribal rights on the
reservation who have not heretofore
received allotments.
1t is further provided that If it
should be determined as feasible to
irrigate any Of the lands, the allot.
ments shall be forty acres OF irriga-
BILE land and $50 acres of land valua.
BILE only for grazing purposes; or at
the option of the allottee the entire 320
acres may be taken in grazing land.
Further, in addition to the 32O acres
the timber lands within the reserva-
ton, bordering along the Missouri
river, shall be allotted to the heads of
families and adult members over is
years Of age, this allotment to be
based upon the stand Of timber On the
respective tracts. Further, allotments
Of 100 acres of non.irrigable land shall
be made to each child born to the In
dians, parties to the government, SC
long as the Indians are in possession
of any unallotted, tribal or reserva'
ton lands.
The agreement provides that afte,
the lands shall have been surveyed
and allotments made, 4 commission
shall be appointed consisting of thret
persons, one of whom holds tribal re
l~atious with the Indians, to inspect
appraise and value all of the land
not allotted or reserved. The land i
!, to be divided into three classes: Ag
!. ricultural land Of the first class, agri
! cultural land of the second class, an,
: grazing land. When this is done tn
lands shall be disposed of under tn
general provisions Of the homestea
and townsite laws of the United State
t except that sections Is and 50 in eac
l township shall be reserved for the US
of the common schools of the state 0
. Montana, in case these sections hav
been allotted, lieu land may be ST
, lected, provided hat for sections
| and IS or lieu lands the Indians mus
be paid $l.25 an acre by the govern
: ment.
t The agreement provides that tn
: land shall be opened TO entry b
+ proclamation Of the president, tina
g the price OF the lands shall be the AZ
. praised value thereof, and in no cas-
less than Sl.25 an acre. Lands re
, naming undisposed Of shall be sol
. at auction to the highest bidder 70
cash at not less than 1925 an acr
, and lands undisposed of at the end o
ten years shall be sold in like man
ner. The agreement also provides 70
. townsltes.
IL After the expenses attendant upo