The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-02-22
RESERVATION OPENING
Congressman Jones Tells How
1t Will Be Done.
Methods Employed in Opening Sho-
shone Reservation Will Be Used
in the Occur d'AIene.

tOlld dpptdTeu entitled Inc COeuI
q Alene Indian Reservation 1t was
| written IN response to statement going
the rounds of the press that the govern
ment might adopt the bidding process
IN dlspOsing of the lands on that reserva
ton. In the absence Of any definite
knowledge this came as a pang of sur
prise to all save few, as only men with
large means could hope to secure any o
these lands. A quick reply came from
Congressman Jones that be would cal
the attention of the interior department
to this matter. in whose hands it IL now
entrusted, and, if possible, find out the
manner in which the lands are to be dis
posed of. A second letter was received
from Mr.. Jones last Monday inclosing a
letter from the interior department Civ
| ing the desired information, from which
we make liberal excerpts below This il
matter of great Importance, and if we
are not mistaken The Gazette is the first
paper to be able to make the true an.
nOuncement known, for which it is in
debted to Congressman Jones. The
exact time OF the opening of the reserva-
| ton, OF course, is not known, but the
| procedure will be similar to that in the
| case OF the ShOshOne, or Wind River,
! Indian reservation in Wyoming The
| land office at COeur d'Alene has been
| Hooded with inquiries, but so far has not
| been able to make any definite state
| ment. The acting commissioner writes
| this letter to the secretary of the in
| terror:
This Office is in receipt, by depart,
| ment reference for consideration and re-
| port, OF letter from Hon. W. l.. Jones,
| House OF Representatives, dated January
%, enclosing clipping from the COIfax
Gazette of CoIfax, Washington, relative
| to the manner of opening the COeur
| d Alene Indian reservation to settlement.
in which it is stated that the govern
| ment may adopt the bidding process
| He requests information with reference
to the policy of the department in regard
| to the opening of this reservation and
| the disposal of the lands
There is enclosed copy of an extract
| from the Indian appropriation act ei
June 21, 1906 GA Stat. l.. $3.50, which
| provides that upon completion Of allOt-
ments to the Indians of the above named
| reservation the residue of surplus lands,
that is, lands not allotted or reserved
| for Indian school, agency or other pur
| poses shall be classified under the di
| rectiOn of the secretary of the interior
as agricultural lands, grazing lands or
timber lands, and shall be appraised
under their appropriate classes by legal
| subdivisions. and, upon completion OF
the classification and appraisement such
lands shall be opened to settlement and
entry under the provisions OF the home,
stead laws at not less than their ap
| praised value by proclamation of the
| president, which proclamation shall pre-
| ell ho tho M in uuh tbooo dc
| shall be settled upon, occupied and
| entered by persons entitled to make
entry thereof.
sit is believed the disposal of the
| lands under sealed bids or at public auc-
| ton would be contrary to the intent of
| the act under which they are to be
| thrown open to settlement, and in the
| opinion of the office the procedure to be
| followed will be similar to that in the
case Of the ShOshone, or Wind River,
reservation in Wyoming, as shown in
the enclosed copy of the president s
| proclamation opening that reservation
But this is question that properly falls
| within the Jurisdiction of the commits
siOner of the general land Office, by whom
| the proclamation under which the lands
will be opened will be drafted"
Manner of Drawing.
A liberal extract is made from the
presidents proclamation opening the
| Shoshone reservation, which will be SUI
| ficient to show the manner to be en-
plOyed in opening the Coeur d'Alene
reservations:
ITO obtain registration for the pur-
| pose Of making a homestead entry of any
OF said ceded lands each applicant will be
| required to show himself duly qualified
under the law to make such entry, and
this showing must be made by the pre-
sentation of a sworn application for reg
| istration executed on blank furnished
| by the Commissioner OF the General Land
| Office which can be obtained only at the
| time and places of registrat tiOn he rein
mentioned, and each person registering
must give the registering officer such ap-
propriate matter of description and
Identification as will protect the appli-
cant and the government against any
attempted impersonatiOn.
"RegistratiOn cannot be effected
through the use of mails or the employ
ment OF an agent, excepting that honor
ably discharged soldiers and sailors eL-
titled to the benefits OF section twenty
three hundred and four of the Revised
| Statutes of the United States, as amend
ed by the Act Of Congress approved
March one, nineteen hundred and one
| (31 Stat, $40, may present their appli-
cations for registration for the purpose
Of making homestead entry and make
due proof OF their qualifications through
an agent of their own selection having a
duly executed power of attorney on a
blank furnished by the Commissioner Of
the General Land Office, but no person
will be permitted TO act as agent for
more than one soldier or sailor No per
son will be permitted to register more
than once, nor will be permitted to
register in any other than his true name
each applicant who shows himself
duly qualified will be registered and given
non transferable certificate to that eff
feet, and each person holding such GER
tifcate will be entitled to go on any
ceded lands subject to entry hereunder
and examine such lands, but the only
purpose for which he can go upon and
examine such lands is to enable him later
on, as herein provided, to understand
ingly select the lands for which he may
make entry.