The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-08

OF public lands ($1.25 per acre1 with
interest thereon at the rate Of s Der
centum per annum from 1853? This
seems to be q just and fair basis of
settlement since the United States has
had the use Of the lands which should
have been set apart for the Indians. or
the value thereof, for more than forty
1--WE years and 70 the detrlment OF the
Indians for the same length or time.
It having been ascertained that by
erroneous survey made of the Devils
Lake reservation, as described in the
treaty Of 1857, $4,000 acres were ex-
cluded therefrom. Congress by act
OF March 8. 1891. appropriated $780,
600 to reimburse the Indians for the
lands so excluded, being at the rate OF
one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre.
BY the agreement of November q.
1901, between the United States and
the Indians at Devils Lake agency,
North Dakota, ratified by the act OF
April "a, 1904, provision was made
| for payment TO the Indians OF the
sum OF $S45,000 for certain purpose.
$4,000 OF which was to be paid for
the land excluded from their reserva-
ton by erroneous survey, the said sum
being in addition TO the $4,000 sums
together ($160.0O0 being at the rate OF
| two dollars and fifty cents per acre, the
lands so excluded containing an acre OF
| $4,000 acres.
The surplus lands within the Lake
Traverse reservation, remaining after
| allotments were made to the Indians,
were purchased by the United States
at two dollars and fifty cents per acre
Iunder the agreement of 1889.
The surplus lands within the Devils
Lake reservation, remaining after al
Ilotments were made to the Indians,
were disposed of at four dollars and
fifty cents per acre.
BY the agreement OF Nov 2, 1901, be-
tween the United States and the IN
Idians at Devils Lake agency North
Dakota, ratified by the act Of April 81,
1904 provision was made for payment
to the Indians OF the sum OF s345 900
for certain purposes, $4,000 OF which
was to be paid for the land excluded
from their reservation by erroneous
survey, the said sum being In addition
| to the $4,000 sums together $3.50, 00O)
being at the rate OF two dollars and
fifty cents per acre the lands so ex-
cluded containing an area of $4,000
acres.
The surplus lands within the Lake
Traverse reservation, remaining after
Iallotments were made to the Indians
were purchased by the United States
at two dollars and fifty cents per acre
under the agreement of 1889.
The surplus lands within the Devils
Lake reservation. remaining after al
. 1 -
were disposed of at four dollars ana
fifty cents per acre.
The average price or surplus lands
within these two reservations. which.
it will be remembered are within the
lands described In the treaty of 1867,
4 and excluded from the cession made
by the agreement Of 1872. is three dol
lars and fifty cents per acre.
There are still other modes of sat
Element that might be adapted in this
case but each would develop value
much in excess OF the price here stat
ed
On the oath day of August. 1908.
the president issued his proclamation
opening to settlement certain lands
within the Rosebud reservation In
fSouth Dakota, and fixing the price Of
said lands at six dollars per acre. It
was stated in an editorial OF the Wash
ington post, issue of Oct. 26, 1908 that
these lands were then selling at from
, lS115 to sis per acre. 1T Is fair and
lreasonable presumption that the lands
which should have been set apart for
the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands, as
directed By the act Of 1853, are today
worth fully as much as those Of the
Rosebud reservation.
We desire to invite particular atten-
ton to the fact that inherited lands
within the Medawakanton and Wah-
pakeota (Santee) reservation, in Ne
braska, are being disposed of at an
average Of $1O13 per acre, for the
reason that said lands were set apart
. for said Indians as directed by the
act of March 8, 1868, and we submit
: whether 1t is not a fair and reason
: able presumption that had the lands
been set apart for the Sissetons and
: Wahpetons as directed by said act to
! be done, they would today be as valu-
5 1 able as those in Nebraska set apart
! for the Medawakantons and Wahpa-
J kootas under the provisions OF sale
! act.
! The same class Of lands within the
! Lake Traverse reservation in Soutf
! Dakota, which reservation was Sc
: apart under the treaty Of Feb. IL, 1857
are being disposed of at an average
! of $3.50 per acre, while the genera
average price of such lands being dis
posed OF within the various Indian
reservations in the United States, II
r $1174 per acre.
This is the very best evidence as t.
! what the lands which should have beer
] set apart for the Sisseton and Wahpe
i ton bands, as directed by the act o
1863 are worth today.
1t seems but just and REASONABLE
, that these Indians who have beer
! wrongfully deprived of these lands 70
! more than forty-fiye years are entities
to at least as much for them as tn
, price fixed by the presidents proclama
! ton for the Rosebud reservation lands
] which the Indians have had the use o
! for many years. certainly since tn
! treaty of 1868, or even as much as tn
! average price for which inherited
lands in the various reservations ar
]. being disposed of, most of the indian