Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-05-20

l
900 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL
OPENED By THE HANNA Bill
! Congressman Hanna's bill for thu
opening Of portion of the Bertholt
Indian reservation, which passed the
house,. has been favorably recon
mended by the committee to pass i1
the senate, and it will soon become 8
law.
It is doubtful, however, if the open
ing can be made this year. The
land will have to be appraised and
arrangements made for the opening
and this will require some time. II
Is likely that the lands will be ready
for filing early next spring.
1t Is not known whether the lot
terry scheme viii be followed in this
instance or not. Something will de-
pend upon the final results in the
opening of the Standing Rock and
Cheyenne reservations.
The townships being opened in the
Berthold reservation lie north and
east of the big bend in the Missouri
ties. That portion west and south of
the river Is not included in the bill
now before congress. There are about
100000 acres of agricultural land in
the part being opened, seventy-ffve
per cent of which is good land. In
order that there may be no misap-
prehension about this tract, it should
be observed by all prospective SET
tiers that the valuations will prob
ably be higher than any previous res
ervations have been fixed at.
The minimum, as We understand is
the result Of the preliminary confer.
ence with the Indians, will be IS per
acre. The Indians would not consent
to the opening on low basis because
they are wise and know something of
real values.
There are many choice tracts In the
part of the reservation being opened
to settlement, and the Indians who
have mingled with the whites a long
time are educated and have taken
land In severalty, know this.
The following Is the text of the act
as 1t has been favorably reported to
the senate:
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States Of America in Congress-
That the Secretary of the Interior
be, and he is hereby authorized and
to cause the unsurveyed
part of the Fort Berthold Indian :
Reservation, in the State of North
to be surveyed and to sell |
and dispose Of, as hereinafter pro-
Vided, all the surplus and unallotted |
and unreserved lands within that
portion of said reservation lying and
being east and north of the Missouri !
liver, and he shall cause an examin-
alton to be made of said lands
BY the Geological Survey; and If |
here be found any lands bearing
coal or other mineral, the Secre-
AIRY Of the Interior is hereby author
zed to reserve them from allotment
n other disposition until Congress-
hall provide for their disposal:
Provided, That any Indians to whom
lllotments may have been made
within the area described herein
nay, in case they elect to do so
'efore said lands are offered for sale
elinquish the same and select al
otments in lieu thereof within the
lrea in which the additional allot-
nents hereinafter provided for are
o be made.
Section 2. That the Secretary of
he Interior be, and he Is hereby
to cause an allotment Of
ne hundred and sixty acres of agri-
cultural land or three hundred and
wenty acres Of grazing land to be
made from the lands of the Fort
,erthold Indian Reservation to each
member of the several tribes belong
ng to and occupying said reserva-
ion now living, such allotment to
70 in addition to any allotments
made or which may be
made under existing law: Provided
hat all allotments made under this
Act shall be made on that part of
he reservation lying west and south
I the Missouri river, or in town.
hips one hundred and fifty north,
t ranges ninety, ninety-one, ninety
wo and ninety-three west; town.
hips one hundred and forty-nine,
orth, of ranges ninety and ninety
ne west; townships one hundred ',
ighty-eight, eighty-nine, ninety, and
inety-one west; and townships one !
hundred and forty-seven north, of
anges eighty-seven, eighty-eight, (
ighty-nine and ninety west, lying
asst and north Of the Missouri river:
Provided further, That all allot-
aents of land in the townships spec,-
Icially described and lying north
nd east of the Missouri river shall
70 made prior to a date to be fixed
y the Secretary of the Interior,
which date shall be not less than
tx months from and after the date
4 approval Of this Act.
Section 8. That the Secretary Of
he Interior may reserve such lands
% he may deem necessary for agen-
y, school and religious purposes. to
'omain rosarvod IA 1on1 al needed l