The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-07-11

! there were left unallOtted seNerdI
thousand acres of land varying in
amount among the different nations,
but being the largest among the
Choc.aws and Chickasaws. This resi-
due land belonged to the nations in
their tribal capacity II is not sub
iect 10 taxation, it is not subject to
more than yearly lease, and without
governmental action is not subject TO
/ sale.
The members Of the various tribes
desired it to be allotted per capita,
but the department or the interior
determined upon its sale. TO this
end, commencing last fall, and eX-
tending up into the spring, the gov
ernment acting for the tribes offered
this property for sale at public auc-
tion, the minimum selling price be
ing placed at twice the original gov
ernment appraised value.
These sales tailed to dispose of all
OF the land, particularly In the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw nations. In or
der TO make complete disposition Of
this item of tribal property, other
sales at some future time becomes
necessary.
Congressman Carter, of the fourth
Oklahoma congressional district. some
time ago suggested to J. c. Wright,
commissioner to the five tribes, the
practicability, at the coming second
sale, of offering these lands on
basis of the governments appraised
value as the minimum selling price.
lie pointed out the pressing desire
of the people of Oklahoma TO have
the tribal affairs finally settled and
as eXpeditiously as possible, and
that his plan respecting the sale OF
this land would best subserve the
speedy adjustment of this particular
item in the Indian question.
1t is recently become known, how
ever, that the department will not
adhere TO the Carter plan. 1t had be-
come generally known in Oklahoma
that a somewhat tacit agreement of
acQuiescence had been reached be-
tween Congressman Carter and Com
missioner Wright whersby the Car
ter plan would be adopted. The gov
ernment now proposes TO offer the
land again for sale, commencing in
the fall lat twice the government APP
praised value as the minimum selling
price.
Congressman Carter is to be highly
commended for the practicability Of
his plan. and it Is to be deeply de.
pl0red that the government is as
suming Just the contrary position,
which attitude is in direct variance
with the generally accepted public
view of the situation.
The farming public had looked for
ward with a feeling OF pleased antic-
ipation. and so had the general pub
lie that at the second sale, when
placed upon the proper basis, that
the major portion Of the lands would
he sold, and going into the hands
OF home owners for the most part,
would conduce to the material up.
building of the state. This is an i'm
portant public matter when it is
considered that originally, including
the forest reserve in the Choctaw
Chickasaw nations alone there were
about two million acres of this un-
allotted land to be sold.
IN the Choctaw and Chickasaw
countries where this land is, it is for
the most part in small isolated tracts.
The hes. of it was sold at the first
sale. What is left is the refuse. The
department will be able possibly to
sell twenty per cent of the remain
der at twice the government ap-
praised value rs the minimum sell.
Ing price. This will necessitate other
future sales subsequently. one at
possibly the government appraised r..
value rs the minimum, and second f.
where there are no restrictions placed .