The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-03-09
LEASES VALUED
AT A HUGE SUM
Biggest business Interests in [. \.
Interested In Oklahoma Usage Deal /:
Worth 100000, 900; Hearing.

WASHINGTON, March O.-Argu-
m,nt> we're continued before Secretary
Lane today concerning the disposition
Of thousands Of acres VI oil and gas
lUuds on the Usage Indian reservation
In oklahoma upon the expiration next
year of the so-called Foster lease, un.
der which the property now Is leased
to the Indian Territory Illuminating
oil company. Counsel for the com
pahN instead " asking for renewal
of the present lease, are urging the
government to enter into new con
tmCts with the company aud some
ninety sub lenses individually.
More than five million barrals Of
oil have been taken from the lands
since the lease was executed In 1898,
according to department Of interior
records
The lease Is the largest mineral
rights lease In the world The big.
gest business interests In the United
States and some of the most notable
lawyers and politicians In the country
are Interested
Democratic National Chairman W
/ +. McCombs is representing T. y
Barnsdall who holds the largest sub.
| lease.
The Standard OQ company Is inter.
estcd 10 the extent Of SOOOO.OOO sam
uel Untermyer " New York repre-,
sents the Wolverine company. auoth
er sub-lessee
The Usage reservation comprised
| | 1,6OO,0OO acres aud there are about
1000 members Of the tribe In 1906
congress made al allotment of tribun
al lands, each member receiving OJC
acres.
The mineral rights were held Ii
trust by the government for the In
dians. Nineteen years ago these right
were leased by the United States fui
the benefit Of the Indians. The leas,
was made to the Indian Territory II
Illuminating company. II was for twen
" years and expires next March Tn,
terms provided that the Indians wer,
to receive In royalties One-sixth OF tn,
revenue derived. The royalties. pal,
them I'm 1914 aggregated 81 l,0S1, 7IS III
Wonderful Development.
Since the granting Of the leas
there has been wonderful develop
ment. The present production Ia un
approached by any other equal area Il
the world.
The sub.lessees number l79 and In
Clude all the leading oil companies O
the country. A fair idea Of the Won
derful appreciation in these lands
afforded by lease made little owe
a year ago for 1900 acres In tina
part Of the reservation known q
Cleveland BEND on the Arkansas ri'
er The lease was made on the lhsi
Of the old royalty, but the lessons pal
bonus OF tigl AN Gcre for the leas,
The total acreage In the tract unde
the hig lease now about to expire
ESQ, 900
The hearing will be on an applies
tion for renewal on the same term
Vt the old lease
II II reported among members Q
congress that there are parties willln
to increase the amount paid the II
dlans by s30.OOO,0O0
} The holders Of the leases claim the
} have an equity by reason Of the IN,
ney spent IN developing the lands an
} they think they ought TO have r,
newal Of the present terms.
Representatives Of the 0sages den
the, present le-sees have any euuit
rights and favor offering the leases
the highest bidders.
} The government In obligated 20 q,
as trustee for the Indians until 1g3
There are some who advocate that m
government should retain the oil Ian
itself paying the Indians n fair ro,
atty and conserving the oil for the bel
eft of the nation. particularly Of n
navy.
The problem IL undoubtedly the bi
gest of liz kind with which any coul
try ever has had 10 deal
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