Opinion ID: 741730
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Uintah Valley Reservation

Text: 11 In 1902, Congress passed legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to make individual allotments out of the Uintah Valley Reservation by October 1, 1903, provided that a majority of the adult male members of the Ute Indians consented. Act of May 27, 1902, ch. 888, 32 Stat. 263, 263-64 (1902 Act). The 1902 Act stated that after October 1, 1903, all the unallotted lands within said reservation shall be restored to the public domain  and subject to entry by non-Indians under the homestead laws. Id. (emphasis added). Congress delayed the allotment process, however, and extended the opening date in 1903 and again in 1904. Act of Mar. 3, 1903, ch. 994, 32 Stat. 982, 997-98; Act of Apr. 21, 1904, ch. 1402, 33 Stat. 189, 207-08. In 1905, Congress extended the opening date a third time--to September 1, 1905--and directed the Secretary to allot the Reservation unilaterally if the Tribe's consent was not obtained. Act of Mar. 3, 1905, ch. 1479, 33 Stat. 1048, 1069-70 (1905 Act). The 1905 Act did not contain the same language restoring the unallotted and unreserved lands to the public domain, but provided that such lands shall be disposed of under the general provisions of the homestead and townsite laws of the United States. Id. (emphasis added).