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Show REPORT OF THE COMKIRBIONER OP INDIAN APFAIBR. 49 ness men of these 'communities consider this the best investment for their money, it is evident that a guardian could hardly expect to find a better one. The sales thus far perfected have been accomplished without any evidence of strife or criticism on the part of those interested and the motives of the seller and purchaser have been impugned in but few instances and the disapproval of deeds executed has been as seldom ordered. From the large nnmber of petitions being received it is evident that the sale of inherited Indian laud will continue active at least until the accumulated supply of such land has been largely decreased. When this accumulated supply is disposed of the sales will then necessarily diminish, as the amount of inherited land subject to sale will depend upon the death rate from year to year among the allottees of the aeveral tribes. Citizen Potawatomi and Absentee Shawnee, Oklahoma.-The sales of these lands have not been so many during the past year as formerly. The last annual report stated that up to August 15,1002, under the acts of August 15,1894 (28 Stats., p. 295), and May 31,1900 (31 Stah., p. 247), 1,149 conveyances of land had been made by the Citizen Potawatomi and Absentee Shawnee Indians, amounting to 118,663.47 acres, at a valnation of $678,732.01, an average of $5.73 per acre. Between August 15, 1902, and August 15,1903, there were approved by the Department 109 conveyances of land by the Citizen Potawatomi Indians, amounting to 11,813.20 acres, at a valuation of $86,314.20, an average of $7.31 per acre; also 47 conveyances by the Absentee Shawnee Indians, amounting to 4,445 acres, at avaluation of 8642,136.96, an average of $9.48 per acre. The total sales of land by these two tribes of Indians since the pas-sage of the act of August 15,1894, are 1,305 conveyances, aggregating 134,921.67 acres of land, at a valuation of $807,183.17, an average of $5.98 per acre. Peoria and Miami, Indian Territory.-The last annual report of this O5ce stated that up to August 15,1902, under the act of June 7,1897 (30 Stat., p. 72), 103 conveyances of land had been made bbyhe Peoria Indians, amounting to 7,293.06 acres, at a valuation of $79;568.40, an avemge of $10.95 per %re; also 43 conveyances by the Miami Indians, amounting to 3,197.80 acres, at a valuation of $33,392.50, an average of $10.44 per acre. Between August 15,1902, and August 15,1903,there were approved by the Department 15 conveyances of land by the Peoria Indians, amounting to 1,149.70 acres, at a valuation of $16,126.60, an average of $14 per acre; and 6 conveyances by the Miami Indians, amounting to 490 acres, at a valuation of $9,160, an average of $18.69 per acre. The total sales of lands by these two tribes of Indians since the passage of the act of June 7,1897, are 118 conveyances by the Peoria 9423-0- |