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Show OWMISSIONER OF, INDIAN AFFAIRS. 1 1'5 be made. It is not, however, intended to intimate that fictitious or speculative prices, bmd upon the expectation that a h g e and important town would grow up there, are to be taken into consideration. The phrase "at the time of such appraise-ment" evidently wae intended to prevent any consideration being given to future contingencies in arriving at the value of these lots. The probable future settlement and growth of the country ia not to be considered. The sctual, not the speculative, value of theae lots is to be ascertained and paid for. The value of town lots in other towns in the Choctaw and Ohickamw nations may be considered in making theee appraisements. ALLOTMENTS. Allotments in the Creek Nation have been practimlly completed, and satisfactory progress has been made in this line of work in the Choctaw and Chickasaw and Cherokee nations. Allotment o5ces were opened January 1,1903, in the Cherokee Nation and about April 15 of that year in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. On account of the controversy between the Cherokees of Cherokee blood and citizens of the nation of Delaware blood with respect to the area of land purchased by the Delawares in 1867 the allotment offices in the Cherokee Nation were closed about six months prior to Deccmber '31 last. It is expected that by the close of the current fiscal year the allotment work in all of the nations will have been completed. I n fact the act of April 21, 1904, declares that-- The Commission shall conclude its work and terminate on or before the first day of July, nineteen hundred and five, and mid Commission shall case to exist on July first, nineteen hundred and five. The chaotic conditions hitherto prevailing among the Five Civilized Tribes have, to a great extent, been modified and the members of the tribes in general are satisfied with the determination of the Govern-ment to distribute their lands and other property among them in severalty. Regulations for selection of allotments.-August 28, 19d3, the Com-mission transmitted a wpy of certain regulations adopted by them relative to the selection of allotments by full-blood Indians of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. They were forwarded to theDepart-ment September 5, with the statement that in the opinion of this O5ce they were not applicable and ought not to meet with depart-mental approval. September 9 the subject was submitted to the Assistant Attorney-General who in opinion of September 30, 1903, approved by the Department the same day, said, among other things: The duty of the Commission no doubt is, so far as it can, to protect the Indian, who is to some extent its ward, from imposition and undue influence by designing and evil-minded pemns. When it has reason to suspect that the applicant is actimg under such influence, it may in any particular m e take such measurea as will enable the applicant to exerch his own free choice; such as to require the suspected person, "sgent or noncitizen," to withdraw, or by calling in some known and intelligent, trubworthy citizen or other person known to the applicant and capable of convers-ing with him in his own language, to wnfer with, advise, and aid the allottee. No |