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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XLIX The schedule, which gives a full description and valuation of the lands to be sold, has been printed and r~umerously circulated. Allotments in severalty have been made to the Omahas in accordance with the provisions of the act aforesaid. Miss A. C. Fletcher, to whom, as special agent of the Departmmt, the work was assigned, sub-mitted her report and schedule of allotments under date of June 25, 1884. The allotments were approved by the Department July 11,1884, and by letter of same date the General Land Office was directed to issue patents therefor in accordance with section 6 of the act, and to deliver the same to this office for distribution to the parties severally entitled thereto. The whole number of allqtments made was 964. Ac-cording to Miss Fletcher's report the total number bf acres allotted was 76,809.68, of which 876.60 acres were allotted west of the railroad. The area of unallotted lands remaininpwithin the reservation east of the railroad is a little in excess of 55,000 &ores. In regard to the good effect of this allotment, the agent reports as follows : The principal event of importance of the paat year has been the completion of the work of allotting to the Indians their lands in severalty, in accordance with the act of Congress approved August 7, 18m; 75,931 acres were allotted in 954 separate allob-ments to.1,194 persons. This nnmber inolndes the vives, the^ receiving their lands with their respeotive husbands. About..%,450 acres remain to bo patented to the tribe according fo the act for the benetit of thechilclren born during the period of the trust patents. In the four townships nearest the railroad 326 allotments were taken, showing the practical appreciation by the people of s near mmsrket for their produce. In town-ship 84, range 7 east of the bixth principal meridian, 105 allotment,s were made. The portion of this township lying west of the railroad and ""allotted to Indians was opened last April to white settlement, end was immediately occupied. The unallotted oortion of this townahin east of the railroad will next year be in the market, and the Indiilus located there will be surrounded by white neighbors, and thus be brought in 6108s contact vith civilized people. A11 the land lyinz near the white settlatuents ~ - ~ - which skirt the aouthern portion of the reservation is allotted; and the Indiaps, par-ticularly those who are inolinad to be progressive, are seeking rather than avoiding associations with the white people. This is a good iudioation. Progress oannot he made in isolation. The ioorensiug craps of the Omahas to be marketed make them so importantfactor in the prosperitg of the growing villages in their vicinity, and the tradesmen in the villages enoourage their efforts. The people seem mare and mure in emneat to ad. vane0 in t,heir fanner's mode of life. The s eour i t~of their tennre of their land has had im excellent influence. The very thorough manner in which the work of allotting those lands was done, and the praotioal instructions given them st the asma time, have given those people an impetus which will never be Lost. The thanks of every one of these people, and mine with them, are heartily given to Miss A. C. Fletcher for hernoble work. Henoe-forth the land follows descent aooordioe to the laws of the State, and the reeistry-kept by Miss Fletcher will facilitate in seauring the proper inheritanoi. This regis-try, giving as it does the exact stetusof the families as they will bereoognized by tha Government in the oatents. will also rendervaluable aseistanoe in mainteinin-e th. integrity of the fsmily, a most important matter in the welfare of this people. 4266 IND=IY |