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Show LXX REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIKS. ing lands which they had against him. At the May term, 1874, of said circuit court the parties to the suit entered into an agreementto sobmit all matters of dispute and controrersy between them to Messrs. Rufus Barringer, John H. Dillard, and Thomas Ruffin* their award to be final and a rule of the court. On the 24th of October, 1874, they made and filed their award, which r a s confirmed at the following November term of said circuit court. This award, which was made a decree of the coiirt, has never bee11 fully carried out, and the attention of the Departn~ent of Justice has lately been called to the fact, and its executior~ is now ui~derconsidera-tioo by the United State8 district attorney for the western district of North Uaroliaa. From this delay sundry difficuliies have arisen, which have become a great annoxanee to thew Indiiins, sach as the intrusion of \vbite settlers up011 their lauds, and the ii~isatisfactoryte nure which certain 111dians hold to lands awarded them, respectively, by said de-cree. These also hare been placed in the hands of the said United States distl.ict attorney and are'in proccss of adjustment. Cougress by the deficieucy act of Ma,rch 3: 1883 (29 Stats., 5Y5), an-thorized these Indians to institntea suit in the Court of Claims against the United States, to which suit the Cherokee Nation West should be made a party defendant, for the L'settlement of differencesin the Ch~ro-kee Nation" to whic?rcferer~ce was made in the Annnal Report of 18J3 (page lxv). This case has been adjudicated by tho Court of Claims and a decision reached adverse to the Eastern Chcroliees. I t is under-stood, horever, that the case will be taken. on appeal, to the United States Supreme Court, which proceedir~gis allowable under tile act au-thorizing the suit. ' THE UMbTILLA RESERVATION IN OREGON. The recent legislation afecting this reserva,t.ion, and the unexpected attitude of tho Indians in relation thereto, has been brought to the notice of the Department in sundry communications from this office. The act of March 3,1885 (Stat. 23, p. 340), provides that the President shall cause the lands belonging to said reservation to be allotted to the Indians in severalty in qilautity as follows: Of agricultnrzl lands to heads of families, 160 acres; to siugle persons, over 18 years of age, 80 acres; to each orphan child under 18 Fears of 'ge, 80 acres; and to each ahild under 18 years of age, rlot otherwise provided for, 40 acres. Inaddition to the allotments of agricultural lands it is provided that a reasonable quantity of 'pasture and timber lands shall be reserved for . the use of the Indians in common, and that a tract of 640 acres shall be set apart for an industrial farm and school. The act further provides, that before any allotments are made a com-mission shall be appointed, whose dnty it shall be to ascertain the num-ber of Indians who desire to take allotments and the quantity of laud required for that purpose, and thereupon to select and set a p r t 80 |
