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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INblAN AFFAIR8; ~ V I I of April 18, 1867 (Stat. 16,p. 710). There are others, however, who. nerer applied for allotments nnder said treaty, but are now anxious to have their lands in severalty, seeing the poaitirebenefits resnltihg to-those who have tried the experiment. A11 the Indians desire to seenre. permanent title by patentfor theirindividual tracts. As already stated. the prel-ailing sentiment amongst them is very strong for the ratificatiou of the agreement entered into last summer with the Northwest Indian Commission. There would be no authority under the general allotment. act for the removal and settlement at Whits Earth of thekindred tribes occupying the Lake Winnebagoshish, Leech Lake, Cass Lake, and White Oak Point reservations, and the Gull River and other scattered bands on the Mississippi river; and for that and other reasons of perhaps equal importance, the qneetion of the ratification of said agreement which is nowpending in Congress is one of great moment to all the Intlians concerned. RESERVOIRS AT THPI HEADWATERS. OF TUE MISSISSIPPI. Iu my last annual report I expressed the hope that the then recently-appointed Commission (Northwest Indian Commission) would :mange a satisfactor1 basis upon which a just settlement could be had with the Chippewas for the lossea and injuries sustained by them in the con-titruetion by .the Government of dams and reservoirs at the headwaters , of the Mississippi river, in Minnesota. The history of this matter has bee11 fully set forth in former annual reports of this office. The agree-ment made with the Chippewas last summer by said Commission pro. vides, as was hoped, for the settlement of this claim. The Commission examined into and made an award of dama,ges for losses and injuries sustained by the Indians, and agreed that the United States should pay the sum of $150,000 in full satisfaction for sneh losses and injuries, $100,000 to the Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish bands, and $50,000 to the Mississippi bands; the money to be distiibnted per capita, in cash, in two equal yearly installments. The Commissioners, speaking of their award, say : The benefita to the public to he derived from the construction of these demq which will be lasting, is incalculable, and the Indians are juntly entitled to proper indemuificcution. We consider our award juat, and bx no means excessive. If the agreement entered into with the Chippewas meets with favor. able action by Uongress, a satisfactory adjustment of this claim (the delay in the settlement of which has caused a good deal of ill-fee!ing on the part of the Indians) will be reached, and, to my mind, this fact furnishes an additional reason for the .early ratification of said agreB mentu. NORTHERN OHEYENNES IN NONTANA. No returns have been received fro% the surveys reported as in pro-cess of executipn last year on lands designed for the location of the Northern Cheyennes in Montana. As soon as I am officially advised. |