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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. LXXV SENECA GESERVATIONB IN NEW YORE. In the settlement of thecoutrorersy betwecb the States of Rew York and Massacl~usetts respecting the title to ;he western part of the for-mer State, comprising what was known as the Genesee country, the State of New York ceded to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the right of pre.cmption of the soil from the native Indians and all other right, title, ?ncl property (the right and title of government, suver-eignty, and jurisdiction excepted) which the said State of New York bad in and to the deseribed lands. Dlassachusetts subsequently trans-ferred her title to Fdbert Morris and others, their successors and grantees being now known as the Ogden Laud Company. This tract of country inclnded the reservatiqng of the 8eneea Indians, now re-dueed to two, known as Oattaraugus and Allegany. It is claimed on behalf of the Ogden Land Company that it is pos-neesed of the.Mtle in fee to these reservations, subject to the possessory right of the Indians so long only as they actually occupy thereserration an s, tribe, while the Indians claim that the fee is vested in them and that the company has merely the right 6 purchase whenever they ahome to sell. The eonrts have decided (Ogdeu vs. Lee, 6 Hills, N. Y. Xcps., 540) that the Indians are still possessed of their original native . title, and that the company has merely the right to purchase. It is feared, however, by the Indians, and very reasonably, I think, that if the lauds are allotted in severalby they maj710se their tribal relations and that the Ogden Company, owning the p~e.ernption right, may dis-possess them. In 1873 the agent then in charge of these Indians stated that this ' apprehension produced an unsettled feeling as to the title to their lands, . and prerentod them from making improvements. In lXSO t.he agent reported that the Beneoas would be glad to have the claim of the Ogden Land Company extinguished, and that many of their leading men had expressed a desire to use a portion of their an-nuityfunds to extinguish such claim, "which reats as a cloud upon their title, prevents a partition of their lands in severalty, and paralyzes in-dustry and improvement." I am of the opinion that steps should he taken to dxtingnish the claim of the aompany if possfble, andthat Gon-gfess should be asked to enact the necessary legislation. The Senecas fire paid annuities to the amount of some $11,900 perannum, reprksent-ing a capital of some $230,000, and a portion of this sum could be umd, vith the consent of the Indians, for the purpose stated. When this s11all have been done, the.lands can be allotted under the laws of the State' of New York, and the Indians made citizens of the United States, for which privilege they are fully prepared and qualified. . As soon sa thia is mompliahed, the services of an agent in that State oan be dispensed with. |