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Show 98 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOIYER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Inspeetor Wright, who, as above set forth, had been selected to super-intend the administration of affairs in the Territory, had proceeded to the Territory for the purpose of making a general investigation into conditions, with a view to furnishing the Department with information upon which intelligent action might betaken in prescribingregnlations and in the formulation of plans for the execution of the law. Choctaw and Chickasaw Leasea.-When Inspector Wright returned to the city in the latter part of September this office: under the informal direction of the Department, submitted a draft of regnIations to govern the leasing of mineral lands in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations under the provisions of the agreement. This draft, with slight modifi-cations, was approved by the Secretary of the Interior October 7,1898, and also a form of lease and of a bond to be entered into by the lessee, all of which were published in the appendix to the Annual Report of this office for 1898, page 545. The agreement provides for the leasing of th8 minerals in the Choc-taw and Chickasaw na;hons by two trnstses to be appointed by the President, one, who shall be a Choctaw by blood, on the recommend@ tiou of the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation, and the other, who shdl be a Chiekasaw by blood, on the rewmmeudation of the governor of the Chickasaw Nation. To fill these ffices the principal chief of the Choctaw Nation nominated Mr. Napoleon B. Ainsworth and the governor of the Chickasaw Nation nominated Mr. Lemoel 0. Bnrris. The appointment of these gentlemen was made by the President and commissions were issued to them October 8,1898, and Inspector Wright was instructed to direct them to enter upon their duties under the act and regnlat~ons. It appears from a report of May 3,1899, which was transmittad to the Department May 29,1899, that they did not enter regularly upon their duties until December 1, 1898. The regulations prescribed October 7,1898, provided for royalties for the diEerent classes of minerals, as follows: Ropalties shall be reqmred of all lenssees as follows, vie: On ooel, 15 cents per ton for each mod every ton of coal produced wexghiug 2,000 pounds. On aephalt, 60 oents per ton for each and every ton prodnoad weighing 2,000 ponnas. The right is reserved, however, by the Seeretavof the Interior in speaid cases to either reduce or sdvanoe the rovaltv on cod and asohalt on the oresentst~on of I facts whioh, in his opinion, msk; it io the interedt ol'thn Choetnw and Chickasaw narions, bot the advancement er rcdurtion of myaltp on eon1 and nephalr in s par- I ticular iaae sha11 not oDerat0 in my WET to modifvthe eeneral uroviaione of thie I I . . replation firing the mlninlom royalty aa above sot out. I On gilsonito,elatarite, and other like mineral snbatsncea therugalty shall bo 6 x 4 ~ c c o r d i nto~ t he comparative market valus of the same to the vGne of aaphalt. ! On oil, 10 per oentnm of the value of all oil produced, the royalty to be esoertainined on the value of the oil pmdnced in its ornda state, and on all other minerals, such as gold, silver, iron, and the like, 5s followa, sampling ollarges to he first deducted: On aU net smelter return8 of ore of $50 per ton and under, a royalty of 10 per eent; all net smelter retmns of ore over $50 per ton snd less than $150 per ton, 5 roy- |
