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Show I, REPORT OF THE COMMlSSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 53 remained of the tribes named in the act of June 10, 1S96, which pro-, vided for the appointment of this commission, only the Yakima in Washington and the Flatheads in Montana with whom agreements had not been concluded. Instructions for the guidance of the commission in the conduct of negotiations with these two tribes were prepared by the office, and they were directed to proceed first to the Yakima Reser-vation and take up the work there. It was stated in my last annual report that a total of $49,500 had been appropriated for this commission. Adding to this the $15,000 appropriated by the act above quoted makes a total of $64,500. Five Civilized Tribes Commission.-Its work is referred to under the head of Indian Territory on page 103. Puyallup Commission.-The Indian appropriation act approved May 31, 1900, c,ontains the following clause relative to the Puyallup com-mission: For the compensation of the commissioner authorized by the Indian appropriation act approved June seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, to superintend the saleof land, and so forth, of the Puyallup Indian Reservation, Washington, whoshdl continue the work as therein provided, two thousand dollars. (31 Stab., p. 239.) It will be observed that this provides for continuing the sales of the Puyallup lands for the present fiscal year. This work was continued during the last fiscal year under a similar provision in the Indian appropriation act approved March 1,1899 (30 Stat. L.; 940). Clinton A. Snowden was appointed commissioner June 22, 1897. He is still in charge of the work, and is making satisfactory progress. It should be remarked, however, that the workof ascertaining and determining the legal heirs of deceased allottees is slow, and sometimes dificult, because the heirs are scattered, some living in other parts of Washington than the reservation, also in Oregon and elsewhere, even in Alaska. This makes it difficult to reach them and obtain proper evidence as to heir-ship. There are, however, only a few cases delayed on this account. ALLOTMENTS AND PATENTS. The progress made in allotment work since the last annual report is as follows: ALLOTMENTS ON RESERVATIONS. During the year patents have been issued and delivered to the fol-lowing Indians: Chippewa of Lake Superior on the Bad River Reservation, Wis.. .. 135 Chippewa of Lake Superior on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wis ..................................................... 152 Chippewa of the Mississippi on Deer Creek Reservation, Minn .... 4 Omaha in Nebraska ............................................ 799 Santee Sioux in Xebnwka.. ..................................... 481 Sioux of the Devils Lake Reservation, N. Dak.. ................... 3 Unlatilla Reservation, 01%. ..................................... 887 |
