OCR Text |
Show Ainswortb, and the governor of the Chickasaw Nation nominated Mr. Lemuel C. Burris. These gentlemen were appointed by the President and their commissions were issued October 8, 1898, but they did not enter regularly on their duties until about the 1st of December, 1898, All official acts of these mining trustees are subject to the approval of the Department. By the regulations prescribed October 7, 1898, the royalty on coal was h e d at 15 cents per ton for each ton of coal produced weigbing 2,000 pounds, and at 60 cents per ton for each ton of asphalt produced weigbing 2,000 pounds. In November of 1898 the coal producers in the Indian Territory petitioned the Department to give them a hearing relative to reducing the rate of royalty on coal produced. The Depart-ment, by letter of January 6, 1899, reduced the rate of royalty to 10 cents per ton on each ton of coal produced weighing 2,000 ponnds after it had been passed over a screen the meshes of which were one inch sqnare. Considerable difficulty was experienced in having the coal properly screened, and much of the coal was shipped mine run, and the coal operators, in February of 1900, petitioned the Department to reduce the rate of royalty to 65 cents per ton, mine run, and the rate was fixed by the Department, at 8 cents per ton, mine run, to take effect March 1,1900. The regulations prescribed October 7, 1898, having been modified in many particulars, the Department, May 22, 1900, caused them to be reprinted, embodying the modifications subsequent to the date of their original promulgation. The revised regulations provide for royalties for the different classes of minerals as follows: On coal, 8 cents per ton of 2,MX) pounds on mine run; or coal as it is taken from the mines, including that which is commonly called "slack," which rate went into force and effect on and after March 1, 1900. On asphalt, 60 cents per ton for each and every ton produced weighing 2,000 pounds of refined, and 10 cents per ton on crude asphalt. The right is reserved, however, by the Secretary of the Interior in special cases to either reduce or advance the royalty on coal and asphalt on the presentation of fa& which, in his opinion, make it to the interest of the-Choctawand~hickasiwn ations, but the advancement or reduction of royalty on coal and asphalt in rt particular case shall not operate in any way to modify the general of this regulation fixing the minimum royalty as above wet out. Frovided, Thst all lessees shall be required to pay advanced royalties, as provided in said agreement, on all mines or claims, whether developed or not, to he "a credit on royalty when each eaid mine is developed and operated and its production is in excewsof such guaranteed nnnual advanced payments," as follows, viz: One hundred dollars per annuminadvance forthefirst and second yearn, $200 per annum in advance for the third and fourth years, and $500 in advance for each succeeding year there-after; and that, should any lessee neglect or refuse to pay such advanced royalty for the period of ~i x t yda ys after the same becomes due and payable on any lease, the lease on which default is made shall become null and void, and all royalties paid in advance shall be forfeited and become the money and property of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. |