OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE CO~IS810NER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 119 The regulations were also modified so as to require the applicants for leases to make applications under oath to the United Stateslndiian inspector located in-the lndian Territory instead of, as previously, to the mining trustees. Parties who secure mineral leases in the Indian Territory must show that they are experienced miners, and that they have capital sufficient to develop mines properly. This has had the effect of reducing speculative applications to the minimum. Since my last annual report coal leases in the Choctaw and Chicka-saw nations have been submitted by this office and approved by the Department as follows: 1. One lease with Messrs. Edmund McKenna and Charles H. and Eldridge C. Amos, submitted October 18,1899, and approved October 24, 1899. 2. Two leases with the McAlester Coal Mining Company, submitted February 16, 1900, and approved February 19, 1900. 3. Six leases with the Choctaw Coal and Mining Company were sub-mitted April 10, 1900, and the Department on May 4, 1900, approved three, known as leases Nos. 3, 4, and 5, and disapproved the others. 4. Six leases with the Sans Bois Coal Company, submitted June 22, 1900, and approved June 25, 1900. 5. One lease with the Central Coal and CokeCompany, submitted August 13,1900, and approved August 27,1900. 6. One lease with William Busby, of Parsons, Kans., submitted August 15, 1900, and approved September 6,1900. March 1, 1899, the Department approved 30leases with the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad Company; April 27,1899, 8 leases with John F. McMurray, and August 22, 1899, 3 leases with Messrs. D. Edwards & Son. This makes in all 55 coal leases approved by the Department since the passage of the Curtis Act. The applications of several other companies for coal-mining leases are pending before the Department, but have not yet, so far as the o5ce is advised, been acted upon. During the year numerous appli-cations were refused by the Department, for the reason that the parties applying were not able to make a satisfactory financial showing, or because they were not experienced coal miners. Asphalt leases have also been approved as follows: 1. One lease with the Brunswick Asphalt Company, submitted March 15,1900, and approved March 20,1900. 2. One lease with the Caddo Asphalt Mining Company, submitted April 18, 1900, and approved April 21, 1900. 3. One lease in favor of the Elk Asphalt Company, suhmitted April 23,1900, and approved May 3, 1900. This makes in all three asphalt leases that have been approved since the passage of the Curtis Act. Cmtested coal and asphalt leases.-In my last annual report mention |