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Show REPORT OF THE OOMMI88IONER OF INDIAN AFFAIPr8. 61 28, the inspector transmitted an agreement with the Girande Ronde Indians, concluded June 27,1901, which provides for thecession to the United States of all their surplus landsexcepting 440 acres, embracing the school farm of 200 acres and a timber reserve of 240 acres. The price agreed upon for the entire tract, 25,791 acres, is $28,500, or a fraction more than $1.10 per acre. This sum is to be paid to the Indians in cash pro rata, the shares of the adults over 18 years of age to be paid within 120 days from the date of the ratification of the agree-ment, and the shares of the minors to be paid as they arrive at the age of 18 years, the same meanwhile to be deposited in the Treasury of the United States, and to draw interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, such interest to be paid to the parents or guardians annually until the principal shall be paid to the child. Both Special Agent Armstrong and Inspector McLanghlin express the opinion that good use will be made by the Indians of the cash thus received, and that they will be enabled to better their condition by such cession. Lower Bml6 Reservation, S. Dak.-About a year and a half ago the Lower Brul6 Sioux Indians submitted to the office, through their agent, a proposition to cede to the United States, at $1.25 per acre, two townships of land embrlwed in their reserve, the fund thereby obtained to be used in the purchase of young range cattle and in the construction of a substantial wire fence to inclose the two sides of the reserve not bounded by the Missouri River. This proposition was favorably received, both by this office and by the Department, and later was also highly commended by Inspector Mchughlin, to whose attention the matter was brought while on a visit of inspection at the agency. As Congress, however, failed to enact legislation last year authorizing negotiations for such cessions, it was not possible to comply with the wishes of the Indians in the matter. By a clause contained in the Indian appropriation act for the cur-rent fiscal year, however, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, to negotiate through any United States Indian inspector agreements with any Indians for the cession to the United States of portions of their respective reserves or surplus unal-lotted lands. A draft of instructions, dated April 5,1901, was acoord-ingly prepared by the office for the guidance of Inspector Mchughlin in the conduct of negotiations with the Lower Brul6 Indians for the cession proposed. May 9 he transmitted an agreement with those Indians, concluded May 6, which provides for the cession of a tmct of land, approximating 56,560 acres, embracing the western portion of the reserve, the cession line passing through the center of Ts. 106, 107, 108, 109, and 110 N., R. 77 W., fifth principal meridian. The consideration agreed upon is $70,700 (or at the rate of $1.25 per |
