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Show I LOGGING ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS. Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wis.-September 28, 1892, the Presi dent approved rules to govern the sale of timber on the allotted lands of the Lac dn Flambeau Reservation that had been conveyed by patent from the United States to Indian allottees. The Indians were anthor-ized to sell the timber in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of September 30, 1854. J. H. Cnshway & Co. was the highest bidder forthe timber to be sold. Thirteen timbercontractshave been approved since my last annual report. The contmts expire ten years from the date of their approval. About seventy of the wntracts entered into have expired and the timber has not been cut. The question arose as to whether the timber contractor should be permitted to renew tbese wntracts at the prices agreed to be paid in 1892, or whether the con-tractor should be required to pay what the timber is now worth, timber having increased in value since the contracts were originally made. The Department has fixed prices nnder which these contracts may be renewed, but the contmtor has not finally accepted the proposition. Bad River Reservation, Wis.-December 6, 1893, under the provi-sions of the same treaty, the President approved similar rules for the sale of timber on Bad River allotments. Justus S. Stearns, of Lud-ington, Mich., is the authorized contmtor. No contracts covering timber on this reservation have been approved during the year under the regulations of December 6,1893. January 18,1901, five additional allotments were approved, and 352 more on October 1 of the same year. The President had previously authorized the cancellation of 35 patents to allottees whose allotments had been burned over, and directed that they be permitted to select other lands in lieu thereof. In the latter part of January, 1902, Agent Campbell forwarded contracts between 350 of the allottees referred to and Mr. Stearns. Mr. Stearns agreed to pay the allottees $5 per thousand feet for the green white pine and $3.50 for the green Norway pine, which was an advance of $1 on the white pine and $1.50 on the Norway pine over the price he had paid under previous contracts. Authority for the sde of the timber on tbese allotments had not been granted by the President, and on Febru-ary 3,1902, the Office recommended that the President be requested to authorize such of the allottees as might desire to do so to enter into contracts with Mr. Stearns for the sale of their timber nnder the reg-ulations of December 6, 1893. December 29,1902, the President approved regulations to govern the sale of the timber on these allotmenh, under which the timber was to he sold on sealed bids, after due public advertisement, to the highest bidder. Notice of the willingness of the Department to per-mit the Indians to sell their timber was duly given, and on Fehmary 26,1903, Agent Campbell submitted the bids of Horace A. Cline & |
