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Show 74 COYMTSBIONER OF XNDIAN AFFAIFS. White Earth Diminished Reservation, ?&inn.-Early in December, 1903, Simon Michelet, United States Indian agent, reported to this office that on September 12 a terrific storm swept over the pine region of the White Earth Reservation and blew down considerable timber * on townships 141 to 146, inclusive, ranges 37, 38, and 39. December 21 recommendation was made that the Department request authority from the President to dispose of the timber under the act of Pebruary 16, 1889, and draft of regulations to govern the cutting and sale was transmitted. December 29 the President approved the regulations and authorized the sale. Under the regulations contracts were awarded only to Indians of the White Earth Reservation; white people were not allowed to have timber contracts. The operations were satisfac-torily'oonducted and show a profit of $19,289.40. Chippewa allotments in Hinnesota.-The act of April 21, 1904 (33 Stats., 189), contains a pamgraph authorizing the disposition of timber on Chippewa allotments in Minnesota as follows: The Chippewa Indians of the Stste of Minnesota to whom allotments have been or shall hereafter be made, and trust or other patents, containing reatrictiona upan alienation issued or which shall hereafter be issued therefor are, with the consent of the Secretary of the Interior and under such ~ l e a8nd regulations as he may pre-scribe, hereby authorized to dispose of the timber on their respective allotments. Timber on the allotmente of minors may likewise be so sold by the father, mother, or Indian agent or other officer in charge, in the order named, and the Secretary of the Interior shall make such regulations for the disposition of the proceeds of said sales es may be necessary to protect the interest of said Indians, including such minors. May 17, 1904, Major Scott recommended that allottees under the supervision of the Leech Lake Agency be authorized to dispose of the timber on their allotments in accordanhe with the above provision of law. May 28 a draft of regulations was submitted to the Department which provide that allottees may sell the timber on their allotments to the person or company which may purchase the timber on the ceded lands adjoining such allotments. They were approved June 2, as wm also form of contract to be entered into by allottees with the pur-chaser. No con'tracts have been submitted for approval. . LEASING OF INDIAN LANDS. The act of February 28,1891 (26 Stats., 795), as amended by the acts of,Augnst 15,1894 (28 Stats., 305), June 7,1897 (30 Stata., 85), Marchl, 1899 (30 Stats., 941), and May 31,1900 (31 Stats., 226 and 229), pro-vides that whenever it shall be made to appear to the Secretary of the Interior that by reason of age, disnhility, or inability any Indian allottee can not personally and with benefit to himself occupy or improve his allotment, or any part thereof, the same may be leased |
