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Show OOMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 21 Under the act of March 4, 1917, provisions are made for pension-ing Indians who were enlisted in the military service of the United States as scouts, etc., and rendered service in Indian wars specified in that act. Indians who have claims for pensions thereunder are given assistance in the preparation of their claims by the superin-tendents of the different agencies and the Indian Office, and in the past year nearly 100 Indian scouts were awarded pensions on ac-count of their services, while many others have claims pending or in the course of preparation. FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. 1 The onla unfinished business of the Creek and Seminole Nations involves t e disposition of tribal property for the former, worth approximately $197,475, and like property for the latter valued at $30,100, all allotment work having been heretofore completed and the citizens of both nations paid their prorata shares of tribal funds. The Cherokee tribal affairs were entirely closed some years ago, and there remain to be disposed of only the extensive tribal holdings of the Choctaw and Chickasam Nations, estimated at about $13,500,000, and involving the sale of land and mineral deposits, the collection of deferred payments on previous sales, and the payment of accumulat-ing tribal funds to individual members. There are now approximately 17,900 persons of one-half or more Indian blood from all of whose land ~estrictions have not been removed, ancl the individual affairs, of this restricted class, covering large and varied interests, edncatio?a!, agricultural, ,mineral, and home building, must be carefully administered with a view to hasten-ing the competency of the Indians to manage for themselves, since L under existing law the restricted period, as applicable to members of the Five Civilized Tribes, will explre in,less than nine years. Last year restriction agalnst ?li?nation of all~tments was re-moved from 509 Indians, and restrictions were conditionally removed from 231 tracts of land sold under supervision by th? Government, whioh covered also use of the proceeds thereof. Indimdual Indian money in the sum of $2,334,220.06 was expended for maintenance, farms, buildings, live stock, and equipments; 142 houses and 28 barns were built; 88 wells constructed; 233 wagons, 416 horses and mules, 178 cattle, and 323 hogs were purchased. Splendid records were made.by Indian farmers who exhibited their wroducts at countv. district. and State fairs wlth the most progr&sive white farme& A large enrollment of Indian children was reported in the public schools, but this was mamly outsjde the restricted class, for whom the oontlnuation of tribal boardinp schools will he necessary for some time to come. OIL AND GAS IN TIIE FIVEC IVILIZEDT ~m~s.-During the year 130,415.41 acres were leased for oil and gas mining pnrposes. The |