be done under this amended act. The new rules prescribed thereunder for executing leases will be found herewith on page 421.

It has been repeatedly stated that it was not the intent of the law nor the policy of the office to allow indiscriminate leasing of allotted lands, which would defeat the very purpose of allotments, but to permit such leasing only when the allottee "by reason of age or other disability" is unable to occupy his land. If an allottee has physical or mental ability to cultivate an allotment by personal labor or by hired help, the leasing of such allotment should not be permitted.

ALLOTTED LANDS.

Since the last annual report, the following leases of allotted lands have been approved:

Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation, Okla.-Eight farming leases, each for the period of three years. The principal part of the consideration in these leases consists in improvements to be placed upon the lands by the lessees.

Omaha and Winnebago Reservations, Nebr.-About two hundred and twenty-three farming and grazing leases. The price ranges from 25 cents per acre per annum for grazing lands to $2.50 per acre for the best farming lands. The prevailing price, however, is $1 per acre. The leases are mainly for the period of three years from January 1, 1894. A few that were executed subsequent to this date are for the period of three years from the date of execution, and one or two are for a shorter period. Ponca Agency, Okla.-Nineteen leases for farming and grazing purposes of allotted lands of the Tonkawa Indians (attached to the Ponca Agency). These leases are all for the period of three years from March 1, 1894. The price ranges from 25 cents per acre per annum for grazing lands to $1 per acre for farming lands. Most of the leases call for the erection of a small dwelling house in addition to the money consideration therein mentioned.

Quapaw Agency, Ind. T.-Two leases for mining purposes of allotted lands of the Wyandotte Indians, each for the period of ten years, were approved by the Secretary August 8, 1894. They provide for the payment of a royalty equal to 10 per centum of the market value of all mineral products removed from the leased premises.

Santee Agency, Nebr.-No leases have been made at Santee during the past year in addition to the one referred to in my last annual report.

Umatilla Reservation, Oreg.-Forty-two farming and grazing leases. These range in amount from 73 to 280 acres. The prevailing price is $1 per acre per annum, though one or two pieces are rented for less. One of the allotments is leased for $2 per acre. The leases in about equal numbers are for the periods of one, two, and three years.

White Earth Agency, Minn.-One lease of allotted lands granted "Red Bear" under the provisions of article 9 of the treaty of October 2, 1863 (13 Stats., 667). This embraces a tract of 640 acres and is INT 94-VOL II- -3

leased to H. A. Mayo for the period of three years from June 20, 1893, in consideration of $100 per annum and the further consideration of placing a large portion thereof under cultivation.

Monsimoh or Moose Dung.-By joint resolution approved August 4, 1894 (Joint Resolution No. 41), Congress authorized the Secretary of the Interior, if in his discretion he deemed the same proper and advisable, and upon such terms and limitations as he might impose, to approve a certain lease, made and executed by Monsimol (commonly called Moose Dung) to Ray W. Jones, of lot 1 in section 34 in township 154 north of range 43 west in the county of Polk and State of Minnesota, embracing a portion of the land granted Old Chief Moose Dung under article 9 of the treaty of October 2, 1863 (13 Stats., 667). Afterwards Moose Dung claimed that the Jones lease had been misinterpreted to him and that he did not want it approved, but that he wanted a lease executed in favor of Messrs. P. and J. Mehan approved. The matter is now awaiting investigation by a representative of this office before further action will be taken.

UNALLOTTED OR TRIBAL LANDS.

Since the last annual report the following leases of tribal lands have been executed:

Crow Reservation, Mont.-Five leases, each for the period of one year from June 30, 1894, the date of their approval by the Department. The permit agreement covering district No. 1 is executed in favor of Samuel H. Hardin, of Bingham, Wyo. It is estimated to contain 188,000 acres, at an annual rental of 3 cents per acre, or $5,640. The maximum number of cattle to be held at any one time is limited to 8,500 head. District No. 2, estimated to contain 191,000 acres, is leased to the Columbia Land and Cattle Company, through its managing director, M. Rosenbaum, of Chicago, Ill., at the rate of 3.95 cents per acre, or $7,544. The maximum number of cattle to be held at any one time is limited to 9,000 head.

District No. 3, leased to Portus B. Weare, of Chicago, Ill., is estimated to contain 199,000 acres, and the price to be paid is 3.51 cents per acre, or $6,984.90; maximum number of cattle, 8,000.

District No. 4, estimated to contain 179,000 acres, at 3.75 cents per acre, or $6,390.30, is held by Thomas Paton, of New York City; maximum number of cattle, 7,500.

The lease covering district No. 5, estimated to contain 89,000 acres, is held by Matthew H. Murphy, of Miles City, Mont., at 3.62 cents per acre, or $3,221.80; maximum number of cattle, 5,000.

Kiowa and Comanche Reservation, Okla.-There are no leases in force on this reservation at present. The following leases expired April 1, 1894:

The matter of again leasing these pastures was presented to the Department in office letter of March 21, 1894. September 12, 1893, the Department authorized the renewal of the following leases for the period of one year from September 1, 1893, at the uniform rate of 6 cents per

On November 2, 1893, the Department authorized the leasing of a tract of land of 40,000 acres lying about 6 miles south of Fort Sill to the highest and best bidder. After due advertisement the agent submitted a lease of this tract to Byers Bros. & Featherstone, at 6 cents per acre, for one year from December 20, 1893; annual rental, $2,400. This lease and the six preceding have not received the approval of the Department, to which they were submitted in office letter of February 21, 1894.

Omaha and Winnebago reservations, Nebr.-The last annual report mentions two leases on the Omaha Reservation, each for the period of five years from May 1, 1892, at 25 cents per acre per annum, for a total area of 22,604.18 acres, amounting to an annual rental of $5,651.13. Authority for the leasing of additional pastures on the Omaha Reservation for the period of one year was granted by the Department March 14, 1894, and March 17, 1894, the acting agent was instructed accordingly.

Like authority was also granted by the Department, March 23, 1894, for the leasing of additional pastures on the Winnebago Reservation for the period of one year, and the acting agent was notified March 27, 1894. August 17, 1894, the acting agent submitted for approval eight leases on the Omaha Reservation and one lease on the Winnebago Reservation. On August 27, the leases and accompanying bonds were returned because of certain informalities in the execution of the bonds. Osage Reservation, Okla.-The last annual report mentions the existence of thirty-four grazing leases on this reservation, each for three years from April 1, 1893, at the uniform rate of 3 cents per acre per annum, containing a total estimated area of about 831,188 acres; annual rental $29,091.58. No additional leases have been executed during the past year.

Kaw Reservation, Okla.-Reference was made in the last annual report to four leases on the Kaw Reservation which had been executed under Department authority of February 23, 1893, but had not been approved owing to defective bonds, etc.

Three of them, each for three years from April 1, 1893, were approved by the Secretary of the Interior during the past year, the respective lessees having filed new bonds in accordance with Department instructions of September 16, 1893. Lease covering district No. 1, esti

mated to contain 20,400 acres, at 15 cents per acre per annum (annual rental $3,060), held by George T. Hume, and lease covering district No. 3, estimated to contain 9,800 acres, at 15 cents per acre per annum (annual rental $1,494.50), held by Charles W. Burt, were approved June 27, 1894. Lease covering district No. 4, estimated to contain 10,920 acres, at 173 cents per acre per annum (annual rental $1,911), held by Homer Morris, was approved August 21, 1894.

Lease covering district No. 2, estimated to contain 10,709 acres, at 15 cents per acre per annum (annual rental $1,606.35), was executed in favor of Thomas J. Bennett. June 20, 1894, the acting agent reported that Mr. Bennett could not be found; hence that new bond could not be filed in his case. The matter was reported to the Department on July 6, 1894, and it replied August 7, 1894, directing that the lands embraced within the "Bennett pasture" be informally leased for the period ending April 1, 1896, and August 21, 1894, the acting agent was so instructed. May 16, 1894, the Department approved a lease for 9,000 acres, executed in favor of Drury Warren, for two years from April 1, 1894, at an annual rental of 123 cents per acre, amounting to $1,125 annually. June 27, 1894, the Department approved a lease for 4,800 acres, executed in favor of J. D. Harkleroad, for two years from April 1, 1894, at an annual rental of 17 cents per acre, amounting to $816 annually.

These two leases cover the greater portion of the lands leased last year by the Indians to certain members of the tribe and of the council, which leases were not authorized either by the Department or this office. Mention of these unauthorized leases was made in the last annual report.

Ponca Reservation, Okla.-East Ponca pasture, estimated to contain 33,000 acres, leased to Hezekiah G. Williams for one year from April 1, 1894, at an annual rental of $3,000; lease approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 15, 1894. West Ponca pasture, estimated to contain 33,000 acres, leased to George W. Miller for one year from April 1, 1894, at an annual rental of $3,010; lease approved by the Secretary of the Interior on April 30, 1894.

Otoe and Missouria Reservation, Okla.-East Otoe pasture, estimated to contain 60,000 acres, leased to Isaac T. Pryor for one year from April 1, 1894, at an annual rental of $3,000; lease approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 15, 1894. West Otoe pasture, estimated to contain 40,000 acres, leased to Frank Witherspoon for one year from April 1, 1894, at an annual rental of $2,600; lease approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 15, 1894.

Shoshone Reservation, Wyo.-Two leases, each for the period of one year from March 1, 1894. Range No. 3, estimated to contain 100,171 acres, is leased to S. R. Stagner at an annual rental of $500.86. Range No. 4, estimated to contain 283,520 acres, is leased to James K. Moore at an annual rental of $708.80. Both of these leases were approved by the Department on April 13, 1894. Ranges 1 and 2 are not under lease.

Uintah Reservation, Utah.-No additional leases have been made o this reservation during the past year. Reference is made to the last annual report for a statement of the leases now in force.

On August 4, 1894, at 10:30 a. m., Amasa Thornton, one of the direc tors of the American Asphalt Company, filed in this office, in duplicate, the map of the definite location of the lands selected by the company for mining purposes, which lease is referred to in the last annual report. Said map, under instructions from the Department of date November 8, 1893, should have been filed on or before August 1, 1894. The map and all the important facts in relation thereto were submitted to the Secretary of the Interior for his action with office letter of August 20, 1894.

BUSINESS COMMITTEES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONVEYANCE OF INDIAN LANDS.

By the eleventh section of the sundry civil appropriation act of March 3, 1859 (11 Stats., 430), the Secretary of the Interior was authorized to cause patents to issue to any Indians and their heirs who, by the terms of any Indian treaty in Kansas Territory, were entitled to separate selections of land and to a patent therefor, upon such conditions and limitations and under such guards and restrictions as might be prescribed by him. Under this authority patents have issued to several tribes of Indians, with a restrictive clause that the tracts therein described "shall never be sold or conveyed by the grantee or his heirs without the consent of the Secretary of the Interior, for the time being," and rules and regulations have from time to time been issued to be observed in the execution of conveyances of lands so patented. One of these rules requires the certificate of the chiefs of the tribe as to the identification of the patentee, or in case of death as to who are the heirs and their identification.

There are certain other tribes whose lands are held under such restricted patents, among them the "not so competent" members of the Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River bands of Chippewa Indians, in Isabella County, Mich. These Indians have been without an agent for a number of years, and several factions in the bands have arisen, each claiming to represent the tribe. When deeds for the "not so competent" class have been forwarded for approval the certificate of different sets of chiefs would appear just as the vendors happened to belong to one or the other faction, until the office became embarrassed thereby in the settlement of the question of heirship.

The matter was reported to the Department June 20, 1893, with a recommendation that a special agent be appointed to make an investigation of the affairs of this tribe and to nominate five of the best and most business-like men, and most reliable in their knowledge of the families of the tribe, to serve as a business committee for the purpose of determining the question of descent. Authority was given July 14,