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abundance of fuel
for settlers, also some material for log houses, but the
chief value
of that portion of your reservation lies in its being agricultural land.
I am not
talking disparingly of that tract, for I regard it
above the average
quality of land in such a low and comparatively level section of
country,- I
simply say that it is not all good land, containing as it does,
some marsh and
damp land, and that the timber upon it is of very little commercial
value, so
that in considering the price per acre that the entire tract should
bring,
these facts should not be over-looked.
In the first
place, I desire to ascertain your wishes, as to whether or not you are
willing
to dispose of this tract and if you consent to its cession we will then
take up
the question of price and manner of payment.
Now,
my friends, I am here to get an expression from you as to and your
wishes in
this matter, and having some discretionary powers vested in me by the
Secretary
in negotiations of this character, I will meet you fairly as to price
and
conditions of payment, but I desire to impress upon you that any
agreement
concluded by us has to be ratified by Congress before it is binding
upon either
the Indians or the United States, and must therefore be in accordance
with the
policy of the Government. Many of you
doubtless understand the status of Indian reservation lands, but that
all of
you may know, I will explain to you the nature of the Indian title to
lands. The right of Indians to their
reservations is that of occupancy alone; the vested right is in the
United
States, subject only to the right of occupancy by the Indians. This
applies to
reservation lands that are unallotted and held in common as your Red
Lake
reservation lands are; allotted lands are different; they belong to the
allottee, and are held in trust for him or her by the government for
the period
of twenty five years from the date of allotment, and are exempt from
taxation
during the |
