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BOTH SIDES STATEDWhite Settlers’ and Indians’ Claims Clash in Allotting: Land to the Latter.Special Agent MeKean is Blamed for Showing: Undue Favor to the Red Wards.He Replies by Stating: Clearly and Concisely What His Duties are in the Premises.It is Question that Involves the Right to Valuable Land Around the Mile Square.Special Agent MeKean Is receiving a great deal of criticism and censure from settlers who have taken land across the river, for what, it Is alleged, Is unjust discrimination In favor of the Indians. The two morning papers yesterday contained rati er lengthy accounts of the matter, the substance of which, as extracted from the Capital, reads like this:In allowing Indians to select lands he Is permitting them to locate anywhere they desire, without any regard to claims taken up by white settlers. For Instance, the whole of the Allison additions, which were taken up for towns!te. purposes, have been allotted out to the children of doe Rivers. The Phillips claim, upon which over $1,000 worth of Improvements have been made, has been allotted to the Nurcelle and Truversee children. T. II. Martin's claim, adjoining the mile square, goes to La Plant's children. Fred lVttigrew’s claim will he also taken, and thus It goes. By the work now being prosecuted by the allotting agent, lie white settlor has any claim to any lands he may have taken over a year ago, when the president declared the reservation open to settlement. Of course it Is not believed for a minute that these Indian children can hold the lands, but they compel white settlers who went upon the lands In good faith to bring a contest before the laud office. If they win their case before the land office the Indian department could appeal to the general land office, ail'd thus run up additional bills of cost. The law by which the Sioux ceded their lands very plainly slated that an Inoian would have to be living upon the land he desired to take when the president’s uroelamation was Issued. This being the case, It don’t stand to reason that they can now go to work and select lands anywhere they see lit to do for their children. Another point In allotting the lands Is that they can be classed either as agricultural or grazing lands. If grazing lands, they are permitted to take up just doublo the amount they would for agricultural purposes. It Is understood that the agent is claiming most of the lands up Bad river as grazing lands. This is altogether wrong. Mr. MeKean, of course, Is sent here by the Indian department to virtually act as their attorney, hut lu permitting them to take white settler’s lands ho Is doing them an injury. If they are beaten in the contest—-which they surely will be—they will not have a chance lo lake up lands in any other section.Special Agent MeKean was met in the
Newspaper Details
Pierre Weekly Free Press
Pierre, South Dakota, US
Thu, Apr 30, 1891
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 25 Jul 2022
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