Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/66

746 on the 16th of August last, by the terms of which the Crows cede their reservation and accept a reserve in Judith Basin. This agreement is made subject to the action of Congress, and its ratification is respectfully recommended.

The 11th article of the treaty concluded with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians April 28, 1866, sets forth that it is believed the holding of their lands in severalty will promote their general civilization, and tend to advance their permanent welfare; and it is therefore agreed that the lands be surveyed and allotted, should the Chickasaw and Choctaw people, through their respective legislative councils, agree to the same. The lands of the Chickasaws have been surveyed at their request, and their legislative council has, through their executive authorities, requested this Department to allot their lands; besides,the Chickasaw people in public assemblages have passed resolutions petitioning the Government to the same effect. The Choctaw council, however, refuse to join the Chickasaws in making the request for allotments as contemplated by the treaty. It is deemed proper, therefore, that Congress should afford the necessary legislation to enable this Department to comply with the request of the Chickasaws, independent of the action of the Choctaws, in order that the object of the treaty may be carried out, at least so far as the Chickasaws are concerned.

By the treaty concluded with the Pawnee Indians September 24,1857, a reservation was set apart for said Indians in extent 30 miles from east to west by 15 miles from north to south. Upon a re-survey of the eastern boundary-line of said reservation, it has been ascertained that the east and west lines are but 29½ miles apart in place of 30 miles, thus leaving a deficiency in the proper area of the reservation of 4,800 acres. The Pawnees insist upon indemnity for said deficiency, and it is deemed just that Congress should provide for the same, at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the minimum price of Government lands.

In 1867 an Executive order was issued setting apart a reservation for the Cœur d' Alenes, but, being dissatisfied with the location, they never located thereon, and continued to roam over the tract of country claimed by them. For the purpose of extinguishing their claim to all the tract of country claimed by them, and of locating them on a reservation suitable to their wants as an agricultural people, an agreement has been made with them by Hon. J. P. C. Shanks, Gov. Bennett, of Idaho, and Agent J. B. Montieth, subject to ratification by Congress, which is respectfully recommended. Pending such action by that body, 1 have deemed it prudent to have set apart by executive order the tract of country described in said agreement as a reservation for said Indians, in order that white persons may be prohibited from settling thereon and claiming compensation for improvements from the Government.

By the terms of a treaty concluded with the Coo-umpqua, Sinselano, Alsea, and other Indians embraced within the Siletz agency, in Oregon,