Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 25.djvu/161

 FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 213. 1888. 115 and agricultural implements, as provided for in Article III, preference shall be given to Indians who endeavor by honest labor to support themselves, and especially to those who in good faith undertake the cultivation of the soil, or engage in pastoral pursuits, as a means of obtaining a livelihood, and the distribution of these benefits shall be made from time to time, as shall best promote the objects specified. ARTICLE VI. It is further agreed tl1at any Indian belonging to either of a,;‘·**°*m¤¤* i¤ Sewthe tribes or bands, parties hereto, who had, at the date of the y` execution of this agreement b the tribe or band to which he belongs, settled upon and meat valuable im rovements upon any of the lands ceded to the United States under the provisions of this agreement, shall be entitled, upon a plication to the local land office for the district in which the lands are located, to have the same allotted to him or her, and to his or her children, in quantity as follows : To the head of the family, one hundred and sixty acres; to each child over eighteen years of age, eighty acres; to each child under eighteen years of age, forty acres; and the grant to such Indians shall be adjusted upon the survey of the lands so as to conform thereto. Upon the approval of said allotments by the Secretary of the Interior, he shall cause patents to issue therefor in the name of the allottees, which atents shall be of the legal effect and declare that the United States does and will hold the lands thus allotted for the period of twenty-ive years, in trust for the sole use and benent of the Indian to whom such allotment shall have been made, or, in case of his decease, of his heirs, according to the laws of the Territory of Montana, and that at the expiration of said period the United States will convey the same by patent to said Indian, or his heirs as aforesaid, in fee, discharge of said trust and free of all charge or incumbrance whatsoever. And if any conveyance shall be made of said lands, or any contract made touching the same, before the expiration of the time above mentioned, such conveyance or contract shall be absolutely null and void: Provided, That the laws of descent and partition in force in said Territory shall aplply thereto after patents therefor have been executed and de iveredz Prorz'ded, furf7zer, That any such Indian shall be entitled to his distributive share of all the benefits to be derived from the cession of lands to the United States under this agreement, the same as though he resided within the limits of the diminished reservation to which he would properly belong. ARTICLE VII. The outboundaries of the selparate reservations, or such por- Reservation mmations thereof as are not define by natural objects, shall be sur- ““°“‘ veyed and marked in a plain and substantial manner, the cost of such surveys to be paid out of the first annual installments provided for in Article III of this agreement. ARTICLE VIII. It is further agreed that, whenever in the opinion of the Presi- Risks ¤f wavdent the public interests require the construction of railroads, or other Lhighways, or telegraph lines, through any portion of either of the separate reservations established and set apart under the provisions of this agreement, right of way shall be, and is hereby, granted for such purposes, under such rules, regula-