Again, there are Indian women living with white men, but not married, who have children that should have some provision made for them.
Sixth. May the allotment be made immediately on completion of survey, without waiting for survey to be approved?
For many reasons it is desirable that the allotment be made as early as possible, so that the people may prepare for winter. They are very impatient, and I hope no unnecessary delay will be made.
Seventh. Is a record to be made by and in local land office of surveys and several allotments? Is record of allotment to be made in county records, and if so, how is the expense to be met?
These people are soon to be as other citizens, and stand on equal footing. I have no doubt about the propriety and necessity for making these records, but so as to close up all the gaps, I want to be instructed to have it done.
A. B. MEACHAM,
Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon.
Department OF the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs,
Washington, D. C., June 28, 1871.
Sir:—I have received your communication of the 23d ultimo, asking, among other things, instructions concerning certain questions which present themselves for settlement in the allotment of lands in severalty to Indians upon reservations in the State of Oregon.
In reply to the first inquiry therein propounded, you are informed that, where there is more land suitable for settlement on a reservation than is required to fulfil treaty stipulations, more than the number of acres named in said treaty cannot be set apart to each individual Indian, but the excess must be held in common for the benefit of the whole tribe or band occupying the reservation.