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1839 Ann. Rep. Comm'r Off. Indian Aff. Sec'y Interior 327 (1839)

handle is hein.doi/annrepcom0002 and id is 1 raw text is: Doe. No. 2. 327 No. 10. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. WAR DEPARTMENT, Office Indian Affairs, November 25, 1839. SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I report the operations of -this office, in the branch of public service committed to it, for the last -twelvemonth. On the 6th day of November, 1838 a treaty was made at the Forks of he Wabash; in the State of Indiana, with the Miamies, which was ratified ,on the 8th of February following. By it the United States have extin- guished the Indian title to 177,000 acres of land, as well as it can be com- puted, for which we stipu'etd to pay 335,680, as follows: $60,000 so ,soon as the necessary appropriation was made; $6,800 to John B. Richard- ville, and $2,612 to Francis Godfroy, for claims against the tribe; $140,588 in discharge of their debts, and the residue in yearly payments of 812,568 each. The price given appears to be high, and more than is usually paid for the occupant right of what may be called' vild land, but it is situated in the midst of a settled country, has a different value from Indian districts generally in its location and circumstances, and is said to be of fine quali- -ty. The $60,000, and the first instalment of $12,568, have been met. The stipulation for their debts included Indian creditors, confined the claims to those which had accrued since the last treaty was concluded with them, in October, 1834, and provided for the appointment of a commissioner to investigate their justice and legality. The gentleman assigned to this duty has not yet reported. The seventh article binds the United States to appraise the buildings and improvements on the lands ceded, and to have others of corresponding value made at such places as the chiefs of said tribe may designate, and, until. this shall be done, to permit the Miamies to occupy the existing improve- ments. The valuation has been made and returned to this office, and amounts to $3,069. We further engaged to cause the boundary lines of their land' in Indiana to be run and marked within one year after the rati- fication of the treaty ; to possess them of a body of land west of the Mis- -sissippi for their future residence, when theyshould be disposed to leave their present country, sufficient in extent, suited to their wants and condi- tion, and h contiguous to that in the occupation of the tribes which emigra- ted from the states of Ohio and Indiana, and to defray the expenses of a -deputation ot six chiefs or head men, to explore the region of country in. which it is anticipated they will hereafter settle. Their lands are now receiving marked boundaries. Until the report is made, how muchyrernains to the -Miamies cannot be precisely known, but it is estimated at 511,000 acres, or thereabouts. An exploring party has not yet been determined on by the Indians. The spring is the most suit- able season for such a journey, and probably they may then undertake it. After they shall have had an inspection, personally, of a location that will

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