Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 117, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1919 — MAKES INDIANS RICH [ARTICLE]

MAKES INDIANS RICH

Developments in Southwest Net Them Big Returns. Oil and Coal Add to the Fortunes of ~ the Aborigines in Oklahoma. Washington.—There are 300,000 Indians scattered throughout the 48 states of the Union; many of them, the Osages, Creeks and Quapaws, are rich in natural resources; rich in oil, gas, coal; asphaltum, zinc and other minerals that not alone make wealth for themselves, but for the country of which they wefre the original occupants. Oklahoma ranks first of all the states of the Upion in Indian popula- ' lion. The Interior department, through Cato Sells, commissioner" Indian iffairs, leased during the last fiscal year 1,653,620 acres of land for oiL Ehls vast estate is being administered

through the Indian office in Washington, through the commissioner of the five civilized tribes at Muskogee, and through the several Indian agencies scattered throughout Oklahoma. The total number of barrels of* oil produced from these rich fields during the last fiscal year is 24,193,267. - The value of tliis oil in dollars would aggregate $50,000,000. f / The royalties alone during the last fiscal year actually paid to these Indian tribes approximated $8,050,098, and for the six years preceding there was derived in royalties alone and actually paid to the Indians for their benefit in oil royalties $26,000,000. The total .amount of oil taken from these Indian lands in- Oklahoma, all told, since oil was originally disco®? ered, aggregates ’383,000.000 barrel?. The total amount of royalties and bonuses paid the Indian? by Oil Operators during this development Is $39,000,000. ' ' . ■. .

With the coming of the white people to the state and with the marvelous improvement going on In the construction of railroads, wagOn roads, schoolhouses and churches it will be seen that the Indians are fast becoming assimilated into society, taking their place-and assuming the role of citizenship.