Part IV: Agricultural Economy in General 



UNITED STATES. 



IvAND TENURE AND THE ORGANIZATION OF AGRICULTURE 

 ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 



prepared under the direction of Cato Sells, 

 Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 



§ I. lyAND TENURE. 



On June 30, 1916, there were 312,654 Indians in the United States 

 under Federal supervision, occupying 174 reservations. Some of these 

 reserv^ations were granted by Act of Congress, pursuant to treaties or 

 agreements with the various tribes ; others were estabUshed by Executive 

 Order of the President of the United States ; and several were acquired by 

 still different methods, which will be explained hereafter. In the Pro- 

 clamation of George III, dated October 7, 1763, four principles of govern- 

 ment in Indian affairs, in force to the present day, were laid down : 



(i) The recognition of the Indian's right of occupancy : * * * " And 

 whereas it is just and reasonable, and essential to our interest, and the 

 security of our Colonies, that the several nations or tribes of Indians, 

 with whom we are connected, and who live under our protection, should 

 not be molested or disturbed in the possession of such parts of our do- 

 minions and territories, as, not having been ceded to, or purchased by us, 

 are reserved to them, or any of them, as their hunting grounds. 



(2) The right to expel ivhite intruders on Indian lands : * * * " All 

 the lands and territories not included within the limits of our said three 

 new Governments or within the limits of the territory granted to the 

 Hudson's Bay Company ; as also all the lands and territories lying to 

 the westward of the sources of the rivers which fall into the sea from the 

 West and Northwest as aforesaid ; and we do hereby strictly forbid * * * * 

 all * * * subjects from making * * * settlements * * * or taking posses- 

 sion of any of the lands above reserved * * *. And we do further strict- 

 ly enjoin and require all persons whatever, who have wilfully or inadver- 

 tently seated themselves upon any lands within the counties above de- 

 scribed, or upon any other lands, which have not been ceded to, or purchased 



