History Documentation:
LETTER ON FLOWAGE RIGHTS 1916 October, 12
Department of the Interior
Office of Indian Affairs
Washington, D.C.
October 12, 1916
Mr. Henry J. McQuigg
Superintendent Hayward Indian School
My dear Mr. McQuigg,
The Office has received your letter of September
6, 1916, with reference to that provisions in the Indian Appropriation
Bill approved May 18, 1916, relating to the acquisition of flowage rights
within the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation
In response you are informed that under said provision
of the law the consent of the Indians of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe
must be obtained as to Tribal Lands only. As to allotted lands, the consent
of the allottee is all that is required. If the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light
and Power Company or Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company, or any
other company desires to obtain the benefits of said provisions of law,
they should file formal application with you accompanied by a map in duplicate
drawn on tracing linen, and by showing as to incorporation, good faith
and financial responsibility, etc., All as set forth in the regulations
under the Acts of February 15, 1901 (31 Stat. L. 790) and March 3, 1891
(26 Stat. L. 1095). A copy of the regulations is enclosed herewith.
A few days ago, Mr. Charles McPherson, of the
American Public Utility Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, took up the
matter personally with the Office and he was advised in accordance with
the foregoing.
Upon receipt of application as above outlined,
you should arrange at an early date to go over the matter with a representative
of the applicant company, and if possible formulate some plan of settlement
the adoption of which you would be willing to recommend. The matter should
be taken up with the allottees in interest and written statements of their
views obtained; also a council of the Tribe should be called for the purpose
of procuring an expression of its views, so far as tribal lands are concerned.
For further detailed instructions regarding the
method of taking up applications of this kind, see Office circulars numbers
485, 615 and 756 and be governed accordingly.
Very truly yours
E.B. Meritt
Assistant Commissioner