Much of this land is what is known as tribal land, and when sold the amount is placed to the credit of the tribe. The tribal attorneys, the Government officials, and practically everyone believes that the lands should be sold, and the money divided up among the Indians. The reasons for this, I have briefly presented on page 28, when speaking of Indians in general. By this method, we will rid the Indians of an ever-increasing swarm of attorneys and remove all incentive to unwise legislation. Of the number of Indians at work, the value of their crops and labor, no man may know. Estimates vary, but I suppose that it is no exaggeration to state that about a third of the males belonging to the Five Civilized Tribes work—thousands of them regularly. The Government has encouraged this through the District Agents, or field helpers, whose duty it is to instruct the Indians in farming, to protect them in their rights and to exercise a general supervision over them. These field agents stood between the Indian and the grafter, and there was a determined effort on the part of a few men to have the entire number dismissed from the Service. However, Congress continued the appropriation and these worthy men are assured of another year’s effort on behalf of the Indians. Some of the illustrations presented in these chapters are from photographs taken by Mr. Allen and myself in Oklahoma and will give an idea of the homes of the Indians, and some of the farms they have brought under cultivation. [Illustration: OLD-STYLE CABIN, 1850–1890 Cherokee, Oklahoma. Photographed, 1913 ] The unallotted lands have usually been sold at auction and since November 1, 1910, 1,838,921 acres have been sold for $10,458,945, or an average of $5.68 per acre. This seems rather low price, but as most of the lands were not developed and many tracts had grown up to bushes, it is the best that could be obtained under the circumstances. Of immense value are the segregated coal and asphalt lands in Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. These total 455,303 acres. The value has been variously estimated, and it is impossible to accurately or even approximately state the amount. Coal tracts, in the eastern part of the United States, have been known to sell as high as $1,000 an acre. The price may vary from $50 for tracts wherein the veins are thin, to $500 for heavy vein of the best grades of bituminous coal. It will thus be seen that at the lowest estimate coal contained in this enormous area is of exceeding value, and this statement does not take into account the great asphalt deposit of undoubted value. Up to the present, the Government has successfully resisted attempts of those who would secure control of this property. Commissioner Wright, on page 28 of his report, states that there is in cash deposited to the credit of the Indians, in banks in the State of Oklahoma, $4,474,189.45. The interest paid on this sum varies from 4% to 6%.