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staff to do the educational work essential to the success of the policy.
In some jurisdictions the tribe is possessed of great natural resources which are not susceptible of individual allotment and which from the standpoint of sound national economy should be preserved in large working units. so that they may be conserved and used effectively. The two outstanding illustrations are the timber lands on the Klamath Reservation in Oregon and the timber lands and the power sites on the Menominee Reservation in Wisconsin. Only to a limited extent is it possible for these Indians to work with these great resources.
The more progressive Klamath Indians are anxious to get possession of their share of the tribal wealth so that they may use it as capital in individual enterprise. The programs for the economic advancement of the Indians will often require that they have some small capital with which to work. Neither the allotment of the timber lands nor their sale in toto appear to offer a solution for reasons which are set forth at length in the economic section of this report (pages 460 to 462). The present policy of the gradual sale of timber and distribution of the proceeds in per capita payments is objectionable because the small doles are consumed for living expenses.
The survey staff suggests that an experiment be tried in these jurisdictions with the modern business device of the corporation. The corporation would own the property, keep it intact, and conserve and operate it as a great national asset. Shares in the corporation would be distributed pro rata among the Indians. The shares of incompetent Indians would be held in trust by the government. Indians of demonstrated competency could be given full possession of their shares to do with as they will. As the restricted Indians advance they could be given limited control over a part of their shares. They could be authorized, for example, to pledge them as collateral for a loan for working capital to be utilized in productive enterprise. As they demonstrate competency and success they could be given increased control. On the death of an Indian his shares could be distributed among his heirs without involving any sale of real property. The device would permit of the effective utilization of the great property and at the same time meet the needs of the advancing Indians.