The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-24
shawnee Reserve Lands.

We find IN the st. Louis papers, |
saws the Occidental Messenger, tele-
graphic report from Washington, to
the effect that the Shawnee Indians |
have completed their selection of 20O,- |
900 acres of land in their reserve.
The Treaty with the Shawnees pro-
hibits the whites from occupying these
lands until ninety days after the selec-
tions arc made and approved, and the
surplus set apart by the Presidents
Proclamation. The same telegraph |
also ytascs that the President has or
dered the Superintendent of Indian sf-
fairs, at St. Louis, to proceed at once
| to the Shawnee Reserve, and prevent
the whites from settling on the lands
until the expiration of the 80 days,
and troops viii be furnished to enforce
these orders.
From our knowledge of the charac-
ter of western settlers, we are induced
to think the government win be as sue
csssful in keeping Squatters off of the
Shawnee Lands as they were in keep.
ing them from settling on the Della
ware Lands.
i These Shawnee Lands embrace
boundary Of 80 by IS miles South and
West of the mouth of the Kansas riv-
.le~. and are. as body, much the best
,ssalasn.ds IN Kansas Territory, equal ia ev-
cry respect to the best Missouri lands.
The great drawback, however, to the
, cultivation of them will be the search
ty of timber, as We learn the Indians
, have. in making their selections, pitch
: ed upon all the good timber lands in
: the reserve. But the prairie lands are
0 of such richness as will repay for the
: extra labor it will take to make fences
t and procure fuel. Coal, it is said has
j. been found in several places, and rock
!: suitable for building and fencing, is
: abundant, and hedges can be grown in
t a few years. Although the indians
= are not at liberty to sell their lands
e thev can and will sell their timber, and
n as there is abundance of this to sup
= port the prairie, we think settlers vii
: not find as much difficulty in getting
n timber as many would at the frs
: glance suppose. After the settler make
l. his first enclosure, he can soon grow
ri timber in sufficient quantities to sup
Sc ply ali of his wants. Black Locus
It and Cotton wood both grow well il
S, our prairies, and will attain, in tel
re wears, sufficient size for fencing pur
of poses. By planting either of thes
woods pretty thickly on the groun
be they will in FIVE years attain a size SUI
e. ficient for firewood, when the settle
d. may commence thinning them out fc
N. that purpose. leaving the more thrift
ed trees on the ground, in sufficient nun
of bers to supply fencing material.
IS, Ten acres of land planted in tn
ut way each year for three years-30 acr
he IN all-will after the first five year
In apply any ordinary sized farm. for a
eE me to come, with timber both &
mt Lrewood and fencing purposes. II
ng peach is also another wood of quit
nd growth, and will attain in three yea
We asuficient size for firewood, besfde t
ror advantage of yielding large quaint
ere ty of wholesome and palatable frui
- which is always in great demand in
BILE new country. In fact we believe the
re- is no other way in which as large
income could be obtained from the sar
number of acres of land, as by plar
ing peach trees and selling the fruit.
is In order to raise this fruit, the Sc
&c. should be kept in the earth all wintt
his and planted in the spring in the sar
in ground and at the distance they q
leh desired to remain. By this means t
an ground can be used for raising CT
les of grain for years with the same fac
the ity as if the trees did not exist.
of These Shawnee lands will no dou
All be all taken up by settlers at once,
md we know of large numbers who q
ire preparing to move on to them in t