The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-11-20
The Ietaio Of Freedom.
LAWRENCE, X. IT.
Saturday Morning, Nov. 20. 1858.
Indian Reservations in Kansas.

Anu1an RESERVATIONS In Kansas,
We learn, says the Independence Mes
ssnger, that a Government Agent is now
in Kansas Territory endeavoring to DER.
suade the Indians to settle upon portion
OF their immense reservations, and sell
the remainder to Government, in order
that 1t may be thrown open for pre- emp
ton and settlement. Simultaneous with
THIS movement, we learn that the squat
tiers at once moved out on the Delaware
reserve and commenced erecting cabins,
aud at this time it is probable that every
quarter-section on the Delaware lands
has already been appropriated by squat
tiers, well knowing that if the Govern
ment once concludes to purchase Indian
lands, that they will find means to do so
and whether the Indians are disposed TO
sell or not, they are soon constrained to
do so, either by the persuasion of money
the annoyance of whites, who take their
lands whether or no, or both the reasons
combined; hence we consider it a fixed
fact that nearly all the reserved lands in
Kansas will at once be settled. These
reservations embody nearly all the choice
lands In the Territory, embracing as they
do, the heavy timbered lands and rich
bottoms adjacent to all the streams.
We extract from the Lcavenworth Her.
.Gh description of the quality and ex-
tent of these reservations, which will not
be without interest to our readers, whilst
we can, from actual observation, vouch
for the fine quality of the lands. That
paper says.
The principal reservations are the Della.
ware hiekapoo, Pottawattomie, Sac and
FOX, and the New York Indian Lands.
The Delaware reserve ranks the first in
Importance. 1t lies on the north side of
Kansas river, in the most densely settled
portion of the Territory, and omprises a
large portion of Leavenworth and Jeffer-
son counties. 1t is forty miles long, from
east to west, and ten from north to south
It's SOIL is unsurpassed, while tim Der, lime
stone, coal, water, &C., abound, and we
hazard the opinion that similar BODY of
land adapted to agricultural purposes, can
not be found N tho West. 1t is watered
BY the Stranger, Buck and Grasshopper
creeks, which spread their branches
throughout in every direction. The gen.
eral features are rolling prairie inter
spersed with large bodies of timber. The
eastern portion adjoining the Wyandott
settlement, is heavily timbered, and for
TINS -, reason is thickly settled by the tribe.
The middle portion is alternate prairie
and timber; while the western portion Is
watered by the Grasshopper and its tribu.
taries, and consists of rich bottoms of
heavy timber and rolling prairie of the
best quality, That portion of the reserve
bordering upon the Kansas river. cannot
be surpassed in the world. The timber
IS OF large growth, and consists of the
best kinds, while the soil is uniformly
about six feet deep, and produces the
nnest crops: The Indians occupy the
eastern portion of the reserve, with some
few settlements upon the Stranger, and
one upon the Grasshopper. Facilities for
water power exist upon the Stranger, while |
upon the Grasshopper, at one locality, a |
mill has been erected. The members are
about six hundred all told, and of these
probably about fifty per cent have farms
and homesteads; the balance either roam
about or have homes among their fellow |
members.
The reserve embraces 400 square miles, |
or 1000 quarter sections of land. One
fburth of this is sufficient for the tribe |
and it should be an object with the Gov
eminent to prevail upon them to relin-
quish their title to the balance.
The Pottawattomie Reserve is the next
In Importance. 1t lis thirty miles square,
and lies upon each side of the Kansas
river, about sixty miles from its mouth.
the larger portion being upon the north
side. 1t is watered by Soldier and Yer
million creeks. The general features are
the same as those Of the Delaware reserve.
except there is less timber. The soil is
good; that upon the river being unsur-
passed. The tribe is divided into two
parties. Those upon the north have he.
come nearly civilized, having towns, farms.
schools. houses and churches, while those
upon the southern side, refuse to meet the
advances of civilization, and endeavor to
preserve their wild and savage state.-I
The former are in favor of selling a nor.
ton of their reserve, while the latter are
opposed to the measure. Their reserve
embraces 800 square miles, or $500 quar-
ter sections.
The next is the Kickapoo Reserve. II
lies upon the waters of the Grasshopper
and Its tributaries, about TWENTY-FIVE
miles west of the city of Atchison. tits
twenty miles by twelve, and contains a
tract of country, we'll t;mbered, and of
splendid soil. The Kickapoos have lately
moved to this reserve, and are making Il
great Improvements, and under the care
OF their agent and missionaries are ad.
Vancing to high state of civilization. II
The Sac and Fox Reserve lies upon the
Usage river, about forty miles southwest i
OF Lawrence and Lecompton. It is thirty ]
miles by twenty, and embraces q fine {
country. The tribe occupy but a small /
portion Of the reservation, and the balance 1
is of no use to them whatever. The {
country surrounding is densely populated;
and the people are anxious for the reserve o
10 be thrown open for settlement. IL
The New York Indian tract lies in the
southern portion of the Territory, immedi- b
ately wsstof Fort Scott on the Neosho nv u