The Van Buren press., 1867-02-22
Letter from the Choctaw Nation
RoGGY DEPoT. G. n. F,
February 10th, 1867.

inS''
DEAR Pnrss; It's the credited ION DIT
that the Indian Agency will be permanently
established at this placc--if so, then comes th,
Reserve and the erection Of suitable buildings
on the same for the uses of the Department
This will probably be the means of restoring
! this town somewhat to it, former importance
as II Is, all here j. on the ruin order combined
with complete prostration of public and pri-
vate enterprise, and lstlessness of action
| that amounts to almost perfect idlcncss and
negro industry. The houses and buildings are
all going 10 decay--although they are all oc-
cupied. The spirit Of the people /. down. the
war with its miserable results full in their
/ faces; the uncertainty Of the mind as TO thc
future, occasioncd by the Radical disturbances
at Washington City-and most of them too old
to commence the world again--comminglcd
with the knowledge anu feeling OF lost years
and homes which they never look to replace,
all summed up, make the people out here the
Indian, the half-brced, and the wlitc,) care
less of all things, themselves and the future
and few more years ofdisorganizationw would
reduce them to caring for nought, but to exc
ont a meagre subsistence.
/ There is a weekly mail here. via Fort Smith
the newspapers ofall the principal cities OF
the United States are here received BY SOM,
one or other of the inhabitants-thc Van Bu-
rem Press is rushed for by it, subscribers rs
soon as the word comes the mail is in'--its
high standard Of tone and its political pro-
cliyities, with its ever muitam in pGrro, make
it a general and welcome fayorite.
There is much travel through Boggy Depot,
emigrauts and travellers going from the north
crn part Of Texas to all parts east of the Mis-
sis,ippi aud north of the ARKANSAS rivers; and
those also going to the northern portions of
Texas from these places, making ii continual
taoroughiare. Paris is so. Bonham -, Nc
Kinney Sc. Dallas ll6, and Sherman % miles
from hence. Beg flour, meal corn and
coffee, the traveller and cmgrant seldom re-
9uires more than these few neeeSsaries in his
transit. Whiskey is interdicted by law, and
it is SO strict and severe that the allowed citi-
zen (as ann cares not to infringe on its pro-
visions, nevertheless whites and Indians do
somehow "tipple the barley bree, - have mt
learnt the secret yet in fact J have not the
will, or otherwise it might be otherwise
Most Of the stores in the Nation are control
ed by firms in Fort Smith and they have shown
their business tack by securing agents OF
southern polity to carry them on. The Nation
has not vet recovered to its old predictions
or customs. and direct northern house and
men in il here, might as well at once re-wagon
their goods back again to Fort Smith, for nc
one would trade with them. But time may
change all this, Its wonderful to note the
tcnacity of the memory of the people out
here, on some subjects.
note among the thriving and Industrious
DR.. 7 j. ALLEN, late of Fort smith, he has on
ly been in the Nation since last summer and
already he has secured their good will and a
large practice among them. night and day
(being the only physician here) he is in con.
slant demand and Iprophesy for him in &
very short timea more lucrative practice thar
is afforded to any of the NJ. D'S. OF Fort Smitl
or Van Burcn. Moral industry, talent and
perseverance always will tell. Mechanics o
all kinds would find it doubly remuneratiy,
to settle here. they are very scarce. Laborcr.
can he had for from SIS to $50 per month anj
found, but there is no dependence on then
(the Indian, white or blacks to finish out theil
term ofagreemcnt with you; the whole set
are demoralized rs to the keeping of con.
tract and most incorrigibly affected with the
ment here, before order, system, plenty, ant
the English language are universal and thi
can only come through Terrtorying anC
Emigrationing.
Au Rcyoir, J. NJ.