New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-11
KANSAS LAND-FRAUDS.

r. ~, Editor Of The Irtbuns.
SIR: Seeing IN your paper of june 30 q true expose
of the Usage Swiudle," / am encouraged TO call
your attention to a case wherein although the
extent of the territory involved j, much less than in
the Usage case the immediate and direct outrage on
individuals is much more aggravated.
The Cherokee Neutral Land is 80 mile, long
north and south. by p east and west. and includes
the Counties Of Cherokee and Crawford lying in the
southeast corner OF the State of Kansas Situated
mostly between the 9th and 3,th parallels the eli
mate is a fair compromise between the extreme cold
OF the Northern states and the lung-coutiuutd heat
of the far south Within few miles of Vs. IN South
West Missouri are orchards 80 years old, wheTcon
the apple crop has never failed, and the peach may
be fonnd IN abundant crops thrcc-iouIths 81 the
seasons. Cattle and horse, do well on the wild grass
for nine months of the year. The soil Is good TIM
Der scarce, though q good quality; ana is louhd
in large bodies. Sandstone of the very best
quality Tor building purposes j. abnn-
dant Coal is plenty, and in good quality.
Many Of our BOYS who saw the SOuth-Ne't duTlng
the war determined 10 move there a. soon rs 10 was
safe 10 do So and I'm the Spring of 1866 Thousands Oi
wagons lined the roads leading IN that direction A.
monsters Of hideous shape follow the schools OF hsh
in the sea. rs hawks pursue the birds so the lana
speculatOT went with, YES, even preceded The isA o
pioneers. Before the war ring had succeeded
I'M ,wiuding the southwestern counties Of Missouri
ont of the sO-Called swamp lands. and now people
seeking homes there found land held 40 prices iahg
lous for a new country. just across the state llne
Law the neutral land. Tho Cherokees encouraged
10
tlrrs were glad 90 lay ioundauohs i'r MONIES mere
Never did foul beast Of prey vile Cdrun bird ,nu
their prey WIN kfentf sent OF loig l'i y W.. d
held Southern Kansas hlling up with u pcope VINO
were sure 10 make It's every acre valuable. Accord
iury in July lSti au iuiamou, thing called Treaty.
wa. gotten up, which protected settlers who were
living claims before the ratification of the treaty
aug II, l96 not m the night 20 homes cad or pre-
cmp' which they already bad before the law but lu
"A right 10 purchase lGO acre, each AZ yalue 90 be
fixed by appraisers The treaty further attempted
to give the Secretary of the Interior power 90 sell al
OF the neutral land not 80 occupied. L" any l"I1h-
sible man for cash. AT not les, than - per acre Mr
Harlan. then Secretary OF the Interior, sold the
Neutral Land 10 an Emigration Society. ms sale
was aunuled but soon after M Iiarlans successor
sold II over again So Mr. JOY Of Detroit. Michigan.
In the mean time he people, conhdlhs ui the Coy
eminent 20 do Justice. continued % settle ON the
tract By thousands. Our Senator, assured Ms over
aud over again that settlers should D., protected m
their nights. and We were iooith enough t9 De Iul'd
into false security by their dclusiye epstics. Our
Governor, being himself an honest man, aud
thoroughly on our side. was deceived 20 our
danger-uOt believing that the Senate would do rs
the great wrong of selling our homes 10 the monOpo-
list. On the Gth DAY Of June last, the SENATE dd
ratify supplemental treaty. by virtue oi which Nj
JOY expects TO obtain possession OF the homes OF J
The people of the Neutral Land are as pcaceable
as loyal and as law abiding people as can be- found
III any locality in the Union. They gave ln proper
tiop TO their numbers, full share of the blood aud
treasure that crushed the Great Rebellion In the
Fall Of 1865 the Spanish fever was introduced among
a. and nearly all our cattle died. High price, for
grain caused by the war, and the rapid settlement
of that part of the Union together Wlih the long car
rage OF goods wagons soon so exhausted our
means that settlers who brought here one or two
thousand dollars have nothing lelt but their teams
claims. and lnpToy emento.
We are told, not by authority however, that Mr..
Joy PROPOSES 10 sell Us Our already laid-carncd
homes al Fl y 10 3 per acre Ol course most OF
the land will 90 to the big Plcc-sy II WI be nade
10 average - 80 per acre The tract contains oOOOJ
acres-at that price amounting 10 SEoNoVJ
The proposed railroad is 10 run through the tract
north and SOUTH 80 miles. AT S%jWg e. mile, so
nnch of If ~ rms through the neutral land Will cost
Mr. JOY 81 10000. Subtract the cost OF ROAD from
value of land, and you Will have balance III 9r.
JOYS favor of l,5jUOOO Again, deduct from that
remainder first cost and there VIII he leit S'OOO,
which Is clear bonus The proposition men, stripped
of all its dsguses amounts 10 tins Inc pioneers OF
the neutral land and the people VINO may hereafter
come upon IT, are TO present MI JOY with 90 miles OF
railroad built and stocked and, III c0hslueiatoh OF
his accepting of the troublesome niue present we
are 10 make up trliiing purse oi s'O,VO loL MS
benefit We do not expect TO rae OF tLaSpoit our
produce free that road in fact we LOOK III vain IOr
amy consolation for the robbery unless u DC suG as
the degraded victims of oppression III EngIahu get
from the wealth, splendOr and lavish expenditure
of the very arstocracy that poe ets ther earnings
The people OF the neutral land are very poor, Hot
one-fourth of them can pay for their MONIES az
price greater than 81 - ID Eighteen thousand
Americans, old and young must leave tne pllces
where they fOndly and trustingy hOped 10 i've, III
sAf-reliant independence, or undertake dtpt '!iat
will make them and their children seIIS uuIess lne
fr grasp of the monoDolist can be loosen Ho 'nelr
thTOats. - 81, "A, H., ;.
Why should Government build railroads Tor private
men OF for corporations IL man proposes carry
freipht or passengers, by wagons OF stages through
n conntry ever so new, difficult OF 50 dangerous
he is expected to furnish his vehicles ana teams
and 10 hire drivers AT his expense. Mha reason
EXISTS for material aid to the that VIII not apply
to fine other' Does the railroad dcrtiop lhe c0un-
tTv $50 does the wagon train. Does the railroad re,
onIire capital energy and capability to Dud and
anerate IL $50 does the wagon tram VI IL ran
roads must be built by millions OF Government ald
we suggest that il would be better 10 give ihe any
other kind Of property than to give them ise Pubic
lands The absorption of the peoples well'il III any
other shape could not react so feariully INTO the
fnInre-could not so certainly mortgage tne coming
Generations as helpless serfs 10 ptiless masters.
people who have access to soil they may ouitiyate
a. their own cannot be enslaved; but people VINO
are Obliged TO cultivate q soil belonging 10 others
have bur n step between them and actual bondage;
The West Is being smOfhoed by ana monopoly;
Principally after principalty has been bestowed
upon giant corporations, and the pogresss - onward
With yigor increased by every successlui graz ol
the peoples heritage Already the energetic poor OF
This nation are asking where homes may be found
for Themselves and their children and thinking men
ask what is to DO the result of this vast accumula
auH IN ha