The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-06-12
FHE USAGE TREATY.
ANOTHER WHOLESALE swIsDLE.

appointed for that purpose. Our in
formation at that time was SO recent
that we had neither time or space for
comment.
While the lands ceded by this treaty
are seventy miles distant from Emporia,
and thus out of our grange" as ques-
ton of mere local interest, the eonse-.
quences to the State at large are too mo-
mentions TO justify silence-especialiy
as that silence would inevitably be con-
strued into consent. The disposition of
body o& 100000 acres of land, the
finest portion of the State, is of concern
not only to the whole people OF the
State, but.also to all that large class of
residents of other States who are look
ing to the fast diminishing public do
main for homes for themselves and
their children.
The stump speech wherewith the
treaty is prefaced, which avows, as the
moving cause to its execution OH the
part of the Indians, the desire to Sc
cure the early completion of the Leaven-
Forth, Lawrence Il Galveston Railroad,
is enough of itself to excite suspicion
that fraud was close after. The idea
that the Usage Indians are interested in
/ the early construction of u Railroad !!
and especially through lands they are to
dispose of before the Railroad is built,
SO that they will not reap even pecuni-
airy advantage therefrom, is what most
folks viii call refreshingly cool! We
were, therefore, not wholly unprepared
for the sequel. Most of our readers
know the character OF the lands treated
for. We risk nothing in SAYING that
half of it is not exceeded in fertility and
other natural advantages by any equal
body of land in the State. 1t is, besides,
the largest unoccupied and arabic tract
of land in the State. The sale of this
immense tract of land to single cor
poration, and which only proposes to
run a railroad through it from north 10
south, and only about thirty miles in
length, near the eastern border, is, as
we have before remarked. of vast con
Germ to the State. Thrown open to set
Element as other public land, with alter.
nate sections reserved for railroad pur.
poses, along the line of practicable
routes. and it would contain in the next
five years half q million people. Left
to be sold out i'll parcels at high prices
by Railroad Company and it will not
contain half the population in twice The
time.
We know it is taxing the crcdulity OF
I hot
the price to be paid for this magnificent
tract ofIand is fixed by the treaty at eight
cen cents per dcre! Thousands of settlers
now on the lands, and with valuable
improvements already made and tens o
thousands more waiting for the oppOr
tunity to go upon them are willing, ant
anxious to pay from S1,25 to 5000 pei
acre. No doubt the whole tract could b'
sold, under the hammer to-day, for 5
per acre. We make no account of TIL
Indians Or their interests. We do no
particularly care for the speculation o
!. Mr.. Sturges which defrauds alike thu
Government and the Indian. We speai
in the interest of our own race and PEG
ple-for the "hands that want acres
for the Thousands and tens of thousand
who will shun Kansas as they would
blight, if this giant monopoly succeeds
for the State at large, whose most cher
ished prospects would turn to ashes in TIN
: fire of a nationwide Indignation if thi
, gigantic fraud should go unopposed Il
: success. We do not even care 10 inquire
| why the L. l.. g. G.. road shou4C
have been singled out in preference Il
| all the other embryo railroads ia III
5 state to receive such an enormous EN-
7 dowmcnt. To our mind it would no
J. have been much better if it had beer
I divided between dozen. We objec
I to thus defeating the object and purpose
d of the Homestead Law and we ask tina
c the claims of those through whoSela bo
e alone can land be made valuable, sl,al
be recognized before those of any soul
e less corporation. however we'll backe;
by President, Cabinet officers and Sen
ators.
While on this subject we may a
well call attention TO the fact that of al
: the Indian Reservations within tn
!. State of Kansas that have been dimin
: ishcd" or wiped out entirely, not on
single acre has ereI' been hTOGn open &
prescription or iR any rag reRdere
/ advantageous TO the actual settler! L
: this matter job has followed job, am
: swindle has followed swindle, withoU
< a single protest from any member q
i our Congressional delegation-nay, a
G we believe with their direct connivanc
: and participation, until the fairest an,
i best portions of the State have falle
: into the hands of spcculators-many 0
L them the most disgraceful copperhead
e the country affords-.tO be re-sold a
# enormous profits. BY these and simiIa
: swiudles, the settlement Of the State ha
e been greatly retarded, and the increas
S ing taxation borne heavily and unequall
5 upon the settlers whose labors hav
e coutl .6uted to build up the monopolist:
u and sharks, in whose shadow they hay
j labo. ed, eu.
. Under the precedents thus estabiishe,
: it is not to be wondered that the Osag
T Treaty should have been conceived an,
: brought forth. The difference betweel
n that and the jobs that have preceded j
It is one of degree and not of kind. |
: is ia the same interest, and is strong il
:. DInnnPfinn IN 81 os a.