Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-11-17
Tlsc laA,a,a Territory.


The InAisn Territory lies south Of
Kansas, west Of Arkansas, and north
Of Texas. It is 382 miles long, and
2O8 miles wile. Il sur7sains 79.456
square miles, and has about 5O,O0O,.
600 acres Of land. It would make
seventy States of the size Of Rhctlc
Island, ten States Of the size Of Mas
sachusetts, seven States Of the size
Of Vermont, and is about twice the
size of New York. There is scarcely
a quarter section of this magnificent
domain that is not susceptible os cul
tivation. 1t is far superior to Kan
sas, Nebraska, or Missouri, as a stock
and fruit-growing and grain prodn-
cling country. The Indians have
made good progress in agriculture,
an |, having the good sense to keep
down the great annual prairie fires,
more timber is found in the Indian
Territory than in the other Western
States and Territories. The prairies
are usually small. the streams fire.
quent and bclted with timber. Coal
has been discovered in various parts
Of the Territory. The Cherokee vein
crops out in the southern part OF
Kansas in a vein about two feet in
thickness, and increases in depth as
it proceeds south into the Indian
Territory, where it reaches a thick
less of from four to six feet. Mines
have been opened on the veYdrgris
and Arkansas rivers which show in
exhaustible coal deposits Of super
ior quality. Salt springs are innu-
merable, having a great volume and
strength Of brine. The Indians have
for years, with their rude methods
of manufacture, supplied the sur
rounding tribes and the people of
Western Arkansas and Northern
Texas. The rebel armies were in
large part supplied with salt from the
springs on the Illinois, Grand and
Canadian rivers. In the extreme
western part Of the Territory are the
great salt plains, where salt is scraped
up by the bushel and wagon load.
The climate ofthe Indian Terrific
ry is delightful. There IS but little
weather that could be called wintry.
The grass remains green all winter
on the bottoms, and by the first of
March planting commences. In
February the small garden seeds,
such as onions, rad.shes, lettuce, etc.
are put into the ground. The soil is
well adapted to corn, wheat, oats.
cotton, and tobacco. As . fruit
the Indian Territory is un-
surpassed. The Indians have as fine
peach orchards as are seen anywhere,
and the flavor and quality Of their
apples are unequalled. Pears, plums,
and cherries bear profusely. Wild
grapes grow abundantly, and in size
and quality are nearly equal to cul
tivated varieties. The flowers are
beautiful beyond description: the
prairies are one vast conservatory
blooming with every variety Of wild
flowers.
Lands in the Indian Territory are
he'd in common. Settlements are
not allowed nearer than each quarter
Of a mile. Children inherit, in one
sense, the estate Of the parent-that
is, they are allowed to remain upon
the lands settled upon and improved
by the parent; but all lands are own
ed by the tribe or nation at large.
Severalty in real estate is not ac
knowledged. The settler can not
acquire vested title to his lands
and no white settlers or others than
members Of the tribe arc allowed per-
manent occupancy in the country,
The several tribes are very cautious
in granting rights Of citizenship OF
membership of the tribe. This is
done-and it is rarely done-by acts
Of legislative council. "Citizenship'
is also acquired by marrying mem
Der Of the tribe. The tribes have I
legislative council, a governor o.
principal chief, written or printct
constitution and laws similar to thos'
Of the States, schools and se.-,inaries
Of learning, and larger church
membership in proportion to ropu
lation than any of the Western States
The Che rokees are now conducting
very creditable and goodsizet
weekly newspaper, published at Tai
equah, the capital of the Cherokee
nation; it is printed partly in thu
English language and partlJ in Cher
okee. They have courts and civi
officers ofthe law, similar to thos,
in the States. Peace, quiet, and gooc
order, the observance Of law anG
safety to person, and protection in
the rights of property, are guaran-
teed and secured. Life and proper
ty are as safe in the Indian Territory
ns 1nvwhnra in tho limited StateS-(