The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-12-11
AN IMPORTANT STEP.

M. MURDOCH, Editor
WICHITA, THURSDAY, DEC. 18th, 1873.
AN IMPORTANT STEP.
To the Settlers Upon the Usage
Trust Lands.
In view OF the facts, that under the
existing law the settlers upon the
Usage Indian Trust lands are compell-
cd 10 pay for their claims within one
year from date of settlement that a
large majority of said settlers are poor
men cn,ieavoring to secure homes for
themselves and families that being
ont upon the borders where the ordi-
nary avenues for remuneratiyc labor do
not exist. and where but al inadequate
market can be maintained for such
commodities as they may produce from
their lands: that owing to the scarcity
of money in the west the time for pay
ment has already lapsed in great
number of Instances that money can
only be borrowed at such "A ruinous
aud cxtortng rate of interest as in
nearly every instance swallows up the
land. labor, home and improvements
of the settler: And in view of the fur
Their facts. that the moneys for these
lands as fast as paid in are by the gen
eral government converted into bonds
bearing a low rate of interest for the
benefit of the Indians: that all the gem
crai government does or should de-
mand. is the sale Of the lands and the
security of their price together with
such interest, in accordance with the
terms of the treaty; that all the state
and counties in which these lands are
situated desire is that the lands may
speedily be subject 10 taxation; that
precedents already exist in which the
general government has given a long
series of wears in which to pay for In
dian lands, therefore, we the settlers
npon the above lands present
A PETITION
% the nOnUIaDic, t1t nousc vi IcpiC-
sentatives and senate, in congress as
sembled. We the undersigned your
petitioners respectfully represent that
they are iona fde settlers upon the
Usage Indian Trust lands aud are de-
sirous. for the reasons above cnumera-
ted, of having the law relating TO the
settlement aud sale of said lands SO
amended as TO provide that settlers
may prove up and gain immediate title,
rs under the present law, by paying
the first wears interest at the time of
proving up, the government to be Sc
cured by taking a mortgage bond,
running ten years, with coupons attach
ed, bearing the same rate OF interest
that is paid the Indians, with the pro-
viso that annually each claimant or
settler shall appear at general land
Office by himself or attorney with COM
pctent proof that he is actually living
upon and cultivating his land, when he
shall redeem at least one coupon with
the privilege of redccming all, and that
whatever extra annual expense may be
incurred by the government in carry
ing out the provisions of such act shall
be paid in fees by the settler annually
At the time OF redeeming such coupons,
leaving the land, by virtue oftitle thus
gained subject to state, county and
municipal taxation. And your petit
TONERS will ever pray.
The above statement of facts togeth-
er with the matter ofthc petition were
drawn up byus in pursuance of many
and earnest solicitations upon the part
ofsettlers living in this and adjoining
counties. Whatever is done should he
done quickly. AS the most effective
and speedy manner of getting petitions
circulated among the settlers and sign
ed aud returned We ask all the pa
pcrs published in the counties included
upon these lands TO publish the above
aud request the settlers to cmbody its
substance in the form OF a petition, cir
culatc and sign and return the same TO
their representatives or to NJ. NJ. Muir
dock, state senator. Wichita. II is de-
sirablc that this chould all be done by
the 18th day of January. As soon as
the legislature meets, we will, in con-
nrction with the representatives from
this district, ask the states endorse
ment. 10y concurrent resolution, when
the whole matter can be sent in an ofli-
cial form to congress.
II the settlers upon any portion of
these lands know of a better, more elf
cient or satisfactory plan for an extern
sion oftime,o or of one less Objectionable,
let them embody il in their petit
lions. The plan here set forth, we
think. secures the government, secures
the Indians and will at an outlay of
eleven or twelve dollars year give the
settler ten years time in which to save
his homestead.
The truth is. too large n proportion Of
these valuable lands are falling into
the hands of nonresident land buyers,
not only TO the dctriment of the set
Tiers. but To the dctriment of the conn
try. Ia the hands of the settlers they
arr improved and become valuable, en-
hansing the value of all lands and pro-
pcriy around them, while in the hands
of SPECTATORS they lay idle upon the
markc.. unimproved aud almost worth.
hess for the purposes of taxation.
The Presidents Message.
Upon the outside Of this paper will