The sun., 1873-08-07
PlundeTing the Pioneers.

ON July II one of the largest meeting.
ever held in Kansas took place in Thayer.
Neosho county. Fully seven thousand of
the settlers on the Usage ceded lands
which comprise Neosho and Labette coun-
ties, gathered on that occasion TO devise
means for concerted resistance TO the
lahd grabhers who are endeavoring To
seize their homes.
The ceded lands consist Of tract thirty
by hity miles in extent, ceded to the United
States by treaty made with the Usage
Indians in 1865 The United states agreed
to pay the Indians $500, 900; and it was pro-
vided that these lands were to be surveyed
ana sold under the direction of the Sccre-
tary of the Interior on the most advnu-
tageous terms for cash, ns public lands are
sold anu surveyed under existing laws.
but that prciimption claims OF homestead
settlements should not be recognized. The
object Of selling the lands was to provide n
civilization fund for the Osagcs, and the
money realized from their sale "on the
most advantageous terms" after paving
expenses Of the survey and sales, and reim-
bursting the $500, 900 advanced by the Gov
ernment, was to be applied 10 the purchase
OF farm stock and implements as u means
FOR the civilization OF the tribe
In lSbi ana lsGJ Congress made grants Of
public lands to the Leayenworth. LAW
renee and Galveston, and the Missouri.
Kansas and Texas Railroad companies
and with characteristic rccklessness gave
some OF the same land TO both companies
As the two corporations could not own the
same property they were given patents for
odd and even sections of the ceded lands
as indemnity, Notwithstanding that the
terms of the treaty with the Indians pro.
vidcd that the lands should only be sold
Tor cash on the most advantageous terms,
and notwithstanding that the treaty also
provided that the railroad companies
should have right of way through the
lands, but no more.
No lands of this tract were claimed by
the railroads until 1869, when Congress
opened them up for settlement, In the
mean time -, 49, acres had been entered
and paid for "nder "a provision of the
treaty 81 1865, which provided for pre-
e.nption rights to settlers living on the
lands at the time Of making that treotv
In addition TO this over 800, 900 acres have
~ -" 'A''i'' uhucT tHe provisions OF the
J"lht resolution Of 1863, opening the land
Tor sottlcment the settlers on these lands
also having made the payments required
by law. The eIuigrants who have taken
up these lands and converted them from a
wilderness into a thriving agricultural
country, acted in good faith in all respects.
ana have clear utle TO their farms. But
the railroad companies now come in and
claim the improved property Of thes.
pioneers as theirs under their patents.
In the war which has been made ON the
farmers Of the ceded lands the railroad
companies, as usual, have had the support
oi tie Land Oni0e Ring and also of subor-
dmate Rings in Kansas. Some of the set
hers who had taken up their claims prior
to the regular United States survey, after
"ard changed their original claim lines 10
make them correspond with the lines of
the Government survey, whereupon Uni
ted states land officers instituted prose
cu'ions against them for perjury. Thou
sahds or people were threatened with
nh Sorts oil terrors If they did not abandon
'he!I iarms to the railroad companies, aud