Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-02-14


& Santa Fe railroad runs along the
banks OF the Kansas river, and the
rough banks in many places cut of
all view of the cultivated lands, yet
an occasional glance may be had OF
them. and there may be seen splen-
did farms in the highest state OF cul-
tivation. A sight may here be wit
messed that was a very common one
in Illinois twenty years ago, and that
is square rail pens filled high with
golden corn. Many OF these may be
seen along the Kansas Valley, the
reason for keeping it on hand so long
being assured by the numerous herds
OF corn fed cattle which may be seen
on every farm.
Approaching Topeka the lands be-
come more level and on west OF that
city they are the splendid rolling
lands, rich and fertile, that crafty
the eye of the intelligent farmer. Fiji
teen miles beynd Topeka and you are
in the heart of the Pottowattomie re-
serve lands. That such fine country
as this appears, and so near to the
capitol OF the State should be so
sparsely settled may seem surprising
to the visitor. But the reason is
found in the fact that here a tract
OF land thirty miles square was re-
tanned by the tribe of Indians which
its name now bears. Many OF them
have until recently occupied these
lands. And as result settlers have
been Obliged to occupy adjoining lands
But by the terms Of a treaty these
lands are now offered for sale.
The United States, in accordance
with the treaty Of 1868 with the Pot
towattomie Nation, sold to the A, T.
& s. F. r. r. Co. the greater portion
OF this reserve; and the company has
paid for 1t in full, and patents have
been issued to the company for said
lands. (These are ow on record in
the different counties in which the
lands lie.) Early in 1869 they were
placed upon the market by the CON-
pany, and they continued to sell rap
idly until 1S70-71. when the company
had completed its railroad south
westerly into its land grant lands.
AS yet there were few settlements In
that country, and little business for
the railroad to do; hence 1t became
the policy OF the company to devote
its energies to the settlement and de-
velopment OF that country. in order
to create business for its road; and,
incidentally, it drew all attention
from the Pottowattomie reserve
lands, and virtually withdrew them
from market.
The trustees who new have the dis
position OF these lands for the COM
pany, have determined to again place
them upon the market, and dispose
Of them as rapidly, and close up the
business as soon, as possible; and
to this end, they have placed them at
such low prices that they think that
persons wishing to purchase land In
the west, will, upon seeing these and
their advantages, avail themselves of
the opportunity to buy such desirable
lands for so little money.
The Indians have, for the last four
or five years, been passing away"
"down SOUTH" into the Indian coun-
try, where they have selected their
new homes, aud now all have gone,
except few quiet halfbreeds, and In
turn their places are being rapidly
occupied by intelligent, enterprising,
industrious, moral citizens, who not
only have the advantages of the
weelth OF rich soil, healthy air. pure
water, and lasting fuel, that nature
has lavished upon the reserve, but
they have also the advantages OF the
railroads, the schools, the churches,
and the society that have been
brought into and about the reserve
by the enterprise andl energies OF the
people who have been for twenty
years settling and accommodating
around 1t.
Hardly, indeed, has the light step
of the Indian ceased to fall upon the
grass, until the pressure OF the pres
ent new conner is felt upon the soil;
yet he is within easy reach of old and
well-established churches and society,
and almost within sight OF the largest
and most fiourishing colleges and
seminaries in "the rising State OF the
West" He Is at or within an hours
drive, Of station on one Of the great
railroads OF the country, aud within
one to five hours drive OF the depot
OF another as great, and within one
to five hours drive OF the centre of
railroad competition to all points east
and west. Thus, while the settler on
the reserve is emphatically in a new
country, he is decidedly within the
fully developed civilization OF an old
country.
With these advantages the new &C.
cupants will soon fill the reserve with
thrifty, happy homes, especially as
hey can buy the land at least as