, 1879-05-18
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.

Col. G. e. Smith, OF the Nineteenth Infantry,
who has been detailed to Investigate the extent
and location Of the movement into the Indian
Territory, has made the following report:
WINFIELD, Kas., May al have the honor to
viii telegraph my arrival, wa Wichita, and will
mike my written report continuous with that Of the
9th inst. remained in Codesyille until Wednes-
day morning. May Z, and obtained but very little
information there. The place IS Of but little con-
sequence, and but little or no interest was mani
tested the Subject Of emigration to the Indian
to Independence, Kas. {the same trip
by cars would have taken fourteen hours),
On The day appointed tor the big s1Sdas @ under Tue
people in town. and there appeared to be no emf
grafton Of any kind through or from the town
fmdependepce Is m enterprising ambitious town.
and has contributed largely to rhc recent newspaper
excitement, with view 10 business as htting-o out
pnaeii pppoeia@ston and recent action. all parties With
whom talked on this subject agreed that the
scheme had been completely abandoned aud that
affirmed that some small parties had already
gone to the Indian Territory under misapprehcn-
sion, believing that the Government would event
ualy protect rather than oppose them, but, finding
themselves without any Following, would be COM
pcled to leave the country, and find homes else
where.
Thursday, May 8. 7 left Independence by stage
across the country about loo miles to this point,
passing through the towns OF Elk City. klk Falls
and many others. Ine country II quite tllEkJ BEL
tied the entire distance, and, being OF the line OF
raiIroad and telegraph communications, the people
were not so well informed in regard to the meas
ures adopted to prevent emIgrAtion-
At nearly every place some were reported to
have gone and others were tulking OF going, but In
no case did there seem to be any intention Of op-
posing the Government by force. took special
pains to inform the people Of the Presidents proc
lanlation, and the recent measures adopted. Every
person with whom have talked thus far has ex-
pressed the opinion that no further efforts to form
Settlements in the Indian country are to be made OF
would be made. To resume, probably 200 or 3C0
people from the localities have visited have gone
into the Indian Territory and, as they have no fol-
fled to do 60.
may find the people III this district {W1chfta,
Winfield. and Arkansas City more daring and de-
flant. However that may be, believe TINT tbs
bcst way Is to arrest the intru1ers and bring them
out. I believe that the arrest and expulsion OF one
party would be more effective than pickettng the
southern line OF Kansas al simmer. will add
that only very small parties from different points
we're reported to have gone; the information was
never definite and no name were given, but the In
formation was Of the nature Of general news. as
far as can find ont from reports the TWO principal
routes appear to have been directly south from In
dependence and through or near Arkansas City
This report confirms the belief current at the
military headquarters In this city that the whole
movement has been originated by interested
traders and stage companies. The whole bur-
den Of the news received up to date confirms
this belief, and dispc1s tie idea, which gained
considerable ground ut Washington, that there
was determined and bona fde settlement In
the Indian country.