National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-11-30
INDIAN TERRITORY RAILWAYS
Through che Cherokee CouHtry-Whai
the Monopotists Are amer.


IL is well known in certain speculative
circles that powerful lobby representing certain
railroad monopolies win visit Washington this
winter with positive orders to push legislation
through Congress ut the present session incorpor-
ating new railroads in the Indian Territory, grant
Ing away their lands, and strengthening the two
existing railroads In their old grants This Is but
renewal Of the efforts in the same direction last
winter, when such bill passed the House but
failed In the Senate. This lobby will press this
legislation upon Congress upon the ground that
the commercial necessities Of the country demand
new railroads through the Cherokee country
and must have them; that the Cherokees have
siubbornly refused TO open up new avenues Of
transportation through their country, therefore
Congress- lcgislating for the whole people and all
the States and Territories Of the Union, must pro-
vide for new railroads through that Territory to
meet the demands Of trade The orders to forrs
this legislation through have no uncertain mean
ing, nor will the means be lacking to enforce an
demands against the
RIGHTS AND LANDS OF THE cHERoKEEs.
The old Atlantic and Pacific now the 81. Louis
and San Francisco Railroad, claim under their act
ofincorporation an immense body Of lands in the
Cherokee domain which has never been recog-
nized by those Indians or the Interior Department.
The efforts which have heretofore been made
aud will be made again this winter-are TO induce
Congress TO lcgislate in such way MS 20 ultimately
enaDe tn1S ROAD, as well rs inc missouri, Kansas
aud Texas road, to get into the courts and assert
their right TO the lands in that Territory, which
they claim were granted them by Congress and
which they have attempted 10 mortgage. These
lands would be worth millions of dollars to these
corporations 4 they could perfect their claim or
title to them, but this can only be accomplished
| through congressional legislation.
AS APPEARS BY THE CHEROKEE ADVOCATE"
| the powerful influences of tn Missouri Pacific are
At work among the CheTokces ostcnsibly TO secure
right of way for new railroads, but this Is n blind
/ 10 miSpn1 the Indiana tlpfr n 70
made in such way and coupled with such con-
ditons that they know the ChCrokces viii reject
them but this Is the object. In fact, II Is known
| that they do not want the Cnerokees to take any
action whatever. The logic of all this Is that these
railroad managers wish TO be able 70 goio Congress
this winter and say that, 20 meet the commercial
| demands OF the West aud Southwest, we asked the
Cherokees to allow us TO open routes of trans
| portation through their country, but they stub
| borny refused to do so, and now We ask Congress
| TO open these routes Upon presenting such argu-
meits, and with the forces they are bringing TO
bear to secure this legislation, Congress will com
ply with their demands, and then the companies
named will be in position to shape legislation to
enable them to proceed in the courts 10 secure the
lands they claim aud have tried to mortgage on the
lines already built. According to the 1dp0cdte the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas road alone claims
| % 100000 acres OF the Indian lands.
THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF OF THE cHERoKEEs
Hon. d. W. Bushyhead, in his annual message
To the Indian Legislature, urged the necessity of
| ened by outside railroad corporations. and now
the Cherokee Legislature, TO the CONSERVATION OF
the monopolists, propose
TO INCORPORATE THEIR OWN COMPANIES,
which the best legal minds concede they have the
power to do and TO retain in the act ofneorporaton
the right to regulate aud control them far as to
Protect their nation and people against oppression
aud also prevent the roads from contributing to
| the present system Of railroad monopOles which
| now threaten almost the life of the Republic, by
| absolutely forbidding their consolidation with
other companies or lines.
THE OPPONENTS OF RAILWAY MoNoPoLIEs
will watch with interest to whether the Chero-
KEGS have the wisdom 10 understand that the perils
which surround them, and that by incorporating
their own companies with the conditions and re-
| strictions named they not only satisfy the great
commercial necessities Of the country In providing
| for new avenues of transportation through their
| Territory and thus defeat the corrupt schemes of
rich railroad corporations TO conilscate their prop
| cry and treat their people as Migrants, but they
preserve their national life aud take from Congress
every prete2t to enter upon legislation disturbing
their rights and property. The trade OF the
| country demands new routes through the Indian
Territory and If the Cherokees refuse to provide for
them there is but little doubt that Congress will
take the matter. in hand and provide for such
| routes at an early day.