Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-04
Leasing the Strip.
0udian Chiaffaipl

We are reliably informed of offers be-
ing on hand for the leasing of the land
lying west Of 50, and it is quite likely
the matter may be presented to Council
at its called session 10 see what the
opinion of the Cherokee people may be.
1t is understood the Secretary of the
Interior will endorse leases for five
years or under in case The Cherokees
see fit to grant them! Now the dtres-
ton is, is it wise for the Cherokees to
do do so? viii they gain in anywayP
viii they lose in anyway If they
lease the land they can get at least
$4,000 year instead of 81, 600 the best
figure of the past. They win financial
iy gain at least $4,000 year and lose
the jealousy existing against those who
have had the profits of collecting under
the old law.
They will gain strong friends in the
Western CatSlemen, friends the strong
est OF all, the friends of self-interest.
who win labor to keep out the SQUAT
tiers and timber thieves for their cattles
sake. Our interests are the same as
the interest Of the cattlemen and if the
squatter and timber thief is kept out
we are greatly the gamers. We gain
protection of our property.
The influences of the millions invest
ed III cattle are strong enough i'm Wash
ington to ensure what seems to be al
ready the policy of the U. s. Govern
ment to-wit: The settlement of no
more friendly Indians on these lands.
If this can be done the operation of the
18th Article of the Treaty of 1865 can
be removed by act of Congress and we
can secure undisputed and absolute
possession in fee of these lands. We
can sell them for $500 an acre in that
event instead Of for Al cents. We can
get $50, ,000, 900 instead of being refused
50, ,OOO, 600 which would be a clear gain
of over 81 900 apiece to every man, wo-
man and child in the Cherokee Nation.
If it IS deemed wise to sell it this is
the plan to secure good price. If we
wish to settle it ourselves this is the on
ly feasible way of getting it in our un-
conditional possession in order that we
can do so. Leasing it will settle the
pasture business and remove the jeal
ousy existing against those who have
made pastures there. Many people Sc
riously think the pastures a wrong al
though not forbidden by law and con-
denim them. 1t is well to remove this
objection and restore good feeling by
using the land so it will be of equal ben
eft to the whole people.
Indian Chieftain.l
The special session of the Cherokee
Council will take up this matter, and
there is not much doubt but that it will
be permanently settled by the leasing Of
the whole country. Chief Bushyhead,
IN his message, we have ON good au-
thority, will recommend such bill for
a period of not more than five nor less
than one year, the leases to be made to
few responsible parties or companies
who will deem the privilege of enough
value to pay for it. They too hiv. the
privilege of re-letting or using the land
in any way they see fit, or to erect fenc-
es or other improvements they think
necessary, but at the end of the term
of years such improvements to revert to
the Cherokee Nation. With these i'm
provements the Cherokees would be
able to make still better leases for the
next term of years. Payment will be
required every six months in advance,
and the U. S. troops will be expected to
escort out any party who feels disposed
to 60 back on his word.
This, Mr.. Bushyhead thinks, fills the
requirements of the case; the preserva-
tion of timber, an increase in the reven-
ue, and he also thinks that it will meet
with the approval of the Secretary at
Washington. The friends Of this plan
are confident that it will pass without
difficulty.