Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-02-16


thousands Of dollars, to this Ma
tion, in taxes justly due. And is
not fencing the most universally
accepted and approved method in
the civilized United States to guard
estates from the trcspass of rnan
and animals? Why shddid the
use of that method bo forbid4gu 70
Indians2 and their mea1e II aelf
protection, for which they have
the example of their white broth
era, ordered to be demolished o.
removed, aud themselves, though
acknowledged to be the owners Of
the soil, compelled to leave their
estate exposed 70 the capacity or
indifference of neighbour?
It would seem that it ought not
! to be considered necessary to de-
scribe the highly important uses
and advantages Of so common and
well understood an instrument of
protection AZ fence. But in the
case of the Indians of this Terri
tory fences are more than usually
servicable. 1t must be remember
ed that no penal law exists te de-
tor white men from stealing Indian
property in timber. Though the
o. S. government has pledged 70
this Tribe protection sgainst dep
relation and intrusion by citizens
Of the o. g., applications have been
made in vain by our Delegates to
Washington for the passage Of >
law for the purpose, and which the
experience Of ths General govern
ment has found to b amply effec-
tive to preserve its own timber.
The consequence has been that the
loss which has been sustained by
this Nation from depredations on
the scanty and proportionably val
uable supply Of growing timber,
south of the Kansas limo Il ssry
great. A strong and durable fence
erected along tho border, and 9TH
ers enclosing the timber within
pastures guarded BY the stoekmen,
who BY the same means guard
their stock, il found 10 b An s6ss-
txal oSssaeis to such timber steal
ing, and hence, no doubt. the Bit
ter opposition from certain quar-
ters TO these fences. AZ TO the
posts required for the fence build.
ing, mo one at al acquainted with
the matter win deny that the value
Of the timber pressvsd by such
means will be many times the val
ne of the timber used to make the
means OF preservation.
/. Not only does that fact of the
opca and ssposcd range incito to
dspredations on our timber, but
the same fact has given rise TO =
gross and grievous imposition in
the matter of stock belonging to
residents of the Kansas border.
Thousands upon thousands have
been driven across into tho Chero-
kee country 10 uso ttAlUBs range
stockmen under permit have paid
for, and thus . great annoyance
and injury have been inflicted up
on the Nation TO which not a cent
Of tax is paid by the Kansas resi-
dents) and upon the stockmea
whose herds are thereby scattered
and confused. The legitimate OBJ
jcct and use of fence is to pre-
vent just such impesitons, and
the fences complained Of do that.
The imposition was very extended
and rapidly growing, and il u not
surprising that those who are thus
cut off from the free use Of Indian
lands, and nre compelled by the
fencing done to pay the Indian, a.
we'll as the white men for stock
feed, should complain, il they inn
agins they will obtain thereby,
directly or indirectly, the sympa-
thy of their government. Tho In !
dams should be encouraged TO take |
any legitimate means Of stopping |
this sort Of intrusion upon their |
rights.
tis q kind of intrusion and I'm
position which II encouraged and
by the General govern
ment will certainly result in max |
ing = large part Of their decided
lands valuelcss and improbable to |
the Indian owners OF win result in |
causing . collision between the In
dian who wants 70 secure the value
Of his property to himself, and the
white neishbor who 49, hat value |