San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-01-25
MEAT ON THE HOOP.
The Great Cattle Range In the Indian Territory
Special Correspondence Of the dob'Dem'era''

The Gr.at Cattle Range In the Indian Territory
sn..i.l coyrs.nond.nee OF the alobe-Demsorat
WsmrA, KAN, January o, 1855
The late order issued from Washing
ton by Indian Commissioner Prce 10
the Government Agent Tufts, at Mus
kogee, /. r., warningall white herders
ranging in the Cherokee outlet to re-
move their stock within twenty days
has caused no little CONSERVATION
among cattle men in this section, a
large number of whom reside III tins
city, and have herds running INTO
the thousands on the Cherokee STRIP
1t is a fact that Major Drum, Mr..
Tuttle and other heavy dealers and
owners of cattle in the Indian
Territory, having first perfected
arrangements with the head men
and chiefs of certain Indian tribes,
have gone to great expence and fenced
large areas of lands belonging to GER
tain reservations, converting the same
into immense pasture fields. mat IN
these fields enormous herds of cattle
are being held. AS sample OF the
extent of the fenced acres IN the Ter
ritory, your correspondent being tins
fall with party of gentlemen in the
Indian Territory on a hunting expedl-
ton: The party entered the eastern
gates of pasture field at 8 o'clock IN
the morning, and travelling westward
during the day passed through the
western gates at o'clock in the even
ing, and yet this is only one of several
large pasture fields in the Indian Ter
ritory. 1t is said that Major Drum
alone has sixty miles Of fence. The
fences are built of cedar posts and
three stran of barbed wire. The cattle
business of the Indian Territory has
grown to immense proportions, there
being at present no less than 2OO,OOo
head of cattle on the range. 1t is al
so source of considerable revenue to
the Indians, who charge what is called
the Indian tax" of so cents per head
per annum on all cattle ranged IN the
Territory, the tax being payable to the
tribe on whose reservation the cattle
are ranged. The late trouble seems
to be entirely with the Cherokees.
The complaint as to the fencing OF
lands is said to have originated from
one Phillips, formerly of Kansas, who
now resides in Washington d. g., and
claims to be the attorney for the Cher
okee tribe of Indians. 1t seems, how
ever that Phillips relations with the
Cherokees are not altogether harmo-
NOUS, as Chief Busby has lately
reduced Phillips annual salary from
$4,000 to $4,000 per annum. When
let alone the Cherokees are a quiet
and well disposed tribe, about half
civilized, in fact as much SO as is pos
sible to civil1ze any Indian tribe, and
on the revenues given by the Govern
ment and the annual taxmoney de-
rived from cattle men, get along very
nicely. Certain meddlesome parties,
however, insist in keeping them dis
turbed. The cattle business of the
Indian Territory from a small begin
ming of afew years ago has now grown
to immense proportions. Instead of
being discouraged and hampered by
the Government, it should be encour
aged and protected in every possible
manner. The great Territory range is
now one of the great meat centers of
the world, and yet it is only in its in
fancy. For this business the Territory
presents great natural advantages
soil, climate, nourishing grasses and
water in abundance. The government
al policy is entirely wrong. Call back
the "melish," and give the cattle men
q chance.