The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-21
Oklahoma.


rights and wrongs of the recent at
tempt of colonists to settle in Okla
homa, it is manifestly right and to
the interest of both nation and colon.
lists that these lands, among the most
favored in the union, should be given
to the pillow and made into substan-
tial settlements. The yielding of the
cOlonists to the governmental author
tiles was, under the circumstances,
right, but it settled nothing, and no
matter what the immediate result
may be, it is only question of very
short time before this magnificent
country will be thrown open to settle
ment. It is often asked, "What is
Oklahoma ~ and now would seem a
fitting time to give to our readers a
brief description Of this district.
Oklahoma is in itself small state,
and comprises some $780, 900 acres of
choice land. 1t lies West of the Pot
tawatomie, Seminole, Sac and Fox
Reservations in the Indian Territory,
and South of the Cherokee Reserva-
ton, its North line being nearly par
allel to and distant from the South
line of Kansas some 81 miles. 1t ex-
tends South to the Red river, and
West to New Mexico. Originally be-
longing to the Creek Indians, but by
treaty made with the United States.
August 7, 1856, it was conveyed to
the Seminoles. During the late war,
both the Seminoles and Creeks took
part with and aided the confederacy,
and at the close of the rebellion, OW-
ing to this disloyalty, the United
States declared the former treaties
null and void, and new treaties were
made with all the Indians. On March
81, 1866, the Seminoles, by treaty,
coded to the United States the Okla
homa lands, which then became
part of the public domain. The Origi-
nal treaty, which was annulled on the
ground of treason, provided that no
disposition should be made of these
lands without the consent of both
parties, and contemplated their per-
petual use as an Indian Reservation.
Still following the spirit of that treaty
after the letter has been declared void,
the United States has hitherto eX-
cluded settlers from the Oklahoma
lands, although by an act of Congress
(lS7S) the further settlement of In
dams thereon has been positively
prohibited. All unoccupied land at
the date of this last act, should, by
legitimate construction, now be open
for settlement.
"There are now before Congress
several bills asking the right of way
through Oklahoma and other por-
tions of the Indian Territory, for as
many railroads, which will most
likely be granted. By an act of Sep
TENDER, 1871, the granting of this
right entities presumption right forty
miles on either side of the road, SUBJ
ject to sundry restrictive provisions.
The pressure of civilization and COM
merce demands the opening of these
lands to settlement.
These lands have been surveyed, as
the reports of the land Office show,
into townships, sections, and quarter
sections. 1t has rich, black soil sus-
ceptible of easy cultivation streams
run through the whole country every
four or FIVE miles; the climate is
everything that can be desired, in.
surfing a varied growth of cereals and
vegetables, and is suited for the ex'
tensive raising of fruit. 1t is full Of
fine walnut and oak timber. The
died grass, self-cuYed, stands four feet
high, furnishing rich nutritious pas
turage the year around, and affordine
in itself ample feed for all kinds o
, stock. Traces of coal are found, anC
=. stone and gypsum exist in abund
, ance. The timber grows along thu
f streams, and magnificent natura
groves dot the prairies, which resem
} BILE the Grand Prairie of Illinois il
character of soil. Every description
/ ofgame abounds, bear, turkey, grous
4 ANV
r and their bottoms are practically in
Q exhaustible.
| Those who have attempted to settl
q on these lands are simply citizens {
Q Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansa
i. and other states, who desire to bette
1 their condition.
n The movement of these settlers II