Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-07
Prepared make Special Prices . A.


nnds held by the Indian Tribes" and
that "lidinn tribes cannot lease their
reservations without the authority Of
some law OF the United Stptes,n
The alleged leases being thus held 10
bc without warrant of law, aud nv their
existence upon the Cheyenne and Arapaho
reservations had been found TO he the
main cause of the complaints of those
Indians, the president, after full consid-
GRAFTON of the natter declared them void
and OF no effect, aud demanded that all
unauthorized persons upon that rcserva-
ton, including the cattlcmcn with their
herds Of cattle, should remove there.
from, aud he accordingly Issued his proc
lnmntlon on July ~, 1855, to that effect
now have the satisfaction To state that
the reservation ~ entirely free from cat
tlcmen and thuir herds.
The question Ms to whit Is the best and
wlscst course TO pursue relative to these
surplus lands 1T the Indian reservations
not required for the present wants of tho
indians IL one demanding careful aud Sc
rious consideration shall they be left
unemployed and Improbable; or shall
they be utilized and made, IN measure
at least, TO produce some revenue towards
the support OF the lndiansf
If IT. shall lac determined that for the
present It. X for the interest OF the
indians that the reservations shall
be held intact, that the land should be
utilized lor grazing purposes, and that
white men, with their herds OF cattle,
shall b0 permitted 10 occupy large tracts
Of these reservations, n INV should be en-
acted tor That purpose, clear aud comptc-
hcnslvc, fully defining the powers and
duties Of this department IN The matter.
II, however IL shall be- decided that the
welfare of the Indians Ms well AZ tue pub
| lie interests viii best be served by open
Ing the surplus land OF these reserya-
tioua TO public settlement, 1t should be
done In good faith under the general land
laws of the United States.
II the caltlcmen arc permitted 10 go
upon these reservations, aud to hold and
pasture their herds thereon, the business
should he done under proper regulations
and In such manner as to secure n tnir
aud Just compensation fot the privilege
! The money paid therefor should he han
| died by the officers Of the government,
and used Tor the support NJ the indians
aud tholr advancement In civilization
| With my convictions cannot recommend
such legislation. ~ IN In direct contra
ycntiou OF the policy Of keeping the In
dian reservations free from The settle.
ronts OF white men--a policy which, In
my opinion, should be more rigdly en-
forced.
CATTLE TRAILS THnouuu rnE INDIAN
TERRITORY.
! II has been the custom for long time
past for Cattle.ownora holding herds In
the state OF Texas, aud 10 some extent In
the state OF Arkansas, 10 drive portions
OF their herds yearly through the Indian
Territory, over established trails and
other public highways, on route TO North.
ern markets and grazing grounds,
With the adventot the policy OF allow
ing the Indians To lease portions OF their
reservations for grazlng purposes came
trouble and interference with the free
passage OF cattle through the Territory In
pursuit Of the usual channels OF com
hrree, Old established trails and public
highways long used ior the purpose OF
this branch OF Interstate commerce were
closed un by the fences erected by the
respective lessoes, who assumed TO con.
line cattle passing through the Territory
to such trails as they saw NJ TO allow Ia
be- used,
Some slight disturbance occurred In
1891 by reason of the obstruction oi the
passage OF cattle over certain trails run.
| ming through that portion nt the Indian
Territory known as tho "CDorokeo Out.
, lct.n
I Certain facts and circumstances made
IT. necessary for cHttlumon driving
herds northward during the pres.
pnt year TO leave the route
USED last year IN the vicinity Of Fou
supply ana instsud oi proceeding dlrectl,
uorthWard, 10 20 Ia a porthwestcry
direction 30 Ms 10 pass Into aud over thr
, "nUntfal strip or mo Mans Landn
, llyng west Of tlc nChrrokee outlet.r
They found The 0ld.estnhllahcd Indian
/ Trail and highway known as the Cam
supply TRAIL" leading along la Tho
, vicinity OF Beaver greek into the "neuiral
/, strip DISTRACTED not only by the fence,
! nf The alleged lossoes, hut also by mn
/ armed force OF men controlled by said
: lessees, who opposed the passage OF The
cattle over that trail
The owners whose cattle were ON The
drive nosthward appealed 10 this depart
ment 10 take action 20 relieve them from
! the embarrassing situation IN which they
/ we're placed by baglng their herds fofoibly
stopped. An inspector was ordered Il
r proceed 10 the region Of disturhanc,
, to see that the established trails
I and public highways were opened aud kept