Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-25


| WAsHIsGToN, Feb 4.--On the 18th OF January
| Representative McRae OF Arkansas referred 20
the commissioner OF the general land flee q
copy Of circular purpOTting 10 DO Issued by
the ''TeNas Oklahoma Homestead colony, DeDl
| son, Texas inviting membership In the "col
oDy" at fee OF 81 each, aud promising TO
secure homcsteads I'm Oklahoma FOR memhere
as soon as a land Office shOuld be established
| there. Mr.. McRae requested the commission
| er's opinion as 70 when ,he lands would be
\ open to settlement, and A. TO the benehts 70
! accrue TO members of the alleged cOlOny.
In reply Commissioner SPARKS gives history
of the Oklahoma lands, and states that the
question Of opening these lands 70 ettlemcnt
! inyoives q question OF grave import--that of 4
/ Acknowledgement OF the indian Tcrritory--and
can be determined only by congressional action
dIut have very positive opinion that no
heneht can be derived from membership ~
the alleged 'cOlony.' II the lands we're ope 9ed
| for settlement the agents Of tbs colony could
not make settlement, location ana entries tog
| the members because settlements ana settle
ment ent les can only be made by settlers ~
| person. But as the lands are not open 70 set
! Element the formation OF an actuhl Organization
for the purpose Of going into the Oklahoml
I country would be engaging IN En unlawful com
! binatiOn. AS a prospective scheme, the only
tangible result that can be perceived IL TIC OBJ
| tainment By It's alleged promoters OF " IRON
eaehperson who may be deceived ana Imposed
! upon by said circular The whole scheme y
unduubted y an Imposition, and dangor0ut
one, because the small sum required Tor mem
/ beTship mas induce largo numbers OF nnsNs
I
As we understand that it takes an aei
Of congress to give US title 20 our home
stea6s Ia Oklahoma we will not differ
/ with Commissioner Sparks on that bot
4 be farther SAYS; "Hut have very posi-
tive opinion that no benefit can be de-
rived from membership Ia the alleged
cOiony.r When the gentleman IN qaes
4 tion reads this monthly report t9ud
\ shall send him q copy) II he don't admit
that he was unsusplciously auped into
giving that opinion shall be mistaken
nave lust sent TO tue authorities ~
Washington circular Of the soidlers
colony Of Illinois With the governor anc
other state officers and senator's az refer
ences They propose to get homestead
and stsrl town and charge Il ciiiaen $2i
- join aud give him TWO lots. Now an
satisfied that going IN that colony " bet
ter than going alone. WAS Union s0ldie
myself l did my duty, was honofaDll
discharged they did no more. Now Their
lis one Of two things In regard TO onr col
ony. /, the real promoter Of this aliegel
colony, have either spent Ave month
time and hundreds Of dollars Of my ow
rooney 10 cheat some smart, intelligen
people out Of two dollars apiece, OF els
have laid the foundation Of the grendea
! homestead coloDy in America, 10 spite Q
the abuse 1 have taken. ] say II Is tn
latter, and ] defy any man 70 say dlftei
ent and tell Abe trutn This "a a danger
Gus scheme TO cattlemen ard Spectator
who are trying 70 control DklahomE, an
. no one else. we have m.ade mistakes an
corrected them Is soon ~ brought % on