The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-11-25
THE osAoE INDIANS.
Uuquesti0nably the wealthiest Tribe Of
Red Men In the United states.

Unsuestionably the weaithiest Tribe Of
Red Men In the United states.
The Usage is the wealthiest tribe Of
Indians in che United States. This 10
due not so much to their personal ability
as financiers as to succession of favor
able circumstances, and to the good
guardianship Of the United States Gov
ernment. The Osages long years ago
occupied the country about st. Louis.
They were removed from there to a
reservation at Westport, Mo-. near
Kansas City, then to the valley of the
Neosho, then to reservation in South
ern Kansas. and finally to their present
home in Indian Territory. The Osages
were powerful tribe and to get them
off of coveted lands Uncle Sam seems
to have been willing to pay them more
literally than the other wards of the
Nation. In this way the Osages have
come into their present possessions,
which include tract Of land in Indian
Territory fifty miles square, or about
100, 900 acres, and an annuity of
$3.50. 200. This is the interest on United
States bonds given them in exchange
for their former lands in Kansas and
Missouri and held in trust by the Gov
ernment, which pays the annuity in
semi annual payments. There are about
400 families, averaging about four to
q family-a total of about 1900 people.
Out of this interest fund the Indians
draw S165 year for each man. woman
and child-so that the larger his family
the more the head of family is enabled
to draw. This system would appar-
emily foster rapid increase of popula-
ton, but. strange to say, the full
blood Indians are decreasing in num-
bers. The full-blood families are
small and the tribe is doomed to ex.
tinction. This is probably due to two
causes-the changed physical condition
ton as race. The wild Indian was a
fine specimen of robust physical de-
velopment, with great enduring
powers. He could face any storm,
brave the most vigorous weather,
endure the tolls and privations of the
march and the camp. Nature, soma.
how. took care of him, healed hi:
wounds and warded off disease. But
now, taken from his "native heath
cut off from much that was part of his
physical existence, his territory cir
cumscribed. compelled by superior
force to keep the peace with neighbor
ing tribes, coaxed to adont the habits
the food, the customs and the dress o
the white man. compelled to send hi
children to school, and too Otter
tempted to ad opt the white mans vice.
with all these changed conditions h
Is changed being. As he has deserted
Nature. Nature now deserts him. HI
is more susceptible to disease. Th,
wild Indian could be careless in dres
and Indifferent to exposure, but on tn,
reservation it is different. If he get
his feet wet or sleeps on the ground HI
is liable to "catch cold' like his whit
brother They are subject to lun.
troubles. Some are consumptive
This and the smallpox and other dis
eases are decimating their ranks, Tel
years ago there were 5000 Osages; to
day only little over half that mum
ber. The mothers die prematurely
You find comparatively few old sluaws
The tribe being rich as a community
very few of the men will work. The
live in idleness. and that is fatal to
longevity based upon active out-doo
| life,-COr, BurLiu0kOn HuWkeNe.