Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-23

Dispatches were, at the same time, sent
to the general commanding this military di-
| vision, requesting him to station IN adj
equate cavalry force at some point on the
southern line of Kansas. On the LIST of July
receiving dispatch calling for arms and
ammunition, and stating that the settlers in
southwestern Kansas were greatly alarmed
I again called the attention of the genera
commanding this military division, to the
reports received. In response General An.
CUR, under date of July I'd, advised me thai
an ample force had been, or soon would be
concentrated in the territory. In reply
urged that SO long as the Cheyennes were
well supplied with arms and ammunition
they would continue to be standing menace
! southwestern Kansas, and suggested that they
| be disarmed.
Alarming reports continued to be received
| and on the evening of July It'll, the sheriff
of Kingman county telegraphed me that
people were pouring into the town of King
man from the western part of that county,
and from Pratt county, seeking safety from
the Indians; and that reliable parties from
Pratt county had brought reports from the
south to the effect that Indians had invaded
the state were burning everything in theiI
pathway, and had killed several people.
Similar reports were at the same time re-
,eiyed from railroad officials at Wichita and
and kingman.
Immediately forwarded these dispatches
to General Augur, urging him to send every
available soldier at once to the scene OF the
reporte outbreak. All arms and ammuni-
! ton in the state armory were sent that night
! TO exposed points. General Augur promptly
responded to my request, and two battallOns
of United States troops, one from Fort Leav-
enworth and one from Fort Riley, were
started next morning for the southwest
They took post near Kiowa, in Barber county,
and at the crossing of the Cimmaron, fur
Their west, where they remained several
months.
The reports OF an Indian invasion proved
| to be without foundation. This fact was as
certained on the 9Th, and made public. But
the widespread alarm and panic created by
| the sensational stories of an Indian raid,
caused thousands of peaceful, industrious
people to abandon their homes, their crops
! and stock, and fly to the nearest towns for
protection.
l have. since this panic, called the atten-
| ton of the president, the secretary OF war,
and our congressional delegation, to the
necessity for establishing m litary posts on
| the southwestern border of Kansas. The ma
tional government has located, in the Indian
territory, large numEe 5 of turbulent, savage
and discontented Indians, and it is its plain
duty to provide al ample military force to
restrain THESE 1uuldllS Wltlllu illC
of the territory. The state OF Kansas should
not be expected to maintain standing
army in order to protect its borders from in
vasion by Indians, and give its citizens as
surance of safety. So long as the Indians
are where they are, and what they are, the
borders of Kansas are exposed to their at
tacks, and the people of the southwest are
liable, at any time, to such panic as that
of last July, with its resulting demorallZa-
ton, losses and suffering.
The state, in my judgment, should de-
mand that military posts be established on
our southwestern line, not only to guard our
borders against Indian raids, but to give our
citizens full assurance of protection.
The United States government ought to
Gisarm the Indians. There is no good rea-
son why savage tribes, who delight in rapine
and murder. Should be armed as if they con
stituted military force in time of actual
war. The Indians do not need arms fol
their own protection; they use them, if at all,
only to wage war against one another, or to
assaii, plumber and murder peaceful citizens.
The experiment of educating and civilizing
the Indians will never succeed until their
tribal relations are broken up, and they are
disarmed. So long as an Indian is permitted
to carry gun, he will not take hold of the
plow.
FINANCIAL.
On the oath of March last received, from
Hon. S. j. Crawford, the states agent at
Washington, drafts on the United States
treasury aggregating $685., 3OS.l3 appro-
prlated by congress "for reimbursement to
certain states and territories for expenses in
repelllng invasions and suppressing Indian
hostilities." In transmitting this money,
Governor Crawford informed me that the
appropriation by congress did not include
payment for any of the Price-raid claims.
lin fhoco PC 7 al; <hov,
to the state treasurer, taking his receipt
therefor. Chapter 160, laws of 1881, enacts
"that upon the receipt of any money by the
state treasurer from the United States, in
payment of the claims of the state for which
state bonds have been issued, it shall be the
duty of the state treasurer to place the
amount or amounts so received to the credit
OF the state bonds SO issued, save and except
such sum as may be appropriated for the
payment of Price-raid claims"
AS no portion of the 1882, 3O8. $50 received
was appropriated for the payment of price
raid Claims" the state treasury placed $685.
5OO, covering the bonds issued under the
provisions of chapter 70, laws of 1866, chapter
"a, laws of 1868, chapter 6, 7, and 8, laws of
1863, and chapter 113, laws of 1875, to ''the
credit of the sinking fund" The balance
of the amount, $49, sos. ID, was placed in the
general revenue fund.
1t was known, prior to the adjournment of
your last session, that congress had appro- |
priated the sum of $685., 309. IL to pay certain
claims of the state, and in the estimates
made of the amount of tax necessary to pro- |
vide revenue for the fiscal year ending June |
3Oth, 1885, and June 30th, 1887 and this fact |
was considered, while the requirements |
of chapter 160. laws of 1881, seem to have !
been overlooked.
1t will be necessary, therefore. to transfer i
the amount placed in the sinFiv- fund, un-
der the provisions of chapter 100, laws of
1881, to the general revenue fund. And in
making this transfer, would recommend
the repeal Of the law referred to. Only $685.
900 of the outstanding bonds of the state are
now held by individuals or corporations, and
81, 900 of these, falling due in June next,
are already provided for in the tax levies
made. The following statement shows the
amount of state bonds outstanding, the years
when the same mature, and the proportion
held by state funds and by individuals or
u.,a b. Held by It,,
vp.p u ~ individuals Ao1A
State fnrds or corpo- A-,o,,t
S'''0 A rations hAioun''
1885. ......... ........... $4,000 $4,000
1887. S15,5OO ............ 1880
1885,. ..... $1,000 l $1,000
1890 81 On T'OO0