The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-11-27
TIE Usage INDIANS.
PROFESSIONALLY the Wealthiest Tribe si
Red Men in the United states.

PROFESSIONALLY the Weaithiest Tribe of
Red Men in the United States.
The Usage is the wealthiest tribe of
Indians in the United States. This is
due not so much to their personal ability
as financiers as to a succession of favor
able circumstances, and to the good
guardianship of the United States Gov
eminent. 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 q 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 9th r wards of the
Nation. In this way the OSages have
come into their present possessions,
which include a tract of land in Ind an
Territory fifty miles square, or about
10000 acres, and an annuity of
S250.O0 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
eminent, which pays the annuity in
semi-annualpayment There are about
400 families averaging about four to
family-a total of about | 500 people.
Out of this interest fund the Indians
draw Sl65 a year for each man. woman
and child-so that the larger his family
tb 40 fbo bo.A 49, g., .1x, e, III
to draw This system would appar-
emily foster a rapid increase of popula-
tior, 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
of their life and the loss of all ambi-
ton as a race. The wild Indian was q
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, some
how, took care of him, healed his
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 neighbour
ing tribes, coaxed to adoDt the habits,
the food, the customs and the dress of
the white man, compelled to send his
children to school, and too often
tempted to adopt the white mans vices
with all these changed conditions he
is changed being. As he has deserted
Nature, Nature now deserts him. He
is more susceptible to disease. The
wild Indian could be careless in dress
and indifferent to exposure, but on the
reservation it is different. If he gets
his feet wet or sleeps on the ground he
is liable to ''catch cold'' like his white
brother. They are subject to lung
troubles. Some are consumptive.
This and the smallpox and other dis
eases are de:imating their ranks, Ten
years AGO there were 5000 Osages; to-
day only little over half that num-
Der. The mothers die prematurelv.
You find comparatively few old s1uaws.
The tribe being rich as community,
very few of the men will work. They
live in idleness, and that is fatal to Il
longevity based upon active outdoor
life.-COr. Burlington HGUkeye.