Wichita eagle., 1888-01-06
WHERE TO PUT THE STRIP.

tached to court jurisdiction 1t Will be
matter requiring some knowledge OF
affairs to decide what state or territory
lines will have to be changed to make
room for the infant sister. The strip Is
too small to become territory all to it
self. The secretary of the interior adj
vises that it be attached to New Mexico.
The better course would be to adopt the
plan of Mr.. Springer, who will propose
to congress the conversion of the reser
vations in the Indian territory lying
west of the five civilized tribes into
public lands and the construction of a
new territory out of them with the neu-
trail strip, or No-Man 's-Land, added.
The Texas Panhandle, the strip and
the western Indian reservation would
make large and populous
territory-one which would have
all the qualifications of statehood in a
few years. 1t would be fertile, varied,
of mild climate and already supplied
with the nucleus of a complete railroad
system. The obstacle of the creation of
this new territory is that Texas would
probably not agree to give up the Pan
handle.
Some of the western Kansas people
have another idea which may bear fruit.
All of Kansas lying west of the Tooth
meridian. a strip from Colorado east of
an extension of the New Mexico line
with No-Man 's-Land and the Texas Pan
handle, would if put together make
fine state. In area it would be about
right-say 200 miles by 100. 1t would
be practically the same kind of land in
all its parts. The grazing and farming in
terests would be in full control. A great
deal of it needs irrigation, but with
irrigation will produce enormously. One
great commanding virtue it would have.
1t would be lasting solid Democratic
state. Eastern Kansas has been devel-
oping marked jealousy of the progress
of the western counties for some reason
and will perhaps be glad to separate.
The Times has more confidence IN the
Springer plan than I'D the others, but
congress NAV not get on fast enough to
cousins of a half dozen other tribes for
will have to be made of the strip, and
anything would be more accepta ole than
to attach it TO New Mexico. Kansas
City Times.
The Times is very considerate Of the
interests and probable wishes or senti-
ments of Texas in the matter of MAX
ing a comparatively small curtailment
of its territory for the accommodation
of the new order of things required by
existing circumstances, but in the next
breath suggests the same eXpedient
touching Kansas, and would have it
carried into effect without regard to
the wishes of this state When the
disposition of the Indian tribes
in the territory was first agitated, several
years ago, the editor of the EAGLE pro-
posed that that part of Kansas west of
the Tooth meridian, and the contiguous
portion of eastern Colorado that was un-
occupied by settlers, be formed into
reservation and the Indians removed to
it permanently. They would thus have
been completely surrounded by white
settlements and civilization, and rem
dered readily accessible for govern
mental protection and aid by the railroad
lines The splendid domain nov occu-
pied by the Indian tribes of the territory
would thus have been vacated and opened
to settlement, and by this time would
have been a populous and prosperous
state in the Union.
But that opportunity for such amicable
settlement of the veXed question is for
ever past: the portions of this state
and Colorado which might have
been utilized as suggested at that time
without detriment to any concerned, are
now occupied by a thrifty white popula-
ton which is rapidly increasing in num-
bers and wealth. And we take occasion
to state, in this Connection, that such re-
cession Of territory from this state as is
mentioned by the Times would not be
thought of for moment. The people
who have found homes in western Kan
sas sought their present locations as
much with view to getting the benefits
enjoyed by citizens of Kansas in matters
of low taxes, equitable laws. educational
etc, as to getting homes at
little cost. They know that whatever of
incident to pioneer life they
may have to endure for time change
from state obligations and benefits to
territorial uncertainty and vexation
would but augment their burdens and
render necessary the retraveling of the
roads, i'll part. they have already
passed over. Though not germaine to
the subject under discussion, it is never
theless proper to state just here that
while it is fact that several of the more
organized counties III the ex-
IRENE western part of the are with
out representation in the legislative
branch of the government and will re-
main so until they shall be provided for,
which will be dene by the next legisla-
ture, the condition is no disappointment
to the citizens OF those counties, for they
knew what it was when they removed
thither, and are prepared to abide it for
the time being without discomfort or res
tiyeneSs. The conclusions of the Times
therefore. in reference to the alleged
state of feeling among the people in this
regard are purely visionary. No such
sentiment obtains among the people. !
And if it waits for the formation of a
territory that will eventually
become state and which /
will be ''everlastinglv Democratic"
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