The morning news., 1888-12-29
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Facts About 1t and About the People
Who Live There.
From the Washington Post.

FoODlG
Who Live There.
From the Washington Post.
Maj. John +. Lyons of the Indian terri
tory is a gentleman of extensive informa-
ton, and having lived in the territory is
thoroughly informed as to the condition
and prospects OF It's various Indian IN
habitan S. he believes the Indian. under
proper conditions, can be civilized ana made
good. useful citizen. "The Indian terri
tory is as peaceable a country as there is in
the world said he, 'and as safe a place in
which to live. l would rather take NV
chances travelling through the territory at
night with large sum of money than
going up Pennsylvania avenue. The Chew
ennes and Arrapahoes are the most recent
additions to the territory. few wears
ago they were among the widest and worst
Indians on the plains. Now they are be-
coming very good teamsters and traders
They are quick and impulsive, and know
how to drive a bargain as well as team
They haul their own products to market.
run freight wagons and do great deal of
work of the kind that the ordinary early
settler or frontiersman has to do.n
(which of the tribes has made the great
est advanced?
"The Cherokees. They are prosperous
we'll l-organized nation. The money which
the government allowed them years ago for
their lands is invested in government bonds.
and they draw the interest regularly. One
half of this interest goes to wnat is called
the national fund-that is the fund for the
support of the government-35 per cent. to
their school fund and Is per cent. to the
fund for the support of orphan children. In
this way they are admirably provided for
They had female college, which, unfortu-
nately, was burned, but they will soon have
another that will cost about SIS, 600. They
also have a college for boys, the buildings
OF which cost 100000"
'sDo you think all Indians could be
brought up to the high standard of the
Cherokeess'
Under the same conditions, yes; that is.
the leading tribes, but not by huddling them
together on reservations after the present
fashion Of the government, They ought to
be brought into actual contact with white
people enough to have before them the
actual methods of civilized people. AS long
as they are left to themselves on the wild
plains they will be nothing but savages.n
What is the sentiment of the tribes of
the territory concerning the Oklahoma
schemeg"
against it unanimously
"Whyp
The reason is simple enough. 1t is pro-
posed in the Oklahoma scheme that the
government shall pay the Indians only
81 25 an acre for their land. If they want
to sell they can get nearly three times that
much for it from private parties. At the
last Cherokee council there was received an
offer Of $3 an acre for the same and it is
proposed to include in the Territory of Ok
lahoma. The only people 1 know of who
want to see the territory of Oklahoma
established are an adventurous class who
live on the borders of Kansas Missouri and
Arkansas. They are. in the main, shift
less lot, and would like to rush in and pick
up the land of the new territory for mere
song"
"Are any large tracts Of land yet leased
to outside cattlemen by the Indians?r'
Yes; the CherokeeS receive $100, 900
year from lease of this kind. This is for
the use of grazing lands that would be in
cluded in the Oklahoma Territory, and in
cludes 100000 acres. What they receive
every year on this lease is per cent on
$40, 100000. Under the Oklahoma bill they
would receive less than 5000, 900 for this
land, and their income would be cut down
to less than one-hafn -