The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-08-30
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SPOT belonging % the government
where law holds ne sway. There D;
much of historic interest connected
with this tract Of land known on the
raaps a. "No Mans Land" which
We here briefly give.
BIZ treaty with spain In 1871, the
boundary line between the Bouisi-
ana purchase and the Spanish pOss-
essions was defined ~ follows:
The Wess line 81 the Louisiana
purchase commencing on the Gull
% Mexico a she mouth Of the
sabine river, running north on the
line between Louisiana and Texas %
the Red river on the south line oi
the Indian Territory, thence follow
Enu Red river in q northWesleTly
course o. the l00ih meridian, thence
turning north TO the Arkansas
river al a point near the present site
Of Dodge City, thence following the
Arkansas river % it, source and
Thence in q northwest course 10 the
Pacific ocean. near the southern
boundary Of Oregon. The territory
west 90 this line, with Mexico, be-
ionEed to Spsin ana became indie
pendent Of that government by the
Mexican revolt, which soon follow
I'd the treaty between the United
states and Spain.
The Indian Territory established
hy congress In 1854, extended from
the Red river On the south, 90 some
point within the present state OF
NeHraska. aud from the west line Of
Arkansa- aud Missouri, westward to
the lulth meridian, the western limits
81 United states territory below the
g~fh degree north latitude.
In lS.sS the Cherokee lands In the
Indian Territory were set apart OF
F.ateuted 90 the tribe, which in
Guided a large body In the north
east CORNER % the present Territory,
bounded on the north 10y the 37th
degree north latitude, save a small
Jog On the east that crossed this line
falling into the southeast corner Of
Kansas. the body Of the grant. how
ever. Wing south 90 and coming up
% the S7th degree. The tribe was
also given passage way west To the
buffalo country from the reserva-
ton. this pass being the strip Of
land shout one degree ia width, ~
ing between the Bith and S1th de-
guees &C latitude, aud extending
from the body of the Cherokee
grant, on the east, to the 10Th mer-
idfan. the Mexico boundary on the
west.
Nnen in lNs, Texas seeded from
Mexico, the Texas republic laid
claim O. all the territory south Of
the Arkansas river. west II the lO0th
meridian and east oithe Rio Girande.
A. reNas was not admitted 90 the
Union until iSi5, and as the Indian
Territory was established ia 1884,
A. fa.HnsNsaA
no further ward than 10 the east
lire of Texas, un the lulth meridian.
Tlaus when the Indian Territory
Was established in 1891, q was
bounded on the south, and for about
al8 miles uu the west by Mexican
territory. Between the date Of the
admission uf Texas and between
thss time aud 1850 difficulties arose
with the people at the Territory al
New Mexico, owing To the claims |
81 up rs Texas that III territory eX- |
tended a. the Rin tirande.
In IS5n congress passed what was |
known a. the Omnibus Bill, which |
contained among other measures, a |
provision Tor the purchase from |
Texas, for tea million dollars, all |
that l,urtiou az the states territory /
.T,Tinr north of thiTty-siX and half /
deErers north latitude aud west of |
the lusrd meridian. This detached /
frum the state ON the north all its |
territory north Of the Missouri COM /
nromise line. extending from the /
T,Fe---ut south line of No Mans Land /
north O. the Arkansas river, aud on 4
the wesI that portion claimed by /
New Mexico, lying between the /
rtrt-sent eastern boundary OF that Il
Territory aud the Rio Grande river.
la lS5s the kansas-N ebraska hill
pas-eti organizing the territories of
Kansas aud Nebraska of the Indian
territory. The south boundary line
&C kanSas was established along the
north lime of the Cherokee grant on
the s7th parallel north latitude, cut
ting Oh only the small area Of the
grant On the east that logged north
uf the line 81 Sc degrees, and follow.
ing on this line Ia the mountains.
Thus We have the formation Of the
two states. Kansas and Texas, north
and souih aud 81 the two territories,
Indian and New Mexico, east and
west of the strip called NO Mans
Land briefly summarized. the
history uf Nhirh l. this: The
Indian Territory, it, western
lrnundary WAS established when the
STRIP belonged Ia Mexico aud being
q part 81 Texas, when that state was
admitted Co the Union, a. a slave
state. the strip including the terri
tory north to the Arkansas river.
Passed by agreement and sale to the
United states in $50, being that
tsart at Texas IN which slavery was
prevented hy the Missouri COM
Tsromisc of lSs0. leaving the north
tine uf Texas GA - degrees and 80
minutes. The creation Of the Terri
tory 81 New Mexico On 1850 made its
western boundary on the lO5rd
meridian. aud the creation Of Kan
sas Territory in 1854 made the
northern i,oundry on SS degrees Of
latitude. the southern boundary of |
kansas having leen determined by !
the northern limit of the Cherokee
grant in Kansas taking ia only 80
much " the Texas purchase "a
cuuid be done aud maintain
straight line Tor it, southern border.
The present strip belonged first to
Slssin, then Ia the Republic uf Next
80. then became a part 81 the Repub-
DC aud later the state Of Texas aud
then PASSED by purchase To the
lniied states. to i'ecome NO Mans
Land
Here Ue have the history of the
manner ga which this piece Of land
one-half degree from north To south
by three degrees from east to west,
lying between thirty-siN aud a half
and - degrees north latitude aud
extending from the lGSrd meridian,
vas left cut IT adjoining states aud
territorirs- Prior 10 $50
the courts 90 Texas had iurisdic-
lion over this tract, ~ IL was part
of that state. hut - the Federal
rourls 90 Texas Were created with /
jurisdiction Scr Texas hy name ,
when this territory was cut OF Of
the states. d PASSED from the iuris-
diction of the courts of that state, /
sud never having been attached to /
any ether state or territory for Judi ,
cisi purposes. stands iu fact n ii has
stood fuT ihirty-eight years, the land /
NJ No mau. TIE only spot on Amer /
.can saii where there l. neither law I
81 the shadow uf authority, where
therc D. no such functiouary ~ an )
afiics-r. where might u right and !
y here every man H. q law unto him [
.eiI. rhis strip of land iu the heart \
sf the government, H. 80 far as legal \
sutho -ity gs-s, stands ~ it did in G
Ire dawn of creation. For years the
aerisulan has cared his herds there
b Abraham tended his flock ia I
A. primitive history of the race ] =