Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-04-11
THE CHEROKEE COMMISSION.

I
and we could not help ourselves.
THE CHEROKEE COMMISSION.
Dispatches from Washington, Of
date April s, are given below, and
indicate an impression prevailing
there that a special session Of our
council is about to be, or has been,
called. To our people this is news,
though Chief Mayes' inten.
tions are, Of course, unknown:
Globe Democrat - The Commits
sioners appointed to negotiate with
the Cherokees for the purchase Of
the Strip have been notified to meet
here on the 10th. They will organ
ize and familiarize themselves with
the provisions of the Indian appro-
priation bill relating to the pro-
posed purchase. They will also
be furnished with such information
as the government possesses regard
ing the title under which the Chero-
KEGS hold the land. 1t is probable
that the commission will remain
here a week or ten days and then
start for the Indian Territory.
They will visit Tahlequah, the
capital of the Cherokees, and will
confer with such representatives, of
the nation as may be designated by
the council, a special session of
which has been called by the prin-
cipal chief, Mayes. Z Grip through
the Strip, which lie along the
southern edge Of Kansas, will be
made before conclusions are
reached by the commission.
Republic y y As soon
as they meet here they will be in
structed by Secretary Noble and
then they will start for Tahlequah
and begin the deal. The expecta-
ton is that the commission will
finish its work in 60 or 90 days.
The commission is empowered
to offer the Cherokees s1.25 an acre
for the land. Here is where the
hitch will occur. The Cherokees
are the Yankees of the Indians.
They know a good thing when they
see it. They know how to mako a
bargain, and they know the value
of money. The Cherokees claim
that they have q patent from the
United States for the land in ques-
tion. In other words, a perfect
title to it. They claim that the
land is worth from 81 to $40 an
acre, and that they could easily dis
pose Of it at private sale at an
average Of IS an acre. They insist
that it would not be good bargain,
so far as they are concerned, to sell
it to the United States for s1.25 an
acre when they could get four times
that amount from private parties.
The Cherokees are not innocent
savages. They are educated and
many of them have travelled ex-
tensively. They can tell you the
value Of lands in Kansa as, Missouri,
Arkansas, Texas and Colorado.
They are witnessing the rush to
Oklahoma and are aware that land
is in demand. The Cherokess
know-at least they said they did,
when a delegation of them were
here few weeks ago---that it takes
two parties to make a bargain.
They declared then that they would
not sell their lands unless they got
full value for them.
As the commissioners are only
authorized to offer sl.25 per acre,
it need not surprise any person if
the negotiation proves a failure.
II deal can be perfected, it is
probable that the 6,000,OOO acres
will be thrown open to settlement
during the fall.
The Cherokee lands which the
commission will negotiate for are
north of and adjoining the 2.0O0,-
600 acres that will be open to set
tlement in a few weeks.