The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-29
NEW INDIAN POLICY.


The Iodians OF the Territory to Re Massed
~ Close ~ Possibls.
TAHLEQUAH. 1. T.. Nov. @-Signif.
cant acts have recently :ranspired
which indicate the opening of another
chapter in the Cherokee negotiation.
Until recently it was supposed that
the Government would not avail itself
of article Is, treaty Of 1866, but that the
Western tribes might possibly be settled
upon the Strip. Two letters, recently
written, seems to indicate that the
Government will use its privilege un-
der article Is. The Quapaws and other
tribes In the extreme northeast of the
Indian Territory wish to dispose Of
their present reservation and join their
friends, the Osages. Acting under in
structions from Secretary Noble, the
Commission will soon visit the
Quapaw agency. The Indians can
be settled upon Usage lands bv
the consent of the Osages. The Com
missioners are authorized by Congress
TO negotiate only for lands west of the
96th degree. The OSages are east Of
this line of longitude. The only other
lands which the Government could
conveniently Use are those Of the Cher
okeeS, which lie west of the 96th de-
gree. The Quapaws could be settled
there and the price per acre settled
afterwards. The ~unoccupied Chero-
kee land adjoining the sage land
VIII probably be selected. so that the
two friendly tribes may establish the
neighborly Intercourse, which they de-
sire The lands would cost but little
more than those of the Osages. In a
late letter the Commission has indi-
Gated a disposition oconsider economy
OF the several proposed locations
for reservation Indians, who are
10 re en- maSsed in as compact
a body as possible, but where this
can't be done, they can be scattered
about in the most available places and
still keep up their tribal relations.
Much less than one-fourth of the Cher
ohee home tract is unoccupied. The
cost of settling tribes upon these lands
would not exceed s. per acre. The
settlement of 5000 Indians in the
Cherokee Nation would make a popu-
lation of about 81. 900. or about one-half
the population of the new and small
territory of Oklahoma.
Eight Thousand Indians would in
clude the Quapaws. Osages. Iowas,
kickapooS. Shawnees, Cheyennes and
ArapahoeS and other tribes. thereby
opening nearly 10.0o0. 600 acres to settle
ment, or nearly twice the number Of
acres AS in the Cherokee outlet. Thus
the Government could open I0.0t1.0 ,O
acres 10y the payment of $500
COZ. while the Outlet. compris-
ing only $500. 00o acres. would cost the
Government s7.500.00O If the Chero-
KEGS accept. the Commissioners think
that they would not have much diff
Guilty in removing the reservation in
dams from their present quarters. as
experience shows that the Indians are
ever ready 10 90 where clothing and
beef isSue are made and where they re-
celNe their annuity.
Chief MayeS intimates that their re-
moval TO the Cherokee Nation would
produce wal and dissipation. Threat
of Wal would scarcely deter the able
Cheyennes and ComancheS from
coming early and often to the
beef issue. The Commissioners
have been carefully considering
eveis phase Of the question, and recent
correspondence between them and Sec
Rotary Noble would indicate that the
Administration is about 10 inaugurate
An Indian policy which will revolu-
tioni1e the Indian Territory and open
asst country 10 settlement by next
spring.