Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-03

vevance 70 the use Of all the lands
mentioned in the act, which was ae-
cepted III me and certified to be IN
compliance with the statute. by
the term Of both the acts referred 10
all the lands so purchased were
declared to be part OF the pun
lie domain and open TO settlement
under the homestead law. Part OF
the land embraced In these pur-
chases. being in the aggregate about
five and a half million acres, had
already under the terms Of the treaty
Of 1855. been acquired by the United
States for the purpose Of settling
Other Indian tribes thereon, and had
been appropriated to that purpose.
The land remaining and available
for settlement consisted OF l,Ssf,ieo
acres surrounded on all sides by
lands in the occupancy Of Indian
tribe. Congress had provided no
civil government for the people VINO
were to be invited by my proclaiila-
ton 10 settle upon these lands except
as 10 the new Court, which had been
established at AIuskOgee, or lhe
United States court. in some OF the
adjoining states with power to en-
force the general laws Of the Unlted
States. In this condition Of things l
was quite reluctant to open the
lands 10 settlement: but in view Of
the fact that the several thousand
persons, many Of them with their
families, had gathered upon the
borders of the Indian Territory,
with n view Of securing homesteads
on the ceded lands, and that delay
would involve them in much loss,
and suffering, l did on the 23d day
Of March last issue a proclamation
declaring that the lands therein de-
scribed would be open 10 settlement
under the provisions Of the law. On
the 22ud day Of April following, ut
u O'Clock, noon, two land districts
had been established, and the offices
were open for the transaction Of
business when the appointed time
arrived. 1t is much TO the credit Of
the settlers that they very generally
observed the limitation rs to the
time when they might enter the
Territory. Care will be taken that
those who entered in violation
Of the law DO not secure the advan-
tage they unfairly sought. There
was q good deal Of apprehension that
the strife for locations would result
i'm much violence and blOodshed;
but, happily, these anticipations
were not realized. 1t is estimated
there are now in the Territory about
80, OOJ people, and several consider
able towns have sprung up, for
which temporary municipal govern
ments have been organized. Guthrie
is said TO have now a population Of
5000. Eleven schools and nine
churches have been established, and
three daily and five weekly news
papers are published in this city.
The charter and ordinances have
only the sanction Of voluntary ac-
Of the people from day TO
day. Oklahoma Is prOpOrtiOnately
rs well provided rs Guthrie, with
churches, schools and newspapers.
Other towns and villages, having
populations Of 100 to 1000, are scat
tered.Over the Territory.
In order 10 secure the peace Of
this new community, In the absence
OF civil government, | directed
General Merritt, commanding the
Of the Missouri to aid in
with the United States
marshal TO preserve the peace, and |
upon their requisitiOn 10 use troops |
20 aid them in executing warrants |
and quieting any riots or breaches /
Of the peace that might occur. He
was further directed to use his in /
fiuence TO promote good conduct |
and prevent a conflict among the
settlers, and that the sale /
Of liquors should be restrained.
existed which would
endanger the public peace. and in
view Of the fact that such liquors
must first be introduced into the
indian reservations before reaching
.he white settlements; / further
directed the general commanding
% enforce the laws relating to the
Of ardent spirits into
he Indian country. The presence
# the trOOds has given q sense Of
ttll4lL - -tlt " vi us lil-tA tlLlLtilS I
md has tended 10 restrain the law
ess. In one instance the officer
n immediate command OF the'trOOps
Icted further than l deemed lusti-
liable in supporting the de facto
government OF Guthrie,
md he was so informed a nd directed to
INIT the interference Ofthe military
n the support Of the marshals on
he lines Indicated in the original
rider. / very urgently recon-
mend that Congress at once provide
territorial government for these
e0ple. Serious questions, which
nay ri any time lead TO violent out
,reaks, are awaiting the institution
f courts for their peaceful adjust
nent. The American genius for
clf-gOvernment has been well Illus
rated in Oklahoma but il is neither
afe nor wise TO leave these people
ouger to the eNpedients which have
served them.
Alaska