New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-10
srY TIMES oKLARoMA.


Sir Oklnbouas will soon be open 10 settlers
IN the Northwest This is what the opening
Of the great Sioux Reservation means, and there
Is now every prospect that It will be brought
about. The situation has changed entirely
since the failure Of the Commission OF last year
TO obtain the consent Of the tribes. The In
dians, who are getting to be good at bargain,
contended that the price offered, 90 cents Ar
acre for the H. 600, 600 acres proposed to be
opened, was too low, and Congress- by raising
the price TO 81 20 for all LANDS to be taken up
by settlers within the first three years, has con-
ceded the justice Of this claim. During the
two following years settlers must pay Z D cents,
and during the next five years 90 cents, after
which time the Government is to buy the re-
mainder at so cents per acre. lnasmuch az this
secures the full Government rate to the Indians
for all the choice lands, which will undoubtedly
be taken up within three years and insures
them rs much as 80 cents an acre for even the
poorest besides making liberal concessions upon
MANY disputed points, the new bargain is felt
70 he n good one for the Indians, and all opp9si-
ton seems to have disappeared. The prob
ability is. therefore that the new Commission
headed by General Crook, who knows all sides
of the Indian character, will have task before
them so easy that il will not make any APP
preciable demand upon their skill and ability
AS soon rs the consent Of the Indians Is OBJ
tanned, the ceded portions Of the Reservation
can be thrown open by proclamation OF the
President without the intervention OF Congress
and thus it Is possible thst the bars may be let
down during the present summer.
The opening Of this Reservation will I'M
doubtedly be Of great advantage TO the people
of South Dakota and the whole Northwest II
has stood all these years like gigantic dyke
against the wave Of civilization. Let the read
er imagine a great tract OF land stretching
north and south nearly as far a. from New
York City TO the st. Lawrence, and somewhat
wider in its narroyyest part than the length OF
Connecticut cast and west-a tract through
which the railroads must not pass and where
the white man cannot settle-and he Will have
| some notion Of the size Of this huge barrier 70
| the development Of Dakota. Under the plan
approved by Congress, broad roadway will be
cut through the centre of the Reservation, let
ting the railways through and opening direct
communication with St. Paul and the East for
the Black Hills and all the vast region 10 tho
westward of the Reservation. The movement
10 force Oklahoma open was largely instigated
by the railroads; in this case, by contrast, the
| long opposition OF the tribes was nscribed partly
! 10 the unwillingness Of rival Immigrant rail
roads TO see so large and attractive a section Of
country brought into the market for settlers.
The land now TO be thrown open Is said to be
OF a high average of fertility, and II advance
reports can ever be trusted In such cascS, tho
/ ,l.hc ,.nt klnlr m
| be repeated The soil Is especially adapted 70
corn and stock, and TO general agricultural pur-
poses. The White River stretches TO the west
| through the main laternl belt almost the ontire
| distance, with numerous tributaries, making
| the country better watered than the pow we'll
settled and prosperous portion Of Dakota east
OF the Missouri River. The reputation Of the
/ Dakota climate, tho severity Of which the PEG
pie there contend is much exaggerated, is likely
! to work 10 the advantage Of that section. 1t
will be more likely on that account 10 attract n
hardy, industrious class, who will 20 prepared
| TO breast some hardships and TO work like mon
rather than merely to gamble In land
The dsintegration Of the Reservation system
il inevitable, but 1t is source of profound
satisfaction to see changes Of this kind which
are demanded by the interest alike OF the white
man and the Indian, made without injustice 20
the weaker party, and TO lbs full satisfaction.
There will remain more than 1 5000, 600 acres
Of land for the use Of about $4,000 Sioux.
Every Indian receiving an allotment in several-
ty becomes citizen OF the United States. The
successful completion Of this peaceful rcvolu-
ton ought 10 mean great increase OF pros
perity 70 tho Indians as well rs TO the whites,