Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-05
FORT RENO.

Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.
FORT RENO, I. T., May 4.-Overlooking
the West Canadian valley is beautifully
situated Fort Reno. The Oklahoma line
is four miles to the east, and yet further on
extends this rich, fertile valley until the
eye sees far away fringe of timber against
the eastern horizon. There is certainly no
richer or more beautiful part of the new
country than what can be seen from here.
and persons who have stopped upon the
north border do not see the real cause OF
the enthusiasm of the old time boomer.
The spirit is infectious, and once caught
it clings with desperation. The claims
here are all taken; many of them having
two, three or even more claimants. Men
familiar with Oklahoma have come here
because they knew that here in this valley
was land that would repay their eXertion
and endeavors. The contest will be fought
to the bitter end, and here will see the set
Element of some Of the most Interesting
and complicated legal points arising out
of the development and settlement Oh
Uncle Sans domain.
Town sites are numerous all along the
valley. Towns have been commenced,
another deserted. Competition has run
high for municipal preferences and then
quietly dropped.
Yesterday team that came into town
carried two Wichita men, Smith and Fen.
ner. They are with an old soldiers,
colony about midway between Fort
Reno and Oklahoma and have
him engaged in making survey OF the
townsite. They stated that it is the IN
tention to effect compromise with this
adjoining site and then all combine to the
formation of one grand city.
THE INDIANS APPREHENSIvE.
An interesting question that here pre-
sents itself is the throwing open for settle
ment of the Cheyenne and Arrapahoes
country. It is "a rich fertile country and
has more good land than Oklahoma. The
Indians looked with no little apprehension
when the arrival of the boomers on the
22nd and see in it the beginning of the
end. T. j. Simpson the superintendent OF
the Arrapahoes school, says that the night
of the opening of Oklahoma an old Indian
with his suuaw Gallo at his house and by
means of Signs and Indian language gave
him to understand that the encrochment
of the white man was to him matter Oh
alarm and fear. The white man will come
with his whisky and the Indian and his
ponies viii all disappear. 1t is evident
that they are all taking and thinking Sc
verely of taking their property In allotment.
They are shrewd enough to see that this is
their only salvation. Mr.. Simpson gives
it as his opinion that in year and half
at least the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe coun-
try will be thrown open TO settlement.
1t will be remembered that
by the recent purchase of the Seminoles
large strip of country-at least y million
acres-was secured in this country but not
thrown open. When the time comes for
the entrance into the land of the Chey-
ennes and Arrapahoes there will be an
other grand rush, for the 1900, 600 of acres
cannot but attract the attention OF settlers
and home-seekers. 1t will hardly be taken
as homesteads but by presumption, the
money thus secured being turned over to
the Indians.
THE TOWN OF DARLINGTON.
Darlington. which lies in the valley be-
low Fort Reno, is the situation of the Ar
rapahoe government school and also Of
the Mennonite school for the instruction
of the children of the same tribe. There
are many things of peculiar and timely in
terest connected with these schools and
the Indians that attend them.
The Indian tepees and homes are all
around the town; the Arrapahoe village is
just across the Canadian. Here is the
Indian trading store of Major Barker, and
Just across the street is the large brick
building used as commissary. The In
are to be seen lour ging around the store or
upon the streets and during the play hours
troops of little Indian boys and girls wade
in the clear waters of the North Canadian
or play in the sand along the river bank.
The town is quiet and not devoid of pictur
sequences. But the onward march of CIV
ilization has reached its borders and soon
there will be a striking change. The
boomers wagons even now roll along the
streets, the white tents of the settlers
stand just across the line and near the In
dian tepees. Monday new town will be
laid out not five miles from Darlington
and there will be 101 men ready to take up
town lots the day that the survey is made.
1t was not without feeling OF regret
that the EAGLE correspondent left this
quiet, lovely spot. As the stage climbed
over the divide miles down the valley the
stars and stripes could be seen waving
above the fort while the barracks and
group of buildings at Reno and Darling
ton appeared but spots uponlthe green,
bright landscape far behind