Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12

/ should be multiplied and as far IS possible
should be so organized and conducted as to facil-
tate the transfer of the schools to the states or
{ territories in which they located when the
! Indians in the neighborhood have accepted citi-
/ for such a transfer. This condition of things
viii be attained slowly, but it viii be fastened
I by keeping it in mind. And in the meantime
+ that cooperation between the government
and the mission schools which has wrought
much good, should be cordially and i'm
partially sustained. The last congresssenacted
two distinct laws relating to negotiations with the
Sioux Indians Of Dakota, for REIMBURSEMENT of
portion of their land TO the United States, and
for dividing the remainder into separate reServa-
tons; both were approved on the same day,
March 2. The one submitted to the Indians q
specific proposition, the other Section OF the
Indian appropriation act) authorized by the pres
ident TO appoint three commissioners to negotiate
with these Indians for the accomplishment of the
same general purpose, and required that any
agreements made should be submitted TO con-
greSs for ratification.
On the 10Th day of April last appointed Hon.
! Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William Wayne, of
Missouri, and Major General George Crock, of
the United States army, commissioners under the
last named law. They were, however, authorized
and directed first to submit to the Indians The
definite proposition made to them by the act first
mentioned, and only in the event of a failure t.
secure the assent of the requisite number to thai
proposition, to open negotiations for modified
terms under the other act. The work OF the com
mission was prolonged and arduouS, but the
sent of the requisite number was, it is
understood, finally obtained to the proposition
made by congress, although the report of the
commission has not yet been submitted. In view
of these facts shall not, as at present advised.
deem II necessary TO submit the agreement TO
congress for ratification but it will in due course
be submitted for information. This agreement
releases to the United States about 100000 acres
OF land The commission provided for by section
IA OF the Indian appropriation bill, to negotiate
with the Cherokee Indians and all other Indian
ninety-sixth degree of longitude for the ces,
sion to the United States of all such lands
was constituted by the appointment of
Hon. Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, Hon Jno. f.
! Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, and Hon. Alfred NJ
! Wilson of Arkansas, and organized on June 29th
/ tiveS of the Cherokees was held at Tahlequah,
July 29th. with definite results. Gen. John F.
health from taking part in the conference. His
death, which occurred recently, is justly and
generally lamented by a people he has served
with conspicuous gallantry in war and with great
fidelity in peace. The vacancy thus created was
filled by the appointment Of Hon. Warren G.
Sayre, of Indiana.
A second conference between the commission
and the CherokeeS was begun November 9th, but
no results have yet been obtained, nor is it be-
lieved that conclusion can be Immediately
pected. The cattle syndicate now occupying the
lands for grazing purposes is clearly one of the
agencies responsible for the obstruction of our
negotiations with the Cherokees. The large body
of agricultural land, constituting what is known
as the g Cherokee outlet ought not to be and
cannot long be held for grazing and for the ad-
vantage of a few against the public interests
themselves The United States has now under
the treaties certain rights in these lands. These
will not be used oppreSsively, but it cannot be al
lowed that those who by slfferance occupy these
lands shall interpose to defeat the wise and ben
eficial purposes of the government. l cannot
but believe that the ddVantag character of the
offer made by the United States to the Cherokee
nation for full release of these lands as COM
pared with other suggestions now made to them
will yet obtain for it favorable consideration.
Under the agreement made between the United
States and the Muscogee Cor Creek Nation of
Indians on the 10Th day of January, 1889, abso-
lIItl hxyf he fn1 Sfofo-
about three and half millions of acres of land
Section II of the general Indian appropriation
act approved March 2 1889 made provision, for
the purchase by the United States from the Sem
mole tribe of a certain portion of their lands.
The delegates of the Seminole Nation
having first duly evidenced to me their power to
act in that behalf, delivered proper release and
conveyance to the United States of all the land
mentioned in the act, which was accepted by me,
and certified to be in compliance with the statute.
BY the terms of both the acts referred to- all the
lands so purchased were declared to be part
Oh the public domain and open to settlement.
under the homestead law. But of the land en-
braced IN these purchases, being in the agreement
about 100000 acres, 100000 acres had already,
under the terms of the treaty of 1866, been &C.
quired by the United States for the purpose of
settling other Indian tribes thereon, and had been
appropriated to that purpose. The land remain
ing and available for settlement consisted of
1887, 796 acres surrounded all sides by lands in
the occupancy of Indian tribes. Congress had
were to be invited by my proclamation and
to settle upon these lands except the new court
which had been established at MuScogee, or the
! United States court in some of the adjoining
states, had power to enforce the general laws of
4 the United States. In this condition of things |
was quite reluctant to open the lands to settle
ments. But in view of the fact that the several
thousand persons, many of them with their FAM
lies, had gathered upon the borders of the Indian
Territory With cade view of securing end that de-
lay would involve them in much loss,
and suffering, did on the 23rd day of March
last issue proclamation declaring that the lands
] therein WClIld
under the provisions of the law, on the 22nd day
of April following, at 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 OBJ
served the limitation as 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 advantage they I'M
fairly sought There was good deal of appre
henson that the strife for locations would result
in much violence and bloodshed, but happily these
anticipationS were not realized. 1t is estimated
that there are now in the territory about 6O,OOO
people, and several considerable towns nave
governments have already been organized;
Guthrie is said to now have a population or
almost 5000. Eleven schools and nine churches
have been established. Three daily and i've
weekly newspapers are published in this city,
whose charter and ordinances have only the
sanction of the voluntary acquescence OF the
people from day to day. Oklahoma City mas a
population of 5000 and is proportionately well
provided as Guthrie with churches schools and
newspapers. Other towns and villages hav-
ing populations Of from one hundred to a
thousand are scattered over the territory.
In order to secure the peace of this new cOmnlu-
nifty in the absence of civil government directed
General Merritt, commanding the department of
the Missouri to act in conjunction with the mar
shalS of the United States to preserve the peace.
and upon their requsition to the troops to aid
them in executing warrants and in quoting riots
Orbreaches of the peace that might arise. He was
further directed to use his influence to promote
good order and to avoid any conflicts between or
with the settlers. Believing that the introduction
and sale of liquors where no legal restraint or
regulations existed would endanger the public
peace and in view of the fact that such liquors
must first be introduced into the Indian reserva-
tionS before reaching the white settlements, /
further directed the general commanding to en-
force the laws relating to the Introduction of
dent spirits into the Indian country. the pres
ence of the troops has given a sense of security
to the well-diSpoSed citizens, and has tended to
restrain the lawIeSS. In one instance the officer
in immediate command of the troops went fur
ther than l deemed justifable in supporting the
de fdcto municipal government Of Guthrie,
and he was informed and directed to limit
the interference of the military to the support
Of the marshals on the lines indicated in the orig
inal order. very urgently recommend that con-
greSS at once provide territorial government
for these people. Serious questions which may
at any time lead to violent outbreaks are await
ing the institution of courts for their peaceful
eminent has been well illustrated in Oklahoma,
but it is neither safe wise to leave these peo-
pie longer to the expedeutS which have tenn
porarily served them.
Provision should be made for acquisition of the
titles to town lots in towns now established IN
Alaska for locating town sites and for the eStab-
lishment of municipal governments. Only the MN
ing laws have been extended to that territory and
no other form of title to lands can now be obtained
The general land laws were framed with reference
to the disposition of agricultural lands and it is
doubtful if their operation in Alaska would be
beneficial.
Suggestions Applicable to Alaska.