The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-04
GREETING.
Continued from page p.

Longitude Tor the ceSSlon 10 the UnlteQ StaLes
OF all such lands west was constituted by the op
pointmeRt OF Hon. Lucius Farchild, OF Wiscon
sin, Hon. John F. Hartranft, OF Pennsylvania
and Hon. Alfred M. Wilson, OF and or
ganized on June 90 last. I'll difference
with the representatives OF the Cherokees was
held at Tahlequah, July 30 with no definite
result. General John F. Hartranft, OF Penn
sylvania, was prevented by III health from tax
ing part in the conference. His death, which
occurred recently, is justly and generally la
mented by people he had served with CON
SpicuouS gallantry in war and with great fidelity
in peace. The vacancy thus created was filled by
the appointment of Hon. W. g. Sayre, OF Indiana.
A second conference between the commission
and the CherokeeS began November q, but no re
suit has yet been obtained nor is IL believed
that conclusion can be made. The cattle syn
dictate occupying the lands for grazing purposes
is clearly of the agencies responsible for the
obstruction of our negotiations with the Chero-
KEGS. The large body of agricultural lands con-
stituting what is known as the Cherokee outlet,
cannot long be held for grazing and for the ad-
vantage of the few against the public interests
and the best advantage OF the Indians them
selves. The United States have now under the
treaties certain rights in these lands. These
will not be used oppressiyely but it cannot be
allowed that those who by sufierance occupy
these lands shall interpose to defeat the wise
and benehcent purposes Of the government. I
cannot but believe that the advantageous char
acter OF the offer made by the United States to
the Cherokee nation for a full release of these
lands as compared with other suggestions now
made to them, will yet obtain for II is favor
able consideration.
Under the agreement between the United
States and the Muskogee or Creek nation on the
18th day os January 1883 an absolute title was
secured by the United States TO about three and
half acres of land
Section ~ of the general Indian appropriation
act, approved March ., 1889, made provision for
the purchase by the United States from the
Seminoles of a certain portion of their land.
The delegates of the Seminole nation, having
first duly evidenced TO me their power to act in
that behalf, delivered proper release and con
Yeyance TO the use Of all the lands 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 Of the
public domain and open TO settlement under the
homestead law. But the land embraced in these
purchases, being in the aggregate about five
and one-half million acres, had already, under
the terms of the treaty OF 1866, been acquired by
the United States for the purpose of settling
other Indian tribes thereon, and had already
been appropriated TO that purpose. The land
remaining and available for settlement con
sisted of SS1,796 acres, surrounded on all sides
by lands in the occupancy of Indian tribes Con
gress had provided no civil government for the
people who were to be invited by my proclamation
10 settle upon these lands, except the new court
which had been established at Muscogee or the
United States courts in some of the adjoining
states which had power to enforce the general
laws of the United States. In this condition of
things, was quite reluctant to open the lands
TO settlement, but in view of the fact that sew
eral thousand persons, many of them with their
families had gathered upon the borders OF the
Indian territory with view of securing home
Steads on the coded lands and that delay would
involve them in much loss and suffering l did,
on the 23d day of March last issue proclama-
ton declaring that the lands therein described
would be open to settlement under the provis
ions of the law on the I'D day Of April following,
at l2 O'Clock noon. Two land districts had been
established and the offices were open for the
transaction Of business when the appointed time
arrived. II is much TO the credit OF the settlers
that they very generally observed the limitation
as to the time when they might enter the terri
tory. Care will be taken that those who entered
in violation Of the law do not secure the adVan-
tage they unfairly sought.
THERE WAS GOOD DEAL
of apprehension that the strife for locations
would result in much violence and bloodshed
but happily these anticipation were not realized
II is estimated that there are now in the
territory about sixty thousand people, and
several considerable towns have sprung up for
which temporary municipal governments have
been organized Guthriey is said TO have how
population Of almost eight thousand; eleven
schools and nine churches have been established
and three daily, and five weekly newspapers are
published in this city. The charter and ordin-
ances have only the sanction of voluntarily
acquescence of the people from day to day.
Oklahoma City has population OF 5000 and
is preportionately as well provided as Guthrie
with churches. schools and newspapers. Other
towns and villages, having populations of one
hundred TO one thousand, are scattered orver
the territory.
In order to secure the peace OF this new commu-
Qty in the absence OF civil government directed
GeneralI Merritt commanding the department
of the Missouri to aid in conjunction with the
marshals ofthe United States to preserve the
peace and upon their requisition to use the
troops TO aid them in executing warrants and
Quieting any riots or breaches Of the peace that
might occur. He was further directed to use his
influence TO promote good conduct and prevent
a conflict among the settlers and that the sale
of liquors should be restrained, as regulations
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 the white white settlements l
further directed the general commanding to en-
force the laws relating to the Introduction OF ar
dent spirits into the Indian country. The pres
ence of the troops has given sense OF security
to the well disposed citizens and has tended to
restrain the lawless. In one instance the officer
in immediate command OF the troops went further
than 1 deemed iustihable in supporting the de
facto municipal government OF Guthrie and he
was so informed, and directed to limit the in
reference of the military to the support of the
marshals on the lines indicated in the original
order.
very urgently recommend that Congress al
once provide a 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
adjustment. The American genius for self
government has been well illustrated in Okla
homa but il is neither safe nor wise TO leave
these people longer to the eXpedients which
have temporarily served them.
PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE
for the acquisition of titles to town lots in the
towns now established in Alaska, for locating
toWnsites and for the establishme nt Of munich
pal governments. Only the mining laws have
been extended to the 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.
we fortunately have not extended to Alaska
the mistaken policy of establishing reservations
for the Indian tribes, and can deal with them
from the beginning as individuals, with, am
sure, better results. But any disposition of
the public lands and regulations relating TO tim
Der and the fisheries Should have kindly regard
to their interests. Having no power to levy
taxes the people Of Alaska are wholly depend
ent upon the general government to whose rev.
enues the seal fisheries make large annual
contribution. An appropriation for their pro-
lection should neither be overlooked nor
stinted. The smallness OF the population and
the great distance between the settlements
offer serious obstacles 10 the establishment of
the usual territorial form OF government Per
haps the organization Of districts with small
municipal councils, with limited power for each,
would be safe and useful Attention is called
in this connection TO the suggestions OF the sec
rotary Of the treasury relating to the establish.
nlent Of another port Of entry in Alaska and OF
other needed customs facilities and regulations
IN THE ADMINISTRATION
OF the land laws the policy of facilitating in
every proper way the adjustment of the honest
claims OF Individual settlers on the public lands
has been pursued The number Of pending cases
heard during the proceeding administration has
been greatly increased. Under the operation OF
orders for time suspending final action in
large part Of cases originating in the west and
northwest, and by the subsequent use Of unusual
methods OF examination, only those who are
familiar with the condition under which our
agricultural lands have been settled can appre
ciate the serious and often fatal consequences
TO the settler OF policy that puts his title under
suspicion or delays the issuance OF his patent
While care is taken TO prevent and to expose
fraud it should not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose OF the homestead and
presumption laws was to promote the settlement