Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-04
now made to them. viii Jet obtain for Il
favorable consideration.
OKLAHOMA'S BOOM.
HOW BLOODsHKD WAS AVOIDED IN
BRINGING IT ABOUT.
Special Set Of Laws Desired for the
Newly-serrled Cities and ReGion-
Alaska Considered In the

Under the agreement made between the
United States and the Muscogee (or Oreek)
Nation of Indians on January 19, 1889, an
absolute title was secured by the United
States to about $4,000 acres of land.
Section II of the general Indian appropria-
ton act, approved March 2, 1889, made pro-
vision for the purchase by the United States
from the Seminole tribe of certain portion
of their lands. The delegates of the Semi
mole Nation, having first duly evidenced to
me their power to act in that behalf, deliv-
cred proper release and conveyance to the
United States of all the lands mentioned in
the act, which was accepted by me and GER
titled 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 set
Element under the Homestead law. But of
the lands embraced in these purchases, be-
ing in the aggregate about g. 500, 900 acres, s.
SOC, 900 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 been
appropriated to that purpose. The land re-
manning and available for settlement con-
sisted of !, ,SS7, 1896 acres, surrounded on all
sides by lands in occupancy of Indian tribes.
Congress had provided no civil government
for the people who were to be invited by my
proclamation to settle upon these lands, ex-
cept as the new court, which has been estab-
lished at Muscogee, or the United States
Courts in some of the adjoining States, had
power to enforce the general laws of the
United States.
HENCE HE HESITATED.
In this condition of things was quite re-
luctant to open the lands to settlement.
But in view of the fact that several thou
sand persons-many of them with their
families-had gathered upon the borders of
the Indian Territory, with q view to secur-
ing homesteads on the ceded lands. and that
DELAY would involve them in much loss and
suffering, did, on March % last, issue
proclamation declaring that tine lands
therein described would be open to settle
ment under the provisions of the law on
April % following at II O'Clock noon. Two
land offices had been established, and 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
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 unfairly sought
There was good deal of apprehension that
the strife for locations would result in much
violence and bloodshed; but, happily, these
anticipations were not realized. It is esti-
mated that there are now in the Territory
about 60, 900 people, and several consider
able towns have sprung up, for which tenn
porary municipal governments have been
organized.
Guthrie Is said to have now a population
OF almost 5000. Eleven schools and nine
churches have been established, and three
daily and five weekly newspapers are pub
Iished in this city, whose charter and ordi-
dinances have only the sanction of the volun-
tarY acquiescence of the people from day to
day.
OTHER CITIES, AND PROHIBITION.
Oklahoma City has a population of about
5000 and is proportionstely as we'll pro-
vided as Guthrie with churches, schools and
newspapers. Other towns and villages,
having populations of 100 to 1000, are scat
tered over the Territory.
In order to secure the peace of this new
community, in the absence of civil govern
ment, directed General Merritt, command
ing the Department OF the Missouri, to act
in conjunction with the Marshals of the
United States to preserve the peace, and
upon their requisition to use the troops to
aid them in executing warrants and in quiet
ing any riots or breaches Of the peace that
might occur. 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 restraints or regu-
lations existed, 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
NH Il %ba
General commanding to enforce the laws
relating to the introduction of ardent spirits
into the Indian country.
The presence of the troops has given q
sense of security to the well-disposed citi-
zens, and has tended to restrain the lawless
In one instance, the officer in immediate
command of the troops went further than /
deemed justifable in supporting the de
facto municipal government of Guthrie, and
he was SO informed and directed to limit the
interference of the military to the support of
the marshals on the lines indicated in the
original order.
NEW LAWS ARE ESSENTIAL.
very urgently recommend that Congress
at once provide Territorial Government for
these people. Serious questions which NAV
at any time lead to violent outbreaks, are
awaiting the institution of courts for their
peaceful adjustment The American genius
for self-government has been illustrated in
Oklahoma, but it is neither safe nor wise to
leave these people longer to the expedients
that have temporarily served them.
Provision should be made for the acouisi-
tiou of title to town lots in the towns now
established in Alaska, for locating town
sites and for the establishing of municipal
governments. Only the mining laws have
been extended to that territory, ana 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 have fortunately not extended to
Alaska the mistaken policy Of establishing
reservations for the Indian tribes, and can
deal with them from the beginning as indi-
viduals with, / am sure better results But
any disposition of the public lands and any
regulations relating to timber and to the
fisheries should have a kindly regard to
their interests. Having no power to levy
taxes, the people of Alaska are wholly de-
pendent upon the General Government, to
whose revenues the seal fisheries make
large annual contribution. An appropria-
tion for education should neither be over
looked nor stinted.
SPARSE POPULATION AND THE LANDS,
The smallness of the population, and the
great distances between the settlements, offer
serious obstacles to the establishment of the
usual Territorial form of government. Per-
hsps the organization of several sub-districts,
with small municipal council of limited
powers for each, would be safe snd useful.
Attention is called in this connection to
the suggestion of the Secretary of the Treas
urv relating tn the esta hlishmanf nf q onothar
port of entry in Alaska, and of other needed