Dodge City times., 1889-12-05

It 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 a good
deal of apprehension that the strife for
locations could result in much violence
and bloodshed, but happily these antici-
patiOns were not realized.
1t is estimated that there are now in
the territory about 10000 people, and
several considerable towns have sprung
up for which temporary municipal gov
ernments 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
lished in the city, whose charter and Ordi-
nances have only the sanction of the vol
untary acquiesence of the people from day
to day. Oklahoma City has population
Of 5000, and is propOrtionately as well
provided as Guthrie with churches,
schools and newspapers. Other towns
and villages, having populations of from
one hundred to a thousand, are scattered
over the territory.
In order to secure the peace of this new
community in the absence of civil gov
ernment, l directed General Merritt, com
manding 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 war
rants and in quieting any riots or breach
es 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 restraint or
regulations existed would endanger the
public peace, in view of the fact that
such liquors must first be introduced into
the Indian reservations before reaching
the white settlements, further directed
the general commanding to enforce the
laws in relation to the introduction of
ardent spirits into the territory. The
presence of the troops has given q sense
of security to the well disposed citizens
and has tended to restrain the lawless. In
one instance the officer in immediate
l deemed justifiable in supporting the de-
facto municipal government ofGuthrie and
he was so informed and directed to limit
the interference of the military to the
support of the marshals on the lines in
dicated in the original order.
l very urgently recommend that con-
gress at once provide territorial govern
ment for the people. Serious questions
which may 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 well illustrated in Oklahoma,
but it is neither safe nor wise to leave
these people longer to the expedients
which have temporarily saved them.
ALASKA.
Provision should be made for the ac-
QUESTION of titles to town lots in towns
now established in Alaska for locating
town sites and for the establishment of
municipal governments. Only the min
ing laws have been extended to that ter
ritOry 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 have fortunately not extended to
Alaska the mistaken policy of establish
ing reservations for the Indian tribes, and
can deal with them from the beginning as
individuals, with, am sure, better re-
suits; but any disposition of the public
lands and any regulations relating to tim
Der and the fisheries, should have kind
ly regard to their interests. Having no
power to levy taxes, the people
of Alaska are wholly dependent
upon the general government to
whose revenues the seal fisheries make
large annual contribution. An appropria-
ton for education should neither be over
looked nor stinted. The smallness of the
population and the great distances be-
tween the settlements offer serious obsta-
cles to the establishment of the usual ter
ritorial form of government. Perhaps the
organization of several sub-districts with
a small municipal council of limited pow
ers for each would be safe and useful.
Attention is called in this connection to
suggestions of the secretary of the treas
ury relating to the establishment of an
other port of entry in Alaska, and of other
needed customs facilities and regula-
tions.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
In the administration of the land laws
the policy of facilitating in every proper
way the adjustment of the honest claims
of individual settlers upon the public
lands has been pursued. The number of
pending cases had during the preceding
administration has been greatly increased
on the operation of orders for a time
suspending final action in a large part
of the cases originating in the west.
and northwest and by the subsequent use
of unusual methods of examination. Only
those who are familiar with the conditions
under which our agricultural lands have
been settled can appreciate the serious
and often fatal consequences to the set
tier, of policy that puts his title under
suspicion, or delays the issuance of his
patent. While care is taken to prevent
and expose fraud, it should not be imput-
ed without reason.
The manifest purpose of the homestead
and preemptiOn laws was to promote the
settlement of the public domain by per
sons who have bona fide intent to make
home upon the selected lands. While
this intent is well established, and the re-
quirements of the law have been substan-
TALLY complied with, the claimant is en-
titled to q prompt and friendly considera-
ton of his case; but where there is reason
to believe that the claimant is the mere
agent of another who is seeking to evade
a law intended to promote small holdings
and to secure by fraudulent mefhOda