New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-22
THE NEW LANDS.

Ecepts march swiftly in the land OF bOohlS'
II is already necessary TO revise 10 cohSluel-
able extent the rating of the projected com-
r,on,veaIth in the Southwest. In at least one
reSpect the new history OF Oklahoma has sur
rassed al the expectations formed OF it. This
= ne record for peaceableness and order The
annrebensions Of lawleSsness entertained at tho
time the territory was thrown open have
proved to be almost entirely without founda-
ton. Even during the first excitement there
was little disorder and many Of the reports
of shooting ARRAYS which reached the news
papers In other parts Of the country were I'M
doubtedIy the work Of too Creduous correspond
ents. Oklahoma seems to have become as law
abiding a community as any in the country, al
though it is almost without law. Its freedom
from crime and the mutual respect shown by
settlers to each others rights have furnished
really striking example OF the capacity OF the
Anglo-Saxon race for self-gOyernment.
But the disappointment with Oklahoma as
region for permanent settlement does not d.
mnish. A dismal chorus at the outset was 10
be expected from those who failed to secure
desirable claims. This might have been eX-
pected to die away, while those who had tho
good fortune to obtain good land went on
quietly with their work Of homestead making.
The indications are, however, that Oklahoma is
steadily losing population. The most signlh-
cant proof of this is TO be found in the fact
that the clerks who were detailed from tho
General Land Office in Washington to help the
land officers in Oklahoma returned a few days
ago because there was not more business than
the regular clerks could do According to their
statement up to about two weeks ago only about
500 entries had been made at Kingfsher and
| 900 at Guthrie. This makes total OF less
than one-fifth Of the whole number OF quarter
sections open TO settlement-l 900. these
figures would tend TO show that the first rush
was not, after all, one Of intending settlers So
much as of spectators. The men who meant
TO make their fortunes out Of town lots are also
disappointed II is said that there are less
than 5000 people in Guthrie TO- day, and Mar
shall Needles is quoted predicting the prac-
tical extinction Of the town, a. Oklahoma City
has the advantage in better site. The cold
weather will be test Of tho stability Of the
incubation. Nevertheless, 1t is not 10 be for
gotten that, after making all allowances, Okla
hOma has acquired a considerable population
in the briefcst space Of time ever known, prob
ably, in the history of the country. 1t certainly
offers fair advantages to the settler, and there
is no reason to suppose that it will not make
good progress in the future.
In the meantime the prospect that the over
flow might be turned into the Cherokee strip
has been steadily growing fainter. The Gem
mission is not ready for work yet great DIM
Guilty being found in selecting a suitable Com
missioner for the vacant place. but The chi"t
and insurmOuntable obstacle promises to be tho
opposition Of the Chcr0keeS themselves, who
have become imbued with the idea that Their
| lands are worth much more than the Govern
| ment rate 1t is even said that they want ~
much rs So an acre, which, for block OF
| 5000. 900 acres bad lands and good together,
seems an extrayagant price. new difficulty
| has been disclosed in the wording Of tho
| Cherokee Constitution, which declares that tho
| lands of the tribe shall remain common prop
| erty." II is claimed that a sale can only DO
made by amending the Constitution ut gen
eral election, after six months notice II this
claim be we'll founded the proposed change
could not be voted upon by the tribe unti
| August, 1891, the next general election, that
takes place next August being now less than
six months removed There is no doubt that
the unexpected opposition Of the CherokeeS is
due 10 the Vaccinations of the cattle-men and
the Government has before it, apparently, a
| long and troublesome controversy.
The boomers must turn their thoughts then,
10 the great Sioux Reservation All reports
agree that the tribes, so far as heard from, are
in favor of the proposed sale, and n few months
may see this vast tract open to settlement