Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-19
cHEYENNes AND ARApAhoEs.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE annual re-
port of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
agency, IN the Indian territory. was re-
| ceived today by the commissioner of In
dian affairs. 1t is submitted by Agent
Charles Z. Ashley, who has been in charge
since the 1st of May. The report is dated
at Darlington, /. T., August q. and covers
| the period of the fiscal year ending June
30, 1889. The agent explains that when
he took charge, in May. he
found the agency in very
demoraiized condition. The govern
ment property was needing care and at
tentlon, and great indifference seemed TO
pervade every department Of the agency
work. This was probably due to the care
less management of the former agent, who
seems to have taken but little interest in
the affairs of the agency. The Cheyenne
and Arapahoe agency lies to the west of
Oklahoma, and between the Cherokee
strip on the north and the klowa and
Comanche reservation on the south.
1t contains 4.27l,111 acres, Of which
IT IS estimated that one-fourth
IS tiliable and the balance adapted
to grazing. 1t was formerly occupied by
cattlemen, but they were expelled IN 1880
by order of President Cleveland. This
reservation is included among the lands
which 1t Is proposed TO allot in severalty
and then throw open to settlement as
part OF Oklahoma territory. Large por-
tons OF the reserve are destitute of water,
ana there is little timber for building pur-
poses. The agency IS at Darlington, on
the north fork of the Canadian
river thirty-five miles west OF Okla
homa City, which is the nearest rail-
road point. The Oklahoma boundary line
is three miles east, and Fort Reno is one
mile west. a census of the Indians, just
completed, shows that the population is as
follows: Cheyennes, 2,229: Arapahoes,
1,272. In the two tribes there 9l4 men,
1897 women, and l 400 children, making a
total of 3.501. This is a slight increase
oyer last year.
The agent reports that the Indians ap-
pear to have refrigerated during the past
six years. A number of farms have been
abandoned, and many of the Indians have
lost interest in farming. Nearly all the
indians were citizens dress wholly or in
part; about 500 can read, and 600 use
English sufficient for ordinary inter-
course. There are upon the reserava-
ton 44 farms, and 2.3l5 acres are
uuder cultivation. The agent says that
with greater success than farming.
The circumstances surrounding these
Indians" says the report, will soon be
changed. Railroads are building toward
them, and will soon reach point near
enough to furnish transportation for their
surplus crops. Also, a market is being
provided by the settlement of whites in
the Oklahoma country for what they pro-
duce, which heretofore they have not had.
This will tend greatly to encourage them
to extra exertion in agricultural pursuits.
The educational facilities Of this agency
are excellent and the agent deems them
sufficient for the present. The Mennonite
church society is constructing a new
school building at Cantonment. At Darl-
ington is located the Arapahoe boarding
school, which accommodates 100 pupils.
and the Mennonite school, which provides
accommodations for fifty more The Chey-
enne school, for 125 pupils, is located
about three miles from the agency. The
missionary work within the
agency is conducted by the Mennonite
Church The Indians, with the exception
of some Of the young men who have lately
from Carlisle and other schools,
are opposed to the allotment of their lands
in severaity, claiming it would deprive
them of grazing land tor their cattle and
horses.