Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-10-02

ways; lst, by using a pecuniary
basis; 2nd, by grading the lands.
In reply to the first, we have no
money to either pay the loss in
the Improvements or TO equalize
the division. The second | will
dismiss by saying that it will re-
quire angelic statesmen and spec
ialists in assessing lands TO grade
them satisfactorily. Here is a
spot Of good, tillable land; there
poor; here rocky; there is a
stream; one might get thousand
acres of such land and be an ex-
ceedingly poor man. Again, this
would make all of the divisions
of different areas, the corners
would not square up and some
farms must necessarily assume
every conceivable shape. Take
sheet Of paper, if you don't under
stand surveying, try to cut it up
into squares, all of different sizes,
and you will readily see the nu-
merous little corners and angles
that viii remain. Then also there
are many small farms Of from fifty
to one hundred acres completely
surrounded; this man could not
possibly get his square in body
without taking a slice from his
neighbor. If the preventive must
be attended with these results, it
is worse than the cure.
| have two solutions which |
think infinitely preferable to allot-
ment as discussed:
First, sell the western lands at
reasonable price, call in our
money invested in U. S. bonds,
allot our lands on a monied basis,
and tax our people for the main
tenanoe OF this government. Those
getting more protection should be
willing TO pay more; our govern
ment would be more economically
run, we would have more efficient
officers, &c.
Second "A registration law would
prevent monopoly. Allow each
man to register a certain amount
for himself anl each child, for ex-
ample 191 acres, and declare the
remainder public domain. No
person could then hold dozen or
more farms; have the location de-
scribed much after the same man.
ner that transferred improvements
in deeds are located. This would
have the same effect on monopoly
that allotment would and each cit
lien could hold all of his improve
ments. The difference is that it
would not necessitate survey and
the land would not be in squares.
After a time prescribed by law,
any one could go TO the registers
books and see whether a tract of
land was registered or not; if not
he would be entitled to make
claim on it. You might say that
this would deprive many of the
use Of improvements heretofore
made. Nincty-nine cases out Of
every hundred where a citizen has
more improved land than he can
in this way register, he has come
into possession of it in violation of
our lease law, and is entitled to
no protection. This would occas-
ion little or no litigation, and in
ternal discussions, which at pres
ent are exceedingly dangerous,
would be less liable.
The intruder question is much
easier solved. / believe that our
chief should make one more APP
peal to the U. S. authorities. On
their failure to act, follow the adj
mirable example of the Chicka-
saws: Issue a proclamation to the
sherifls of the various districts to
proceed with necessary force and
eject them from our limits as we
do off Of a mans improvements.
If our little government must sink,
let it go under while we are glor
iously fighting in its defense. l
voice the sentiment of this people
when | say that any number vii u
quit work to-day and volunteer
their services to remove these
blood-sucking intruders. Chero-
kee citizens of all parties, let's
quit wrangling, lay aside partisan
prejudice and face these pending
issues as men should.
Very truly,
w. w. Hastings.
Salina, l. T., Sept. "a, 80.
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