Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-09-25

/ Creeks, l0,UOu; SemlnoIeS, ZbuJ;
Choctaws. 1900; Chickasaws,
I 6iOO. There are also about IA. :
500 whites, negroes and other
non-ciiizrns, of which $1,000 are
unlawfully in the country The
citizen population Is made up OF
/ 1900 full blood. 5000 Of mixed
blood AMI 1900 iniermarried
whites and freedmen. In regard
TO the laws Agent Bennett saws that
there is need for an improved ju-
dicial system; that conflicts of
jurisdiction arise, and "this very
complicated condition tends to
leave hundreds of cases for which
there appears to be no remedy"
that "the United States Courts
are all hampered in their opera
tons by 4 scarcity of funds; the
apprehension of many criminals is
prevented thereby, and the COM
mission Of crime encouraged. The
movement in favor Of the allot-
meat of lands in severalty, he
SAYS, is growing III favor. and this
question viii be the leading issue
in the ensuing campaign of the
Cherokee Nation. Mr. Bennett
gives great credit to the christian
missionaries for the moral ad-
vancement of the FIVE tribes. His
report shows that the Baptists,
Meihodists and Presbyterians
have invested large sums il church
property, that the number of
churches and schools under their
supervision has been greatly in
creased and there is a growing in
terest among the Indians in relig-
ious matters.
Uner the head of railroads Mr.
Bennett says:
The Choctaw Coal and Rail-
way company have built, during
the year, about eighty miles of
track of their line, extending east
and west, through the Choctaw,
Greek and Seminole nations, from
Oklahoma to the eastern markets.
The completed road connects the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas and
the ST. Louis and San Francisco
roads. The -oad-bed. rolling stock,
and all Of the roads equipment
are conceded to excel any in op-
Grafton in the western country.
Many valuable coal and timber
interests. from which considerable
revenue will be derived by the
Choeiaw nation, have been de-
veloped by the building of this
road, and the company deserves
every encouragement in its legit-
innate operations.
The management has, however,
exceeded its charterea right, and
and openly and boldly usurp-
ed r1ririla=a= fha.- srnrs meyer
tended TO be conferred on any cor
poraiion. Among its acts may be
mentioned: % Taking and fenc-
ing a right of way strip of 200 feet,
their charter only allowing 100
feet. thus uElawfully acquiring in
the Choctaw nation some 20O0
acres Of land, laying out in lots,
blocks and streets, large portions
of the public domain. which they
lease anil sell to Indians and
whites; obstructing and changing
the public highways in violation
OF Choctaw law; excluding by force
the Indian citizens from building
upon OF occupying land 20 which
they have an inherent light, and
compelling them to defend that
right in the Federal courts. For
months the company had its agents
and employees scattered over the
I Choctaw, Creek and Seminole
countries. procuring leases of coal
lands from the ignorant Indians.
These leases were for 4 section
Of four square miles, or $3.50 acres,
and were TO be controlled by the
lesse for a period Of ninety-nine
wears, and for some two months
/ representatives of the company
have besought congress to pass an
act to legalize the same. thereby
creating for this company a mo-
nOpoly Of the coal lands in the
Indian country. At this time II
cannot be determined how far
reaching the evil effects Of such
Legislation would be. nor can l be-
lieve that Congress viii 50 far for
get the treaty pledges Of the United
States, which guarantee TO the
Choctaw nation the right of self
government. as to pass an act in
the interest Of an alien corporation
that Will Practica lly place beyond
the control Of the national council
so greet 4 portion Of It's domain
for the period Of 4 century"