The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-10-03
New Indian Lands.

The lower House of Congress has
recently ratified the treaty made by
the Indian commissioner last summer
with the Iowa and Sac and Fox tribes
of Indians and it is very possible that
the Senate will concur; consequently
7OS, OS6 acres more of the Government
domain is to be opened to white set
Element. The Iowa reservation con-
tains S,4lS acres and the Sac and
Fox AS, 66S acres. The POttawatomie
lands embracing all acreage of 575,ST7
was negotiated for at about the same
the Iowa and Sac and Fox lands were,
but as yet the treaty with this tribe
has not been ratified by either branch
of Congress. The Iowa tract lies di-
rectly east of the central portion of
Oklahoma proper and is naturally
tributary to Guthrie in gaining access
for settlement, at least by rail. The
Iowa lands are bounded ON the north
by that portion of Oklahoma known
as the Saltwater country, with the
Cimarron river between, running east
and west, and this river is one mile
north of Guthrie. Thus in the water
supply of the Iowa reservation we
have the Cimarron river and in adj
dition the Black Bear creek, the Iowa
creek and the Deep Fork of the Can
adian, which, OH the south, divides
the Iowa lands from those of the
Kickapoos.
The land is generally sandy with
some very rich black loan along the
Iowa creek and the Deep Fork. More
timber abounds than in Oklahoma
with three varieties of oak largely in
the majority. After the members of
this tribe, every man, woman and
child, numbering in all eighty-five
1.-THE Iowa tribe of Indians being
nearly extinct) have selected each 160
acres of land as their allotment, it is
my opinion that but little good land
will remain for the whites, for the
Indians well know which is the rich
and productive portion of their reser-
walton and being allowed their choice
the best will be selected. The Sac
and Fox lands are yet east of the
Iowas and contain 479,66S acres Of
land, that, as q whole, in my opinion,
excel by far the Iowa lands, and a
greater portion of Oklahoma for they
are 40 to so miles east and like eastern
Kansas beat the west. The main
streams of water i'm and bounding the
Sac ..(pronounced "sock'') country as:it
is commonly called, are the Cimarron
It on the north, and the
North Fork of the Canadian bound
ing it ON the south, with the Deep
Fork, Dry Fork, Quapaw creek, Salt
creek, and Pond creek in the interior.
On the west of the Sac and Fox res
ervation lie the Iowa and KickapoO
lands and about twelve miles of the |
saltwater (Oklahoma) country. On
the north we find the Pawnee reserve
ON the entire east the creek and ON
the south the Seminoles and the Pott- |
awatomies.
This Sac country Is very much |
timbered and one would be surprised |
to see so many hickory, pecan, cotton
wood and even walnut timber found |
IN this reservation yet the oak pre-
dominates largely. Any amount of
fish inhabit the streams of this coun-
Try and mess of cat fish, bass or sun
perch is easily obtained. In the Sac
ind Fox tribe total of 32S allotments
will be allowed in accordance with
he Dawes bill, which limits children
lnder Is years to 40 acres, / believe
md over Is, yet under q years, to so
Icres and all members over q to 100
Icres.
AS with the Iowa Indians these In
lians will select much of the best
and but as the reservation is larger
much good land will remain for the
whites. The Iowa and Sac and Fox
ands are very near the exact center
f the Indian Territory. No towns or
'illages abound of course and the
Ountry bears no marks of civilization.
do not now believe that these lands |
will be opened before March next at
he nearest and possibly eight or ten
months may eIapse. 1t is a slow
natter, this alloting lands to Indians
nd it is more than probable that the !
and other land will be
eady for settlement by that time and
viii occasionally drop the readers Of |
he REGISTER q short article that
hey may know what progress Okla
oma and its periodical annexations