The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
PROSPEROUS INDIANS.
Besides Lands and Cattle They Own Millions
of Hard Dollars.


of Hard Dollars.
Usis-Tah Wah-Tin-Kah, chief of the
Osages, with small party, was in the
city this morning The company, in ad
dition to the chief, consisted of Cyprian
Tayrien and Paul Aiken, who are half
breeds and talk English very we'll,
Strike Axe. Eto-Kah. Wah-Tin-Kao and
Um-Bago Bo-Han-Non. They are re-
turning fir, i Washington, where they
have been as a delegation from their
tribe to treat with the Government con-
corning their annuity. The Osages are
the richest people in the world. There
are only about 1000 in the tribe, and
they own one and one-half million acres
of land in the Territory, on which they
have large herds of cattle. Then they
lease their land to cattle men and derive
an income of $4,000 per annum, which
is used in running their government.
But the greater part of their wealth is
in cold cash in the vaults of the Treas
ury Department. The original grant to
the tribe was eight million acres of land
in Southern Kansas. By the treaty of
1866 they were paid $1.25 per acre for
this land, and were also given their
present reservation OF the amount of
the purchase price about eight million
dollars is now placed to the credit of
the tribe not one cent of which they can
touch, but are paid interest at the rate
of per cent. For some reason they
have not been receiving the full amount
of the interest, and there has accumu-
lated almost a million dollars, drawing
no interest and remaining idle. This is
the business which has taken the dele
cation to Washington. They were there
eleven days and made satisfactory ar
engagements, the Department promising
that if the condition of the tribe was as
satisfactory as represented they would
increase the amount Of the annuity I'M
til this accrued interest was all paid.
Paul Aiken and Cyprian Tayrien, the
half-breeds, are educated and intelli-
gent men and talked freely to reporter
regarding the condition of their people,
Our tribe at present is neither increas-
ing nor decreasing in numbers, but it is
at a standstill," they said. 1.-The old
ones who are full bloods, cling to the
traditions and supersti tionS of their
tribe and will never probably discard
their blankets and fringed leggings
But they are willing for their children
to be educated and the young people are
taking great interest in education
Their progress is good, and when the
next generation is in power the Osages,
instead of being the least civilized tribe
in the Territory, will be among the
leaders of civilization.
eve elect chief every two wears,
and the country is divided into five dis
tr1cts, from each of which representa-
tives are elected to our council, which
is our Legislative body. We have officers
corresponding to sheriffs and constableS
who administer the law and preserve
order. Our people are almost unani-
mously opposed to the allotment of their
land in severalty, feeling that at pres
ent instead of being a benefit it would
work harm. They are satisfied with the
present condition of things and desire to
remain as they are. However, they look
with friendly eyes on the opening of the
Cherokee outlet to settlement by the
whites They wanted Oklahoma opened
anu Ch1Hh WHlGo HelSnDOrS DenenG.
They have no rights on the land now
rendered useless and would prefer it
settled by whites than held by the
Cherokees Our chief is full-blood as
is also our council. The full-bloods are
in power on account of their majority,
and the progress of the tribe is retarded
on this account. 1t will not be so when
the young and educated class get into
power kansas City Star