The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-13
Lively Times Again in Oklahoma.

Here and there along the eastern boundary
OF Oklahoma, between the Cimarron on the
north aud the Canadian On the south, are
collected groups OF people whose appear
ance recalls, on q smaller scale, the scenes
Of 1889 In that region. They are waiting for
the President to proclaim the opening OF
over 10000 acres In the Indian reserva-
tions adjoining the present Territory. They
are eucamped either in and around Guthrie
or scattered along line Of more than three
score miles, some with houses on wheels,
ready TO be driven over and deposited upon
the Promised Land, and others with boats
for crossing the streams. The picture typl-
hos the restless, pioneering spirit which gave
Oklahoma within eightesn months popu-
latton larger than That of tw, OF the States
OF the Union rs we'll as OF two OF the older
Territories. She Is by no means yet Bel
gium In compactness Of settlement; but the
impulse to be first to share In new deal OF
public land has caused this premature gath
oring on her borders for tho exodus.
The youngest OF our Territories Is also
much the smallest In area; but this Is q
shortcoming that from It's peculiar situation
admits OF remedy. Oklahoma Is IN the heart
of the Indian Territory, surrounded by trl-
bal reservations. 1t has tho Cherokee Strip,
partly tenantAi by various small tribes, on
tho north and northeast; tho Iowas, tho
kinkapo0s, tho Sacs and Foxes. nnd the Pot.
,nwatomtns Oh the east; tho Clicknsaws OF,
she south =; the Klowas. Comanclles, and Wich-
itns on ths southwest; tn, Chsyennes and
Arapahoe5 Oh tho west and northwest From
nearly Or quito every ono OF those roserva-
tons Oklahoma is likely Ia time to receive
mil!tIons 81 AREA by pmrcl:asn and ccsson,
AMI from some OF them these acquisitions
have already been made
OK the lands thus already purchased and
soon 20 be thrown open. II part belonged to
.he lowas, bani Of between olgh.y and
ninety people. who hitherto have been
DomInally occupying 22S.iiS acres. South OF
them aro tho kckapoos. numbering not
iaorc than 30 people. md occupying 2U6, 1856
ares. East OF these two Is the Sac and Fox
reservation, which contaiuS 479,06S acres.
South ot tho KlckapooS and between the
North f,Tx vi til, Canadian Hivcr and tho
main stream Is the tract OF the Absentee
Shn "uegs md the Citizen Baud Of Potta-
watomies which contains 575,s77 ucrcs.
Tho Commission appointed to deal with
:he Cherokees for tho purchase OF tho
Cherokee Outlet undertook to negotiate
18th the Indians occupying tho four mailer
reservations just spoken OF. At first they
nat difficulties. tID Indians understanding
the art OF bargaining. The Iowas showed a
document signed by President ARTHUR
guaranteeing them their homes forever,
The Commissioners explained that this
agreement would 10 respected, but that they
could mako 1t for the interest Of the Iowas
to sell their surplus real estate, and that
eighty or ninety people certainly could not
want ?oS.4l3 acrss. The red men replied
that 1t would please them better to have
their klnsmen now living elsewhere como
aud 1.-Two ON their lands. Finally they de-
clarod that 1t was useless to talk further.
that all was over. and that'they never could
sell thor homes. Tho Commissioners bado
them good-by. and In due tlme made an
Other visit and secured all they wanted With
out difficulty. They loft the Iowas l2lls
acres for sllotments, and took tho remain.
ing 2l0OOo acres for tho sum Of 4s4, $50. which
Is about 50 conts per acre. II tho land was
worth anything. 1t was probably worth that;
but 1t 10 fair TO say that the title OF the
Iowas to ownership was not perfect, tho
Government really having given them a
right OF occupation.
Much tho Same performance was gene
through with among other tribes. The Sacs
and Foxes. after the usual rebuff and re-
flssl TO sell on the first visit OF tho Commits
sionsrs, consented to take In round num-
bors $4,000 acres for their sllotments, and
to sell $4,000 for the sum Of $4ss,oQo. OF