The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-06
rnr INDIAN AZ A LAND ssLLxn.


xHE INDIAN a. A LAND skLLEn
ne has rsrseA with Over TWENTY-FIVE MIL
ifes Acres In the Last Three Years.
WASHINGTON. Doc 5.-Few people who have
not examined the figures In detail cnu appre-
ciate tho extent 10 which the purchase Of lhnds
from the aboriRInes for opening to general
settlement has been carried on within two or
three years. In general terms II may be OK
planned that areas euficient TO make. In tho
aggregate. i've States like Massachusetts,
have. since the spring Of year before last boon
pared OF from their reservations BY the In
dams for sale to tho Government This. Il
should DO understood. Is surplus land. for
which they have no use. and whit they retain
makes about four times as much rs what they
have thus parted with. A bargain Is now
pending for still another slice OF Indian do
mains, equal In area to sixth Massachusetts,.
with Rhode Island thrown In. The American
Indian Is the great real estate dealer OF the
present day.
Beginning with March 1. 1880. when Con.
gress ratified the agreement with the Musco.
gees or Greeks and tho Seminoles. we find
4e5.O95 acres purchased from tho former and
1852 Oo from the latter. making the aRGre.
gate tract OF 1885,. sol known ~ Oklahoma
This was followed BY tho great sale Of Sioux
lands in Daksea and Of Chippewa lands In
Minnesota. the former amounting to about
9.00O.OO0 and the latter to about 4,0O0OOO.
The coded Crow land In Montana brought IN
about 100000 acres more. and that Of tho
Cheyennes and Arapahos In indian Territory
added 100000 The Wichitas. adjoining the
tribes last mentioned. agreed to sell 674 000
acres: the Sacs and Foxes 3B1, 1856: the Iowas.
2l0.44O; the Fottawattomies mud Absentee
shawnees, 2S8.S02: the Rickapoos, $50 4t5;
the Tonkawas. formerly tho Nee Psrc6s. 10000
All these last were in Indian Territory or the
borders OF Oklahoma. Tho Slssetons and
Wahpetons attho Lake Traverse reservation In
Dakota gave UP 5OO.OOU acres: the Crur
d'Alenes. in Idaho. yielded 1SA.96O: the Col.
villos. In Washington. the northern half OF
their reservation. amounting to 1.5UO.OOO
acres: the Fort Bort,o,d Indians. l.0OO.O00
acres.
Tho aggregate OF these bargains. most OF
which are ratified. while tho remainder await
only the action OF Congross, is 252O5. $50
acres. Some alotmeuts to tho Indians In
severalty are arranged upon the reservations.
whero they become citizens like other set.
tiers; but mostly These reckonings ore after
allotment, aud. indeed. the Indians generally
concentrate themselves upon the portion OF
their LANDS retained Exactly how much they
receive for these enormous concessions It is
rather difficult US yet to say. The Sioux and
Chippewas. for example. arc to have their
lands sold for their benefit. but, excluding
Oklahoma, the amounts are apparently more
than S2OOOO.OOO. which 60 to about 1900
Indians 1t will. therefore. be seen that the
money consideration is important especially
as both sexes and all ages arc included Ia this
estimate of numbers. Should tho bargain now
going on for the Cherokee strip be consum-
mated. the amount OF land acquired within the
last thrce years would be increased to upward
OF 3l.OOOOOO acres. and the aggregate price
paid would be upward Of $3O.OOO.UO0
While ever since the settlement Of this CONT
nent the white race has steadily pushed the
Indian tribes first into regions mono remote,
and then into more restricted limits. until the
reservation policy was complete. yet the acnui-
sition OF their lands during the last three or
four years hns beon extraordinary. However.
1t has been u foir acquisition. made through
purchase based upon our acknowledgment OF
Indian rights. and with prices fixed III accord
ance with what has seemed to beA liberal vul-
uation. For example. the sum Of S1.25 per
acre has been paid for great tracts. good and
bad together. in the Indian Territory: for
other tracts Sl.OO an acre. and 30 on: for the
Cherokee strip it seems likely that more than
Sl.25 will be paid. Yet at that price plenty Of
land can be bought in tho adjoining State OF
Arkansas to-day.
Tho recent move for opening Indian lands to
settlement, whlo no DOUBT urged By States
and Territories with Wow to the wants OF the
settlers rather than to the interests Of the red
men. can yet be defended on the latter ground.
1t is largely tho result Of tho new severalty nj.
lotment policy which by its very terms must
lcave large surplus CT Indian lands for sale
and general allotment This policy WAS ihtro-
duced and advocated by tho professed friends
OF the red man. and the associations for rro.
tectinG Indian rights include those who are
thoroughly convinced that tho reservation sys-
tenn has been outgrown and must 60. They
look to American citizenship as the goal for
the aborigincs. and this Is al, accom- paniment
OF severalty allotments. Proximity to whites
and participation in tho benefits of civilization
instead at being guarded against az formerly
are now looked forward to as tho means Of i'm.
proving tho race. Industry and self-support,
with education and full political rights, will
come to tho Indian homesteader. Inasmuch
as tho Indian cannot during a fixed number
Of years. ALLEVIATE his allotted lund. and as also
the great sums paid to the tribes for pur.
chased lands are to be held in trust and only
the income disbursed annually. there will bs
no chance for squandering the money. and
future generations will be provided for.
Foreign Notes Of Real Interest,"
Vigorous efforts are making IN Nice to break ap the
gambling houses Tho CATS chantants are alinost all
attached to gambling houses and raids frcuuent