The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-01
BUrrse TIE CHEROKEE STRIP.
An Agrecsent Reached st Last ny che Gsv.
ernnent and the Cherokee Cou,uaittee.

BUIING JHE CHEROKEE STRIP.
An Agreement Res cheA at last nv che asv.
eraaent ana the Cherokee Conmittee.
WARRINGTON. Nov 30--Ths long controversy
over the Cherokee Outlet IL rapidly drawing to
q close inssmuch as the Commissioners APP
pointed by the Government and the represent
atives OF the Cherokee Council have come to
terms. The bargain must still be ratified by
the Council before becoming valid: but since
the negotiations have been going on at Table,
Quah. the Cherokee capital. and perhaps In
consultation with the local authorities. there
is reason TO suppose that the agreement will
DO formally accepted.
TIL lately the Government Commissioners
had sturdily held to the original offer Of $l.25
an acre. which 10 about tho maximum price
fixed on tracts OF great extent purchased from
Indians. taking good and bad land together.
But to bring the matter to conclusion. they
agreed to S1.40 an acre. The difference may
not seem much. but as the tract includes moro
than ak million acres. the increase means
about million dollars more to the Cherokees.
The aggregate area Of the Outlet. weat OF
the Arkansas. is o.574. 4S8. IS acres. Tho Gov.
eminent some time ago bought. under the
provisions Of the treaty Of 1906. sundry tracts
amounting to sci. 1924 acres as reservations
for the Pawnees. Poncas. Tonkawas. Otoss.
and Miesourls. The balance IL GOA. 754. IL
acres, which at $40 would yield about
3ST1.056 But for some Of the land already
taken an appraised value much less than the
price per acre now agreed on was nxed. and
the Commissioners. II 10 thought. were willing
to let the whole Outlet be re-reckoned at the
maximum price. deductine the amounts al
ready paid on account Of the tracts hitherto
taken and occupied. At all events the round
sum now offered for the Outlet 10 ss. 100000.
It was of,ciAlly stated last rear that tho Gov
eminent was willing to hold the purchase
tnofty IN trust and pay per cent. interest on
Il. This would yield ths Chcrokees therefore
S43o.OOO q year for tract OF comparatively
little value to themselves. since they live else.
where and also have grazing land enough.
while its lease to whites has been prohibited
40 unlawful During three years, when It wac
under lease 10 cattle company. by toleration
Of the Government, It earned S1OU. 900 year.
Then after great deal Of haGgliug the Chero-
KEGS succeeded In raising the rental. It is said.
to 100000: but they found much difficulty
and delay in securing payment OF the
first halt years increased rent from the les
sees. who meanwhile made magnificent offers
OF future rent or purchase. probably in order
to blum tho Government or ia collusion with
the Cherokees for like purpose. But this
performance was promptly cut short by their
being ordered away with their cattle. The
Government now pays for the Outlet sum
yielding mUre than twice as much annually as
1t has ever earned: and this income IL not do.
rived from q mere private company. which IL
subject to losses or may at any time break UP
its business. but fs guaranteed by the Treas
ury Of the United States ITSELF
The Cherokees. therefore. have not made q
bad bargain; and. In fact. It's excellence will be
apparent on comparing it with the prices per
acre paid recently for other great tracts ac-
CURED from the Sioux. the Grove. the Chip
pewas. and other Indian nations. But there
are two special considerations which probably
had much to DO with bringing them down from
their former proposal not to sell the Outlet at
all or to get So per acre for 1t.
The first OF these influences was the recent
decision Of Judge Green upon the tito to the
Outlet The CheroSees had always relied upon
the belief that they held this tract In fee sim
ple. subject only to the right which they
granted in 1903 to the United States Gov
eminent to purchase portions OF It for
the use Of friendly Indiana. But Judge
Green. in the Quarry ejectmept case,
which was decided last September. held
that the grant OF tho Outlet had been ex-
pressly made subject to reversion to the
United States. should the Cherokee Nation
It. and further subject to all previous
treaty provisions. One Of these provisions
showed that the Outlet Was not coded for resi-
lencs and cultivation. but simply. as It's name
indicates. as q means OF egress to tho then
almost unsettled West. with its lands abound
Ing in game. Tho Court therefore decided
that. III the Cherokee Nation has ceased to use
the land as an outlet, such action has termi-
mated the estates and the lands have reverted
70 the United States" This. he said. was a
political rather than judicial question. and
accordingly was to DO determined by the Gov
The Cherokees took an appeal from
Judge Green's decision. IN order to carry It to
The supreme judicial court; but It can well
be imagined that this unex pected view in the
court below gave them some uneasiness. and
disposed them to look more favorably upon
he Governments liberal offer.
A second consideration was the fact that
movement was instituted to ask Congress at
he coming session to put an end to the long
over the price by taking possession
II the tract through proceedings to condemn
t for public uses. In that case the appralse.
nent might yield still less than the Gov
,rnment offered. since the price Of only AK
tents per acre was fixed for o tract Of 1O1 .S74
scrcs. forming part Of this same area. which
en- or twelve years ago. The urgency Of
to the new Territory OF Oklahoma
lccsss to the north through this tract has dis
,Osed some Congressman 70 spend no moro
line In dlckerinR.
1t may reasonably be hoped. therefore. that
he agreement to which tho Cherokee com.
nittee and the Government representatives
,avo come viii be promptly ratified. and that
his extensive tract on the southern border
u Kansas will be thrown open to settlement.
I Will yield the Cherokees handsome an
iual income. and meanwhile increase the
'alue Of the lands on which they reside.
THE FLORIDA Relationship.