Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-24
THE STRIP.
Success Of the Negotiations With
the Cherokees.
MANY FAVORS ALLOWED INDIANS.
The Price in Addition Fixed at $685.
1868 1-2-The Agreement Needing
Action of the Government-The
Cherokees Rejoice.

TAHLEQUAH, l. 7. Dec. 21.-After more
than two years of negotiations and
four visits of the Cherokee commission
to Tahlequah an agreement was finally
consummated whereby the Cherokees
agreed to part with their title to the
strip and only the action of the United
States is needed to make itpublic land.
The two commissions decided upon
the terms of the agreement Saturday
afternoon and it will be Immediately
submitted to the national council for
ratification. 1t must then be ratified
by the congress of the United States
and all rights, title and interest will
then be relinquished by the Cherokee
nation.
The United States commission ar
rived at Tahlequah November 10 and
Immediately commission was ap-
pointed by the Cherokee council to con-
fer with it. Daily sessions of the COM
mission have been held since that time.
Every grievance of the Cherokee nation
was discussed and all was provided for
bef re the price of land was considered
The collateral questions were all set
tied week ago, and by them the Cher
okees are secured in their home tract
from the annoyances that they have
heretofore suffered.
By the first article of agreement the
United States agrees to remove all per-
sons within the home tract of the
Cherokee nation who are recognized to
be unauthorized persons within the in
Of AIa
tofore made by an act of congress en-
acted in pursuance thereof
By the second article the Cherokee
nation is secured in its jurisdiction over
all it's old citizens, whether natives or
adopted.
BY the third article the fifteenth
article of the treaty of July 10, 1886, by
which other Indians can be located up
on the home tract, is sbrogated.
The fourth article provides that the
United States shall render an account
of all money due the Cherokee nation
under all the treaties from 1915 to 1858,
and if such accounting shall be incor-
rect or unjust then the Cherokee ma
ton may bring suit in the court of
clans for any alleged or declared
amount of money due them and unjust
ly adjusted in such accounting.
The fifth article provides that those
Cherokees now residents upon the strip
may take eighty acres of land each,
which shall cover their improvements.
The price finally agreed upon is S.
595, ,736. i216.
By the terms of the agreement the
Cherokees relinquish not only the strip,
but all claims or interests of any kind
or character they may have in the land
lying west of the Goth degree which
were conveyed by them to the Osages,
Poncas, Otoes, Missouris and Nez Per-
ces, though, as far as the Cherokee ma
ton is concerned, it has relinquished
all its claims to these lands which un-
der the patent were set apart to that
nation as an outlet.
The agreement provides further that
unless the contract be ratified by con-
gress before March 4, 1898, it shall be
null and void.
The contract will be submitted to the
national council for ratification and as
soon as possible thereafter to the pres
ident.
The Cherokee people express their
satisfaction that the question is fairly
settled and now look forward to an era
of prosperity in the security of their
home tract.