The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-20
BUYING INDIAN LANDS,

FROM the NeW ofk Times.
The bargain for the purchase Of the
Cherokee outlet-a tract considerably
larger than New JerSey-which congress
viii soon be asked to examine, adds one
more to a remarkable series of recent
acquisitions of Indian lands for settle
ment We may take as a starting point
among them the notifications by con-
greSs three years ago of the Oklahoma
purchase from the Creeks and Seminoles,
tract of 1887, sol acres, or nearly two
thirds the size of Connecticut. Then
came the Sioux purchase in the Dakotas,
aggregating about 5000, 600 acres, or an
area nearly third as great as Pennsyl-
Vania's. About year ago a series Of
purchases was ratified by congress in the
acts of Feb. - and March 3, 1891. They
included, in Oklahoma, 39l. 1S5 acres
purchased from the Sacs and Foxes; 49,
446 from the Iowas; 2S8, 1872
from the Pottawatomies; 3,000,0 900
or thereabout from the Cheyennes
and Arapahoes Then from the Coeur
d'Alene reservation in Idaho came 1884,
$50 acres; from the Fort Berthoid i'll
North Dakota, about 100000 acres;
from the Lake Traverse III South Da-
kOta, about $50, 900: from the Crow in
Montana, about 100000 acres. Thus
the total under agreements ratified last
winter alone was over 5000. 900 acres.
We must not forget also the 1000, 600
acres in Minnesota given up by the
Chippewas.
But this is not all. We find the
Wichitas since agreeing to sell 514 010
acres, the Kickapoos to sell $50, 466,
the Tonkawas to sell $4,000. Then
there were, at recent date, COM
missions negotiating with the Indians
of the Shoshone or Wind river reserva-
ton in Wyoming, the Pyramid lake
reservation in Nevada, and the
Puyallup reservation in Washington
for selling parts Of their respec-
tive domains. Last summer an agree
ment was effected with the Colvllles,
in the state of Washington, to
give up half of their reservation.
or 500, 900 acres, subject to the allot-
ment of eighty acres for each Indian en-
titled thereto. Finally, we have the
great purchase of the Cherokee strip.
which has been recently consummated.
The aggre gate of the purchases actually
negotiated during the period referred to
is, as we figure it, something like 30. 000.-
600 acres. During the present year this
enormous aggregate may be further
swollen, since a commission will soon
try TO buy part of the Navajo reserva-
ton. In the northern central portion of
this tract of 5000, 600 acres are the Car
RIO mountains, where rich mineral de-
posits have from time to time been re
ported. 1t is thought that the tribe.
which numbers from 15,0 600 to 20. 900.
may De induced to sell that portion Of its
lands. ard this would add seve;aI million
acres to the amount already spoken of.
But the red men viii have lands
enough left. Their aggregate, out
side of Alaska, must much ex-
coed 10000, 900 acres; and. all told,
there are not quite 250. COO In
dians, including the taxed and taxable.
who number between 10000 and 40. 600.
Hence it can hardly be said that they
are unduly crowded, and the DAYS of
buffalo hunting and similar roaming
over vast areas are gone. 1t is true that
that there are great differences in this
respect, some tribes having much more
land in proportion TO population than
others. But ali find elbow room. and
since the policy of congress Is that Of
severaltv allotments, the tendency must
be TO the continued reduction of reserva-
lions
1t Is extraordinary indeed what a
change has come over public sentiment
of late years III the matter Strict isola-
iiou was formerly believed 10 ,e the
wise policy both for the red man and his
white neighbors, bur now the most
earnest friends OF the Indian are
eagerly anticipating the breaking
down of the barriers Of the reser- /
walton system. III order that lie NAV be
admitted to-the advantages which prox-
unity 10 civilization should yield. and
without which only slow progress can be /
expected. Besides. in buving these
lands the government has probably IN
the main, dealt fairly with the tribes.
the aim being not 10 drive { hard bar
gain, bat 10 pay a reasonable price, tax I.
Ing good and bad land together. IN :
vested or held by the government Tor the
Indians at good rate OF interest, the
purchase funds wlii furnish 4nnullies I
Tor generations. until finally divided
among those able - take care ot them.
Il j. possible - oveE,io the reduction If
ressr vatious. but that danger cau he
guarded against by eating halt now in
buying .anas. and prosecuting with 4
more energy and literally tie education 1
OF tie led men