The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-03

GUTHRIE, o. T.,April 2-Secretary Noble
Of the interior department, in II letter to
Governor Seay, under date of Washington,
March IS, gives his views in regard to the
opening of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
lands. The letter is as follows:
my DEAR GovERNoR-I have this day
sent to Major Wiegei, special land inspec-
| tor, a letter, of which the enclosed is a
copy. 1t expresses my general desire to
have the opening of the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe reservation made with all Que
consideration for the rights of the citi
zens, and explains that the presence of the
military is only for the purpose ofprevent-
ing the inj ustice that would be practiced
by those who might illegally endeavor to
seize in advance the best pieces of land.
You fully understand, of course, that
these reservations are Indian territory un-
til the signal is given for the opening at
the day and hour that will be fixed by the
proclamation of the president. The town
sites will also be public domain until they
are opened pursuant to your order. The
military has instructions to protect the
townsites MS well as the general reServa-
ton. They are instructed to act IN har-
mony with the officers of the interior de-
partment and of the territory. urge
upon you a careful consideration of the
duu GudG YOU DC DkcoChli IL pOS-
sible, at such a point as you may deem
best to superintend this most important
action. You have also been notified by me
that troops will be entered Immediately
upon the Cherokee outlet to protect 1t
from invasion under the already existing
proclamation of the president. Special In
spect0r Davis is at Arkansas City and
will act in harmony with you in any
matter there you may desire. l have also
written him to consult you.
Il regret very much that | am not able
to pay the expenses Of surveying and
plating the townsites for countyseats,
but such has been the conclusion and
judgment of the accounting officers of the
treasury, and | am not at liberty to pay
the bills. You, however, can recover
whatever expense there may be thus in
Cured from the lot-owners upon sale. |
enclose you copy Of my proclamation as
to cOunty-seats, and will furnish you as
the work progresses with the proclama
tion of the president, the list of lands to
be opened, maps of the country. and such
other information as | may be able to COM
mand. With the best wishes, yours
truly, JOHN w. NOBLE, Secretary"
Following is a.cOpy OF the letter of in
sent To Land Inspector Weigel
under same date as the above letter:
DEAR SIR send you copy OF my
order making reservations for county seats
in the six new counties in the Cheyenne
and Arapohoe country, which &re in &C
cordance with your last telegram. Today
orders have been issued to the department
of the Missouri by the major general COM
under the direction of the secre
tary of war, for sufficient force to be
usel to protect the Cheyenne and Arapa-
hoe reservation from invasion until the
opening is complete, and to protect the
townsltes for county seats likewise. You
will put yourself in communication with
this force in the field, and act under in
struCtions heretofore issued at the opening
On the east side, which were to the point,
chiefly, that the public should be kept we'll
advised as to the movements to be taken
and the purpose of the presence of
The military, which is that all
nav have fair chance and
no one snail be allowed by illegal conduct
10 obtain an advantage over others. Let
he people all be advised again, as they
nave been sveral times heretofore 10y me- !
hat my sole purpose is to open these lands
lnder the proclamation of the president
,or the public good, and that | bespeak
he cooperation of all good citizens to this |
md Until opened these lands are Indian |
erritory and the tOwnsites are public do |
main until appropriated under the local |
avs aud opened pursuant to the direction /
If the governor. You will keep me ad- !
Tised as to all matters of Importance aud | |
will inform you upon telegram on any |
points YOU desire. You will consult with /
he governor, with whom you must, of |
course, also act in entire harmony. |
Yours truly, JOHN w. NOBLE,
Secretary