The National tribune., 1893-05-11
nOugh. But at any rate there would be a


! enough. But at any rate there would be a
contest
So you see that if I have my agent to make
/ my entry as a veteran as soon as possible after
the moment of opening, and also make the run
! to the desired ground, will, as a veteran, have
double the chance of getting what / want that
a man has who is not veteran, or veteran
| who does not make the run himself. am con-
vlDced that that is the only, best way to act in
| such matter, and my advice to the comrades
ali over the country who are contemplating a
| settlement on the Cherokee Outlet is to be on
the ground on the opening day"
How else does the law regard the veteran
in the matter Of settlement on this land ?"
took pains to look up the law the other
day. The general law applicable to the settle.
ment of this land is that the first occupant of
any quarter section (160 acres taken in squared
will be entitled to Il patent for the same, at a
price fixed by the Government of course at
the end of one years occupancy and improve
mcnt
J." Now. the advantage accorded to the ex.
soldier IS that he can make his entry by agent
and will then have six months within which
TO make his settlement in person upon the
land. which if he does not occupy at the end
of that time reve-ts to the Government. In
every case priority Of right will depend upon
the priority Of the initiation act whether OF
entry or occupancy. AS between those who
have not been soldiers, the first occu pant will
be entitled TO the right; as between a veteran
aud a veteran, the first in time whether
of entry or occupancy, will be entitled. In
any case OF interference the question becomes
one of evidence solely. In such case if the
soldier depends upon his entry at the Land
Office, he must be prepared, as ! said before, 10
show that such entry was made earlier than
the occupancy Of the land by his contestant.
The unmarried widow or the orphan children
OF soldier have the same rights regarding he
homestead that he would have had if living"
g." Is your party entirely made up?"
Oh. no; the fact is, want more men. We
want 500 actual settlers. In union there is
strength, you know, and with that number of
families, or Whereabouts, we can make up COM
munty by ourselves. You might say that
live at 926 New York avenue n w. Washing
ton. d. C., and | will answer any letters from
comrades, Enclosing postage, wishing to know
under what terms they can join our company.
This is the chance of n lifetime and the scenes
that attend the opening of the Cherokee Out
let will exceed in significance and importance
those at the Oklahoma opening. The eastern
half of the Cherokee Outlet is the country for
the veterans, and if that country cut there
ever comes into the Union as one or more
States and the influences are working slowly
and surely to bring about different state of
things, it will take q front rank in the Union"
And so ended the interview with Comrade
Gillingwaters.
WIN tHc OpbulIiS settlement OF the IneT0-
kee Outlet, the last piece of land that can be
dealt with in this way is now disposed of to
the white settlers. Already the Indian Terri
tory IS assuming very significant position
among the other States and Territories.
But the worst element of the Indian Terri
tory at present is the white population. Al
though great many men who have married
Indian women are law-abiding persons. there
is large proportion OF :" bad men there who
have been driven out of their own countries or
States for some reason. and the train-robbers
and desperadOes of the West run for the Indian
Territory as their place of hiding. However
these people would be driven out and swamped
by numbers were the surplus lands to be opened
for settlement throughout the Territory; for
the Territory would make two good. sized
States, and there would be a great immigration
thther. The most of the lands are excellent,
and it has bigger area than Pennsylvania.
1t contains IL 600 600 acres, and there are more
than 100000 practically unoccupicd. If all
the Indians in the United States were put
upon it, there wonld be more than 200 acres to
every man, woman, and child among them;
aud many Of the lands are OF such nature that
they could be farmed with very little exertion.
There is every reason to believe that the posi-
bilitics of the Indian Territory have never
been fully realized that here is probably
land that is destined TO be one Of the most
important, agriculturaliy speaking at least, in
the country, though that is yet a long way off.
At the time that the Five Tribes were placed
upon these lands of the Louisiana Purchase,
now known Indian Territory this manner
of settling the Indian question was merely an
experiment. The Chickasaws, Choctaws,