Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-18
VOICES OF TINE PRESS.


The opening Of the Cherokee Outlet will
probably remove the last obstacle TO tn,
t4nsi .sicu Of Oklahoma as a state into the
Union. A bill for this purpose wss intro
lgeed In the last Congress, but il failed to
pass. the delay being due probably a. much
to the knowledge that new territory would
soon be ready for settlement, which would
| naturally be added to the new state, rs to
.ny other cause. This objection will b,
removed after this week. and an early ad.
mission Of the forty fifth state into the
Union may be regarded As certain.
Oklaboms. for that is the name that will
undoubtedly be retained for the new com
mon eaIth will be much smaller in area
than some of the Western states. but when
compared with many Eastern states it will
| make respectable showing. The original
Indian Territory, as constituted half CEN
fury ago. contained about 50 900 square
miles. In 1889 Oklahoma WAS set off with
about 1000, 900 acres Of land. and since
then nearly 5 DOC, 900 acres have been
added TO ii, making territory of some 7 :
900 900 acres. When the G,000, 900 acres
contained In the Cherokee outline are added.
and also the 1000 900 acres more contained
in the small reservations, the titles to
which are not yet extioguished, there will
be territory of 5000, 600 acres or nearly
"a 900 square miles. This will make n
state Just about the size of West Virginia,
and little more than half the size Of Penn
sylvania.
Ttis would be very respectable state,
both in dimensions and population. The
census Of 1890 gave Oklshoma q popula-
ton Of 90 900. II is believed that this has
| increased since to At least 100, 900. and the
| addition Of ~. 900 or $4,000 more people
by the opening Of the Cherokee outline will
give the territory almost the number Of in
habtants needed for member of Congress.
In fact. before the territory is admitted il
will probably have nearly 200, 900 people
within it's limits. As its soil is practically
all arabic and much Of it equal
10 the best in the United States, and ~ the
country has other resources equal to some
OF the richest in the Union its future growth
and prosperity may be taken as assured. If
it is admitted ~ = state by April, 1894. the
wonderful spectacle will be exhibited of a
territory springing 10 Ave years from the
time a white could claim home within its
limits into an orderly. well governed, indie
pendent Commonwealth.
The next step will naturally be the incor-
poration of the lands OF the five civilized
tribes with Oklahoma Territory, or state.
outstanding the large tracts opened to
settlement in the Indian Territory, the
Creeks, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws,
and Seminoles still retain more than half
the territory, and. agriculturally, the
richest part. Propositions have been made
looking to the allotment of lands in sew
crafty 70 the members of these tribes and
the sale of the rest of their reservation to
the government. IL this could be accom-
plished Oklahoma would take rank at once
among the second-rate states west OF the
Mississippi river But As the treaties with
the Indian tribes preclude their coming I'M
der any state government they could not be
absorbed into Oklahoma without their free
consent. The unjust treatment these tribes
received from the state of Georgia hfty
years ago will probably make them unwill-
ing for some time TO come to subject them
selves again to the government of the white
man.
The Ave civilized tribes are rich. not only
in land. but in money. No community in
the world can equal them in wealth per cap
ita. Beside their lands they have millions
Of dollars on deposit with the general gov
eminent from which they receive an annual
income. But. notwithstanding this favor
able situation, the progress of civilization
among them and the pressure brought to
bear BY the growing communities surround
ing them must eventually influence them to
throw off their tribal state and cast in their
lot with their white brothers.