The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-17
SETTLED.
Continued from first page.


along the ri-ets and creeks near the
border. Many passed the time previous
to last Monday in learning the character
of the land, and in hunting for good
places along the line from which to start
in today's race.
Last Monday the registration booths
were opened for business, aud from then
busy seeking an opportunity to secure the
certificates issued from them. These Ger
tdcates were tickets Of admission into the
strip. Without certificate no one could
cross the border, and il a person without a
certificate escaped the vigilance of the
guards, he would not be permitted to file
preliminary papers on any claim. This
plan was adopted by the general land Office
as IA means of checking the sooner, the most
troublesome of all classes of boomers, the
individual who takes advantage of his fell
lows by entering land before the appointed
time. The plan was at first hated, with
delight by the honest boomers. but when
The registration booths opened for business
II soon became apparent that, with the IA
cilities provided, all conld not be furn shed
with certificates, and then the boomers bs-
gan to fear that the effort to checkmate
the sooners might deprive prospective
settlers of the opportunity to enter The
land. The facilities OF registration were to-
tally inadequate, and everybody interested
directly or Indirectly appealed to the in
terror department 10 Increase them. 1t
took the department several days TO alize
the situation, but finaliy On Thursday
night, additiona! facilities were authorized
and all applicants for certificates were ac-
com III odated.
In the meantime great lines of people
had stood in front of the booths for four
days in a blazing sun, during which time
an unprecedented hot wave swept over the
country and a hot wind blew as blast
from furnaces mouth. adding to the
miseries OF the waiting men and women.
Food was scarce, and so little water was
to be obtained that it was valued at from
5 to 10 cents glass. These hardships
heaped upon men already wearied aud eX
hausted by waiting in the line day and
nature could endure. Many were pros
lrated, soma OF whom died. The prostra-
lions, 50 far as reported, numbered oyer
one hundred and the deaths ten. In the
midst of these deplorable conditions there
were some bright spots. The men, true
TO the American respect for women, gave
up their places i'll the line to the suffer
ing members of the weaker sex. AT
Arkansas City women were permitted TO
enter tue boots IN squads of hundreds,
without even joining the line. Good
humor, as a rule, prevailed during the
Liresome wait. and nothing of IA disgrace
fui nature marred the occasion. Having
secured certificates, the boomers prepared
Tor the race They trained their ponies 10
yallop over the rough praries, to swim
rivers and to climb steep declevitles. They
riding over rough stretches of
and on bicycles, and practiced foot racing
over the same courceS Others, less am
ltious, became prey to the gamblers,
yho Infested the cities. towns and camps.
md who drove a thrifty business among
he idlers. While the long wait for the
opening was not a long continued round
IT uninterrupted pleasure, IL will become
,ne Of the most memorable features OF the
pioneer experience.
TUE CHEEOKEE STRIP.
The Cherokee strip, comprising $685.
80 acres, lies in the north west corner of
he Indian Territory Its northern bcun-
lry il the southern line OF Kansas and its
out!i y line parallels its northern line,
,iyin- It, :. width of 81 miles and length
,arying from 167 to 2i0 miles. The extent
# the tract is not easily comprehended
without mpirsou. 1t is equal to the
ombined area OF two Rhode Islands, Del
Ware and Connecticut. with 167 square
niles to spare. 1t became u part of
Oklahoma territory when the president
ssued his proclamation three weeks ago.
nd is now under its laws 1t makes Ok
ahoma's area 9,303 square miles, and
aises that territory to the dignity of be-
NJ larger than twelve different states of
he Union. With the homeseekers which
dded themselves to Oklahoma's popula-
ion today, that territory has good reason
o demand admission to the sisterhood of
tates, which demand is now being pressed
pon congress by Delegate Flynn.
For nearly two centuries the Cherokee
indians have resisted the march of civili
alton westward. AS early as 1921 their
and on the eastern coast WAS encroached
pom by the whites, aud they began sell
~ off their territory, retiring westward,
tep by step. until they became cornered
a the comparatively small area fiually
lloted TO them in the Indian Territory.
In 172l the Cherokses dominated vast
racts of land in the east and southeast
n that year they decided TO South Carolina
.679. 900 acres. Since that time they have
old and disposed OF by treaty at intervals
rom five TO twenty-years. no less than
Z. .300, 600 acres to North Carolina, Virginia,
.eorgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Kansas aud the United States.
he Cherokee lndian is not much of
uSiness man. Out of all these trausac-
ions, exclusive of he Cherokee strip, he
eceived but 81 000,0 ,000 For the strip he
eceived SS, COG, 900, but only after hard
ght with the United States government.
After Oklahoma was opened for settle
lent the boomers began at ouce an agta-
ion for the opening OF the Cherokee strip,
he CherOkees ana cattle b.Ions, who had
ented the strip for grazing purposes, re-
lsted the agitation. but tue boomer car
led his point, ana Uncle Sam bought the |
and, and has now distributed il among
is family. Uncle Sam is a thrifty OLD
elative. and he does not propose to lose |
honey by the transaction. He does not !
i've the land away. by any means. He |
Ellis it 10 his people for cold dollars aud |
lakes them pay the cost OF abstracts and |
esd, 20 boot. II costs che boomer about |
- TO file his preliminary papers aud fronl |
to 50 per acre TO prove up the claim.
fhe prices set upon the various portions |
The land make very good index of its !
'orIh The eXtreme eastern portion of |
le strip VIII cost t6e settler 81 30 per |
Gre. the middle portion. 81 50 per acre, |
nj west of thab 81. The extrems eastera |
ortlon contains the most valusbie laud |
/ is good rich farming land, we'll wstered |
nd fairly we'll timosred. The middle |
lvison Is fair land, but south OF the Ar |
ansas river there Is a scarcity of water !
ne western division Is good for little but |
tttle grazing. Il pa takes of the charac- |
.r OF the Texas Pa1bandle, No Mans |
and, ana southwestern Kansas Prairie |
ogs aud coyotes flourish tnsre. but farm /
IS Will md 1t struggle TO exist. The /
rip Is watered by the Arkansas aud |
imarron rivers. several smaller streams, /
MI aaauy creeks.
The settlers will not lack Transportation |
icllities The Santa Fe hss two liaes |
iiougA the country, one passing /
trough directly south from Arkau- |
IS City. aud the otaer diagonal.y |
rom kiowa 10 ths southwestern coraer /
etween the Santa Fe lines ths Rock Is /
ma passes through from Caldwell, Kan, /
north aud south line.
The country has beea divided into seven |
L. N. \, o, and Q. Each |
1uuty has been provided BY the govern |
lent wita a counsy-seat aud by specui.