The sun., 1893-11-14
Kickapoos, Wichitas, and Kiosvas.

Kickapoos, Wichitas, and Kiosvas.
The opening Of the Cherokee Strip dis
posed OF very large part OF the lands
available for general settlement in the In
dian Territory. but not quite all. There
are two smaller reservations already pur-
chased In that region. which will soon in
vite pioneers. while q third has been given
up by the Indians. although some dispute
over the terms may postpone or prevent
the actual transfer. The first two of these
areas aggregate nearly 100000 acres. with
nearly three-fourths Of 1t. we believe. capa-
BILE Of being thrown open after its red own
ers shall have picked out their allotments.
The third area comprises nearly 100000
acres. with five-sixths OF it available for set
tlement. Allcombined would yield perhaps
3.25O.OOO acres. 1t is clear. therefore. that
there is still chance for those who did not
procure lands in the Cherokee Strip to OBJ
tain others near by.
The first Of these reservations to be con-
sidered is the Kickapoo. 1t consists OF
2O6. .4G6 acres. situated between the Deep
Fork and the North Fork OF the Canadian
River. 1t Is practically surrounded by
ceded territory. having on the north the
Iowas. on the east the Sacs and Foxes and
on the south the Pottawatomies, while
on the west Is the Oklahoma line Of 1889.
All three OF the reservations have been
thrown open to settlement. But the Kicka-
poos for long time were unwilling to give
up their lands. At the first visit OF the
| Commission. they refused to listen to any
proposition Of purchase. 1t was difficult
even to got them together. AS there were
only about 24O of them. they were
to receive large individual sums but
they objected altogether to taking lands
in severalty. which was a necessary basis
OF action. The Government at that time
offered them. we believe. an allotment OF
eighty acres for each man. woman, or
child. and S646.50 in cash for each person.
Another visit, the following year. brought
a second refusal. They dstrusted the policy
Of partitioning their land. However. the
! persistence OF the Commissioners and
the action of the other tribes all around
them at length proved too much. and they
| agreed to take lands in allotment and to give
| up the rest. About 200 acres. apparently,
will need to be reserved. and the remainder
| can be thrown open. 1t Is a beautiful
country possessing soil OF great fertility.
and even with the rude agriculture of the
Kickapoos has raised good corn.
The second reservation. for which nego-
tiations have also been concluded is the
Wichita. This is found on the right bank
Of the Canadian River. between that river
and the Washta. and southeast OF the Chey-
enne and Arapahoc reservation. 1t Is south
west OF Fort Reno This reservation contains
745.60O acres. The allotments to the tribe
would raunira ba
mainder. or $4,000 acres. will be opened.
The region Is we'll watered by branches
both OF the Canadian and the Washita riv-
ers. and there.is plenty OF arabic land in
the valleys. Apart OF it has been used for
grazing by cattlemen who leased it. and 1t
contains some good timber
The third reservation Is that OF the Kiowas
Comanches. and Apaches. which lies south
OF the one just spoken Of. and accordingly
between the Washita and Red rivers. The
branches OF these two main streams. par
ticularly OF the latter. are found in nearly
all parts OF the region, yet it is said that 1t
suffers greatly from lack of rain. East OF
the reservation Is the Chickasaw nation,
while across the Red River is Texas. Per-
haps the most striking Typographical feat
ure of the region is the Wichita Noun
tains. which are reported to contain min
eral wealth. although they have been little
explored by prospectors. In the northeast
OF the reservation are the Keeche hills.
Fort Sill Is central point for this reserya-
tion. the agency being near by The total
area OF this territory is put at 2.06s, $3.50
acres. The agreement made last year for
its purchase provided for paying the In
dians S2.OOO.OOO besides giving them allot-
ments amounting perhaps to 453, 900 acres.
This would leave remainder available for
settlement. OF nearly 2.5l6.OOO acres. But.
while the Indians have made this sale. the
agreement has not yet been ratified by Con-
gress. and meantime 1t has been said that
the red men are dissatisfied with their bar
gain. aud Insist that Misrepresentation
were made which should render 1t OF no
effect. 1t seems likely enough, however.
that in one way or another they may be
made contented. The desirable thing In the
bargain Is that the red men should want It,
so that afterward trouble may not arise
The Kiowas. Comanches. and Apaches will
no doubt have a fair hearing. although they
have signed the agreement of sale.
1t is remarkable how from its little
nucleus OF 1.sS7.sO acres In 1859. Oklahoma