The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-09-22
THE STRIP.

49,
are now in full retreat from the prom
ised land. They tell narrowing tales OF
suffering and privation and criticise the
governments management Of the open
ing up Of the strip.
The Cherokee strip comprises $685.
$50 acres and lies in the northwest cor
ner of the Indian territory. Its northern
boundary is the southern line Of Kansas
and it's southern boundary parallels its
northern line, giving it a width of fifty
seven miles and a length varying from
l67 to 2lO miles. The extent Of the
tract lie not easily c~omprehended with
out a comparison. 1t is equal to the
combined area Of two Rhode Islands,
Delaware, and Connecticut, with 167
square miles to spare. 1t became a part
Of Oklahoma territory when the presi-
dent issued his proclamation three
weeks ago and is now under it's laws. 1t
makes Oklahoma's area 39,303 square
miles and raises that territory to the
of being larger than twelve diff
ferent states of the union.
For nearly two Centuries the Chero
kee Indians have resisted the march of
civilization westward. AS early as 172l
their land on the eastern coast was en-
croached upon by the whites and they
began selling off their territory, retiring
westward, step by step, until they be-
cornered in the comparatively
small area finally allotted to them in the
Indian territory. In 1921 the Chero-
kees dominated over vast tracts of land
the east and southeast. In that year
hey coded to South Carolina 1,G19,000
acres. Since then they have sold and
of by treaty at intervals of from
i've to twenty-five years no less than
4, 100000 acres to North Carolina, Vir-
,inia, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas and the
United States.
BUSINESS man. Out of all the transac
ions exclusive Of the Cherokee strip he
eceived but S2,OO0.OO0. For the strip
@ received %SS,G00,OOO, but only after a
ard fight with the United States gov
rnment.
After Oklahoma was opened to settle
lent the boomers began at once an agi-
alton for the opening of the Cherokee
trip. The Cherokees and the cattle
arons, who had rented the strip for
purposes, resisted the agitation, =,
ut the boomer carried his point and
'ncle Sam bought the land and has now /;
attributed it among his family. {
Uncle Sam is a thrifty old relative and
oes not propose to lose money by the G
ansaction. He does not give the land |
way by any means. lie sells it to his
for cold dollars and makes them :
~ the cost of abstracts and deeds to 9
)ot. 1t costs the boomer about $40 to +
9 his preliminary papers, and from 81 l
50 to prove his claim.
The prices set upon the various por-
)ns of the land make a very good in I
* of its worth. The extreme eastern Y
of the strip will cost the settler
so per acre, the middle portion, S1.50, ;.
I'd all west of that 81. The extreme Il
stern portion contains the most valu il
lie land. 1t is good, rich farming land. L
is well watered and fairly well tim 9,
red. The middle division is fairly r.
cd land, but south of the Arkansas v
yer there is a scarcity of water. The L
'stern division is good for little but \
tile grazing, 1t partakes of the char v
ter Of the Texas panhandle. No Il
ans land, and southwestern Kansas. &c
airie dogs and coyotes flourish there, .,
t farmers will find it a struggle to ex- o,
4. Il
The governor of Oklahoma will ap. d
int the county officers as soon as pos vi
lie, and the settlers will soon be pro. it
led with the political and legal ma si
necessary for the government. a.
~