The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-16

sas, in the north and central parts. and the Red
sas Ia navigable to Fort Gibson in the Cherokee
Nation. while steamboats, ply daily on the Red
River along the entire southern boundary. The
climate is Tx that of northern Georgia, as are ths
products, while great extremes or heat ana colo
The total population OF the Ave tribes was
1881; OF whites and colored people on military
reservations, s04-an, aggregate OF 1so,lS2;
only so, O55, while the colored Indian citizens
and eolo5ed peop,le and r f5eedmen not . 1iiiz Ems
whites. including some claimants to Indian
citizenship, 1O9,3 1893. 1t was difficult 70 classify
the Indians exactly BY tribes, not only because cause
tribes. but because there were intermarriages.
Besides. many whites claim to be Indians whose
white in color and features are also Indians by
remote degrees OF blood or by adoption: some
tom. However. the population by tribes, was
and b.l27 colored Chickasaws, 57,329. Of whom
taws, 4s.sos. with 2s.34s Of them whites and
4,4o6 oolored Creeks. 1912, including $3.50
Guiding I72 whites and 500 eolored.
These reckonlngs Of whites and colored in
Indian Territory contains twice as many whites
Of indians AMONG the Cherokces is put at so.io;
Chickasaws, ell; ChoctaIs, 25.24; Creeks,
much the smallest OF the Ave tribes. 1t is
noteworthy that the tribes themselves make
careful and frequent enumerations. being inter-
ested in so doing on account OF the question OF
dividing money received.
The Ave tribes, according TO Mr.. Donaldson,
adopt the customs OF whites. A few are old
timers, adhering TO moccastns, blanket shawls,
s Snn tha,sh hsII ,dPe Medicine naG men arsstil 1f found.
and believers In the old indian faith, but the
number OF ehHrGR omm nSnn, IN th 9, I ,Se
entire population" with Baptists, Methodists,
and Presbyterians predominating:
In the census year an area OF not less than
800, 900 acres was stimated to be under some
kind of cultivation. much of 1t primitive, with
at 4',s5o,o 900 bushels Of corn. wheat. and oats,
All, 900 of vegetables, &c, 1000 To 10000 bales of
ton, So. 75U, 900. The live stock Of all kinds was
estimated at 1866 900. Cotton, cattle. sheep.
and various surplus productions are marketed In
lures, except OF woollen blankets and shawls.
willow baskets, &c.
tons, valued at Sl,323.sO7, and employing an
average OF 1873 persons with S927,e6 as
nut timber for gun stocks, many OF which are
shipped to Europe. BY actual count 3,5s3
and 58i among the SeminoIes' a good number
for their population. No complete returns were
made OF houses in the other nations. Seven
the chickasaws, supported by the whites and
the non-citizens; three among the Choctaws,
four among the Creeks. and one among the Cher
okees, this last being half IN English and half
In Cherokee. There are national banks at Mus
cOgee and Ardmore. with some private banks.
There are Gs Post Offices In the Cherokee Ma
tiOn, D2 In the ChiCkasaw, 81 in the Choctaw,
10 in the Creek. and 3 in the Seminole.
The towns are not Incorporated, there being
no law for the purpose, and hence no town lines
or limits. or sewers. water supply, police or
fire departments, Yet the towns though merely
camps, have many valuable buildings. and the
Indian owner may collect rent from tho lot
holders. There are fees collected for licenses
10 trade or to practise a profession or 10 reside
In the nation. United States Commissioners are
appointed for the towns, who have deputy mar
shals under them, as the United States courtin
the Territory has jurisdiction OF civil suits az
fectlng those who are not citizens OF the tribes.
The school systems of the five tribes are Of
ten very, good, and In addition 60 the public
schools there are mission schools. In one of the
tribes, however, the freedmen and colOred peo-
pie are not properly considered In school mat
tiers. There are regular courts among the five
tribes, additional TO the United States court,
The land holdings are in common, with individ-
uals, however, fencing In for cultivation large
areas OF Il. One Of the striking facts brought
out Is the value OF the colored population.
mostly freedmen, To the fys tribes, since they
are often industrious and enterprising.