The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-04
THE FIVE NATIONS.
People Who Live Without
Taxes or Assessments
on Millions of
Acres.
APART FROM THE UNITED STATES
Interesting Statistics Of Civilized
Indians Issued by the
Census Office.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 1s94-A COM
prehensive and interesting bulletin pub
lished in book form and profusely Illus
trated has been issued by the census
office, covering in detail every subject of
general interest connected with the Five
Civilized Tribes of the Indian Territory.
The five tribes who inhabit the In
diar Territory enjoy a government sepa-
rate and distinct from that OF the Unitea
States They are known respectively as
the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw,
Creek and Bemnole tribes. Their ag-
gregate population is 17S,o97 OF this
number $1,000 are Chickasaws The Cher
okees come next with a population Of
56o0o The Choctaws have a population
of 1900; the Creeks, 1890, and the Semi
noles, 200. In each tribe the males are
the prepondering element. The tribes oc-
cupy an area of country amounting to
nearly 26,000,000 acres.
Much opposition was shown to the
census The Creek and Seminole author
tiles aided it, however, by legislative
action They urged the residents to give
information to the enumerators, but
meetings were held to resist them.
The condition of the five tribes is thar
of a seif-sustaining, fairly industrious
and law-abiding people. They live in
land without assessment or taxes. The
term civilized was originally applied
to them in contradistinction to the life
of the wild Indian tribes, but as
whole their condition is not that of the
civilization of the Anglo Saxon. The
majority are quarter and half breeds
and have white features.
Their system of government is model
led on that of the United States. They
have governors, or principal chiefs, cleo
tive legislatures, elective courts and Of
f1cers and police. They have schools of
their own and charities and churches
in profusion. Their school books are in
English. Newspapers are numerous and
post offices plentiful. Their civilization
has not been accomplished without
vast expenditure of time and money by
white people. No Indians in the United
States have received such care from the
whites or have been aided so much by
the United States. Much of the progress
of the so-called Civilized tribes" is
stated to be due to a large negro popu-
lation. These negroes, once slaves, are
now the laborers of the five tribes. They
are fairly well advanced. and steadily
increasing in numbers, wealth and in
telligence. TIL eCreek Nation is an alert
and active one which is largely due to
the negro element which controls it,
The land in the Indian Territory is fer
tile, but the poor roads prevent market
ing the crops, consequently cattle raising
is a better occupation than farming
Much of the farming of the Five Tribes
is merely for a livelihood. Ninety per
cent. of the Indians practice the white
mans ways and follow his customs The
Creeks and Choctaws still keep up their
ball play, and old Indian dances are
still held in some of fluctuations. Some
individuals of the Five Tribes are still
elassed as old-time Indians and maintain
sturdy adherence to old Indian habits.
No distilled spirits are supposed to be
sold in the territory of the Five Tribes.
Al villainous moonshine whiskey dis
titled in the Ozark Mountains of Arkan-
sas, and known as White Mule" is
smuggIed into the territory. 1t is said
to be the cause of one-haf the crimes.
Crimes committed by the citizens of the
Five Tribes are promptly punished By
the treaty of 1866 the Indian courts alone
punished Indian criminals. When an In
dian is condemned TO death the exeeu-
| ton is by shooting and he is given a
period, thirty days usually, in which to
go home and arrange his personal az
fairs. He goes without guard or con-
troll, arranges all his earthly matters,
bids his friends and family good bye.
returns at the time appointed and is
promptly shot. Not one man of tha
| many so permitted to go home after con.
viction, up to 1890, has failed to appear
for execution.
The climate in the Territory is equ-
able, with little cold weather and snow.
February is considered a spring month.
1t is followed by a long and hot sum-
mer with pleasant nights. Nine lines Of
railway traverse the Territory, with a
total mileage of 1,043 miles.
The trust funds arising from sales OF
land under treaties with the United
States. to the credit of the nation,
amount to $S,OoO,OOO, and the annual in
terest upon this is $41SOO0. This sum re-
ceived from the United States each year,
together with fees from licenses and
permits, enables the several tribes to ex-
ist without levying tax upon their own
people.