Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-02-01
PETITION ron THE COURT.
Sign the Copy in Your Locality
aud Have a Court at Home.

The petition OF the subscribers, resi-
dents and citizens OF the Cherokee Ma
tion, in the Indian Territory, respect
fully shOweth that, Whereas, A bill is
now pending before Congress calling
for complete Jurisdiction of United
States Courts of said Territory over
the affairs OF said Territory, the in
crease Of jurisdiction Of United States
Commissioner therein, the appoint
ment OF two more United States
Judges therein, and fixing the locali-
ties where such Courts shall be held;
Now, therefore, in extension OF the
provisions OF said bill, your petition
ers respectfully pray that Vinita be
designated as one Of the places for
holding said Courts, and among 9TH
ers, for the following reasons, to-wit:
lst. The great distance and expense
OF attending Court at Muskogee, in
the Greek Nation, being an average
distance to us Of not less than seventy
miles, which, II reached in the usl a
mode, by rail,'at ruling railroad prices
Of 5 cents mile, has become an oncr-
Gus tax to all ltigants and persons
having business in said Courts.
2nd. The Creek Nation at MuskO-
gee, the Choctaw Nation at Sluth Nc
Alester and the Chickasaw Nation AT
Ardmore are already provided with
Courts at cOmmodiOus pa, ,es, while
the Cherokee Nation, with its prepon-
derating population and business has
thus far been ignored ard made sub
servlent to Muskogee.
Srd. Vinita has a population Of
about 1000 aud issituated at the cross
ing Of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
and the st. Louis x San Francisco
Railroads, and is the great natural
Eastern gate OF the Indian Territory.
1t has daily connection with st. Louis,
Kansas City, Springfield, Mo-, Little
Rock, Ft. Smith, Ark, and with Den
ison, Dallas and leading cities Of
Texas. No healthier place can be
found in the Indian Territory. IL
stands near the geographical center
OF that part OF the Cherokee Nation
which Is % contemplated 20 form into
one Judicial Division, embracing an
area Of about 1900 square miles, or
little less than the area OF the state Of
Connecticut. Il has large business,
educational and religious interests,
and Is surrounded by many thrifty and
growing towns, among which may be
enumerated Claremore, Chelsea, Az
ton, Adalr, Chouteau, NOwata, Bar
tlesyille, Bluejacket, FairlaUd, Miami,
Pryor Creek, CatOOsa, Talala, Oolagah
and sOthers, and has population esti-
mated at about $1,000. And yet this
population under the present organi-
zatlon Of the Courts cannot obtain the
appointment OF a guardian, or admin
istiator, or even a license TO marry
without trip 10 Muskogee, distance
varying from 25 10 ll5 miles.
A suitable court house and jail can
be provided, by private means, for at
least few years, without cost 10 the
Government, and we therefore urgent
ly pray that Vinlta be designated as a
place where the United States Court
shall hold Its regular sessions OF tern s,
and tina. the Division over which the
Jurisdiction OF the said Vinita Court
shall extend be all that part OF the
Indian Territory lying North OF the
North boundary line Of the Creek Ma
tion extended East 10 the State OF
Arkansas, including the Quapaw
Aoencv. and AZ In duty hound atc