The Washington times., 1894-07-30

In the population of about % 900 there are
.0G0 full-bloods and the rest are mixed with
whites and negroes.
The Tahiequah and Going Snake districts
were laid early in June. In addition TO the
population here given there are l56 orphans,
81 allottees. 9 convicts, and 16 luratics. The
guardians draw the money for orphans and
lunatics and the nation holds the convictS'
money in trust for them.
The story OF the Cherokees is sad. says a
correspondent of the Kansas City Star. writ
ing from Tahlequah. They have been driven
about from pillar TO post and have ceded to
the United States of America SO. 600 GOO acres
of land. The states OF Georgia, Alabama,
North and South Carolina, and West Virginia
now embrace portions of their original pos
sessions. Gov. Nicholson. of South Carolina,
bought the first tract in l72l. His successor
in office. Gov. Glenn, bought more in 1855.
J. Stuart, the British superintendent of Indian
affairs. bought fifteen tracts after 1868.
So it went until December 90, 1885, when
the Cherokees gave up the last ecre OF their
southern home. Then they were brought
here at the expense of the government. Some
few had come in 1920, when the agitation be-
gan. and their descendants refer 70 them as
tine ''old settlers" and are even now suing
the United States for the ''old settlers" trav-
cling expenses from Georgia.
Martin Van Buren,, when the Cherokees
EtGtllti ii' MINUS ihtN uOn OttupN. ~
them: Here is patent to 1900 900 acres
of land. This shall be your home forever"
This patent, with the good Martins sigma
ture is now in the capitol ut Tahlequah.
But how their hunting ground has dwindled.
First ii was land the government wanted to
give other Indians. the CsagaS. the Foncas
the Pawnees. the Nez Perces. the Otoes, the
Kaws and the M!ssouris. Then it was the
neutral strip. now the southern tier OF Kan
snunfIns Then an her
the government wanted, until finally a few
wears ago the Cherokees ceded 10 the United
States the now famous Cherokee strip
5000 900 acres-at one stroke of the pen. 1t
left the Cherokees 5000, 600 acres, which they
still possess.
The opening of 1.-The strip to settlement
last September is an event still fresh in MEM
ory. The strip is now being paid for. The
United States gave the Cherokees IS. 900
In gold-beatipg bonds for it. The Shawnees,
Delawares and negroes ana fifty-one allottees
claimed share of this money. and their suits
are now pending in the United States Court of
Claims and i'll the United States Supreme
Court. To be prepared in the event OF a de-
cision in their favor the government held
back Il $50. 900 of the bonds. and the Chero-
KEGS sold the rest--S6. go. .000-to Wilson &
Co.. of New York, for par plus Sl00. 900 pre-
MUM. and 1.-The payment" means that they
are now distributing this money among them
selves.
Tahequah is twenty-five miles from rail-
way station-Fort Gibson on the Iron Noun
tain Railway-and the wagon road one of the
toughest in the world, its only redeeming
feature being that it passes through thous-
ands OF acres of wild blackberries and
through some of the most beautiful scenery
on this continent. The Cherokee Nation.
what is left of it. is a garden spot of trees and
flowers and running brooks. SO different and
so superior to the strip" they sold the gov
ernment, that 100000 acres of the one
wouldn't tempt man SO much as 5000, 900
acres OF the other.
The present ruler of the Cherokees, G. J.
Harris, became chief December 81, 1891 He
had been Senator from the Canadian district
for three terms of two years each. He had
been Chief Mayes' private secretary and
served as such four years. He was elected
treasurer and served two months, when, on
the death OF Mayes. he was elected to fill the
vacancy. His Office as treasurer was given
to E. L. Starr, who has charge of the present
payment.
Mr. Harris represented the Cherokees be-
fore the United States government for several