The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-05
INDIANS COUNTED.
A Census Bulletin of the Five
Civilized Tribes.
ChickasaWs Lead With $1,000,
Cherokees Come Next.
ALL NUMBER 17S,O97.
None of Them Taxed and They
Govern Themselves.

WAsHrNeToN, Oct 5--A comprehen-
sive and interesting bulletin, pub
lished in book form and profuse1y Il
lustrated, swas issued by the census
Office, covering in detail every subject
of general interest connected with
the five civilized tribes of the Indian
territory, the Chickasaws, Cherokees,
Choctaws, Creeks and Seminoles-
Their aggregate population is us. 0s7-
OF this nnn Der 81, 600 are Chickasaws-
The Cherol<ees come next with a pop
ulation of Sc, 600; the Choctavs have
population Of 43, 900; the Creeks IL, 600
and the Seminoles. 2,700. In each
tribe the males are the prepOnderating
element The tribes occupy an area
of country amounting to nearly 26,-
600, 600 acres. All these Indians are not
taxed and not under the control of
the Indian Office, but are carried on
its rolls.
''Much opposition was'shown to the
census" says the bulletin The
Creek and Seminole authorities aided
it, however, by legislative action
They urged the residents to give in
formation to the enumerat tors, but
meetings were held to resist them.
The condition Of the five tribes is that
OF a self-sustaining, fairly prosperous
and law-abiding people. They live in
a land without assessment taxes
4A6 CGEM C1NAl1ZG4 was originally
applied to them in contradist tin elton
to the life of the wild Indian tribes,
but as a whole their civilization is
not that of the civilization of the
Anglo Saxon The majority are
quarter and half breeds, and have the
features of the white man
Their system of governm ent IS
modelled on that of the United States.
They have governors, or principle
chiefs, elective legislators, elective
courts and officers and police. They
have schools of their own. and char
tiles and churches in profusiOn-
Their school books are IN English
Newspapers are numerous and post
offices plentiful Their civiliza ton
has not been accom- plished without a
vast expenditure Of time and money
by the white people No Indians IN
the United States have received such
care from the whites or have been
aided much by the United States.
Much of the progress of the so
called" civilized tribes IS stated to be
due to a large negro population
These negroes, once slaves, are now
the labOrerS of the five tribes. They
are fairly we'll advanced and steadily
increasing in numbers, wealth and
intelligence The Creek nation is an
alert and active one, which. saws the
bulletin, is largely due to the negro
element, which controls it. No dis
titled spirits are supposed to be sold
in the territory of the five tribes. A
villainous mOonshine whisky distilled
in the Ozark mountains. Arkansas,
and known as white Mule is snug
g1ed into the territory. It IS said to
be the cause of one half the crimes
Crimes committed by the citizens of
the five tribes are promptly punished.
BY the treaty Of 1866, the Indian
courts alone punish Indian criminals.
When an Indian Is condemned to
death, the execution is by shooting
and he is given a period-thirty days
usually-in which to go home and ar
range his personal affairs He goes
without guard or control. arranges all
his earthly matters, bids his friends
good bye, returns at the time ap-
pointed and is promptly shot Not
one Of the many so permitted to GO
home after conviction. up to 1890, has
failed to appear for execution.
Nine lines Of railway traverse the
territory. with a total mileage of 1, O46
miles The trust funds arising from
sales of land under treaties with the
United States to the credit Of the na-
ton amount to SIS, 900, 600, and the an
nual interest upon this is S414, OOO-
This sum, received from the United
States each year, together with fees
from licenses and permits ena bles the
several tribes to exist without levy
4 l.