River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-01-17

secretary of the interior, in which he
said: This bulletin on the five civil
lied tribes was originally prepared by
the special agent in charge, but his re-
port has been revised and rearranged
by the editors of the census under my
direction. Such revision and rearrange-
ment. however, are not approved by
him.
Although the report has undoubted-
" lost much of historical value by the
editing Of n man who was literary, but
lacl ng in information, it is of remark
able interest and great value. 1t
shows. in the first place. that these
civilized Indians have inalienable rights
to 25.Co4.546 acres of splendid lands,
covering more than 10000 square miles.
The Cherokees have 5,O3l. 351 acres;
the Chiclxasaws, 1850. $50; the Choctaws,
Cess. 600; the Creeks, 3,OiO,491; the
Seminoles, 375. 600. This land is equit-
ably divided according to the numer-
zeal strength Of the tribes. The big
Cherokee nation has also nearly 6,OO0,-
600 acres of unoccupied lands which
they may some day sell, and thereby
swell their treasury account with the
federal government. 1t pays the In
dams to approximate civilization. The
government is liberal with them. IL is
only the bad Indians" VINO get bull
lets and sabers instead of broad acres.
The report shows that the present
Indian territory lies between the
33d and 37th degrees of north latitude,
with a mean temperature of 30 de-
prees. There is great diversity of
soil. but the major portion is rich
alluvial. There are fertile and wei
watered rolling prairies. About all OF
the best lands are now in the Five
Civilized Tribes and Quapaw agency, as
embraced in the area called Indian
territory by the Oklahoma act OF May
.. 1890. The oak forests known as
s.the cross timbers," averaging about
30 miles in width, run from Texas
through Indian territory to Kansas,
with magnificent groves of enormous
trees The water supply is unsur-
passed. 1t includes numerous tribu-
tar;as of the Arkansas river in the
north an central portions while the
Red river and its tributaries water the
southern portions. The Arkansas river
is navigable in certain stages of water;
while steamboats, are in daily use on
the Red river along the entire southern
boundary The climate is similar TO
that of southern Georgia, and its prod
ucts are about the same. Extremes
of head and cold are not found. the
winters are mild, and in summer, while
the DAYS are not, the nights are cool.
The Indian territory was virtually
settled by the Creek Indians in 1877;
I and was set aside by act of CONGRESS n
/ 1s29. Formed from a portion OF the
/ territory embraced in the Louisiana
purchase of 1903. the area so utilized
/ was of the public lands which Presi-
/ dent jefferson suggested should be
used Ito give establishments to the In
/ dams of the eastern side of the Mis-
/ sissippi in exchange for their present
country" From 1903 to 1924 there
was almost incessant conflict between
+ the whites and Indians of the south
+ Atlantic states. TIE arabic land in
+ that region termed with a white popu-
1 lation which was constantly forcing
/ the Indians TO the wall.
Under President Andrew jackson, in
! 1882. the Indian territory was selected
and set apart for the five tribes, and
/ beginning with 1888 the Cherokees,
/ Choctaws. Creeks and Chiclasaws were
removed thither, and the Seminoles in
1916. The United States guaranteed
I these removed tribes to forever secure
/ to them or their heirs the country so
exchanged with them" These new
tracts of land were in exchange for
lands held by the Indians east of the
Mississippi. The federal government
also paid the Indians large sums of
money for areas sold and in excess of
the western lands, anc thus some of
The present trust funds of the tribes in
the Indian territory originated.
Each of the five tribes takes a census
very often; some every five years. some
oftener Their peculiar method of gov
ernment, whereby the authorities at
the several capitals are kept advised of
changes by the Light morse police,
enables them to keep fairly authentic
lists of the population. The enumer-
a.ors for the five civilized tribes for the
eleventh census were mostly Indians,
appointed on the recommendations OF
the governors or princi pal chiefs. Much
opposition was shoy n to the census. The
Creek and Seminole authorities aided
it, however, by Legislative action. They
urged the residents to give information
to the enumerators. but meetings were
held TO resist them. Under the cir
cumstances il was decided to ask as
few questions as possible and 70 get
the general statistics of the population.
The citizens of the five tribes watch
with jealous eye each movement OF
the United States or its agents. A
! serious difficulty was met in the answer