Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-05
is THE LAND SHARK
WHO STANDS N THE WAY or a
SETTLEMENT.


Comanche, !. r, Dec. 1.-Two months
ago II was quietly known that the allot-
ment idea was n failure. and the plan
of reconstruction while holding the
land In common was mp for consldcra-
ton. The disturbing element to Il
proper settlement Of the land In com
mon or allotment Is the land shark
Not In these United states In land
sharking carried 10 such dlsgraeetul
degree us In tile I'VE civilized tribes,
II Ia the only spot known where n man
can wire up or simply "claim" 100000
acres OF land 10 which he has no legal
or moral right and without one cent
of taxes or expense. use II ms though
he owned II In fee simple and 20 into
q United states commissioners court
and get Judgment for one-third and
| one-fourth rent from settler, who had
| Improved, at his own expense, 100 acres
| OF II. These land sharks dn,ru1cra
| dcfIod the Chicl,hsaw land laws. They
| then dofied the settlers In the United
States CO rrtH and propose 10 eniorct
their unla wful oohtrhots-nim ny COT
Letting raUia as Indian landlords; Sec
ond, by taking without consideration
the settlers Improvements
when IL was known that the tribe
nnd the United states government had
combined 20 protect the ihalnha nn1
sharks, the 'roxas ,'lilnhcnn Union
NJ once took position with them.
At once wo secured native Indians ~
our landlords, and sent warn
ings TO AN the settlers 10
make written contracts only hereafter
ana thus have proof that the Improve
rnonts were their own. a howl was
raised by the land rhnrka. and many
OF the settlers were dunfiouhueu
scarce knowing what 20 DO. hui tnls
much raa been settled 10 date, the set
Tiers who are held down by lntruders
viii generally refuse 70 mnke nnX tur'
ther rental contracts with them TIL they
have some assurance OF its Legality
II han become known thut u ~ tht
NrkpnrnH law Of contracts thnt W used
by these land sharks againgt the set
tiers
When our natives located here over
the heads Of the intruderr and made W.
her agent and attorney ~ fhnt. u wht
rupposod 10 be an individual matter
hut the furnishing and printing OF The
Chickaeaw Jaw showing IN the lmpnst
crs IN their true legal status struck ter
i.or to the land sharks. as most all thei'
renters win refuse to recognize them
further as landlords.
Now tonnes the report OF the Dawes
commission recommending laws TO pro
tact the Indian ana American ciuzef
equally In their vested rights. excep'
"intruderH."
Tint congress will act on the matter
IN the same spirit we have no doubt
This Is the present solution OF the mat
ter, and Il means the land may be helt
Ia common, but the intruding LAM
shark. under plea OF an INDIAN right
must no. There is probably SQO,o O'
acres near Comanche held down b,
men who have no legal rights whatev
or.
Eeventy-nve miles away Ia nm orphan
homo where about seventy lndiaf
children are supported BY the govern
mont. moi one OF them, under thu
lana sharks rule II entitled to on'
foot OF their native aoil except II b,
, room enough TO bury them when dead
F; Dut a change has come. HomeieTi
natives are looking towards comanche
They ask cnn we have home ther'
, too7 The answer goes back yes Come
on, There Is room for three hundred
. more with q one thousand arfea ench
And they are coming. Kindness nnc
Justice 10 each other IL our pledges
The Duncan ring IL frantic and tNtett
ems 10 defeat Judge kilrores confirm
alton, but the settlers are VIZ hna,