The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-11-30
LOOKS FAVORABLE.
The PropOAltIon Of the chOeeawn Co tha
Dawes cOnmIssIon May BE Accepted
Says the iIndlan CommlnsIoner.

w asnlnBlOns IL. O.s NOV. %
Under the authority vested in it
by act of congress the Dawes com
mission must conclude its work in
the Indian territory by December
10. The present status of the con-
troyersy between the government
and the Indians is the considera-
ton by the commission of a prop
osition from the Indians to permit
the opening up of the territory and
the allotment of the lands in sew
crafty on the condition that the
United States will pay to each cit
izen of the Indian nation the sum
of $500.
This is the proposition of one Of
the five civilized tribes, but doubt
less indicates the feeling of all as
to the benefits they should receive
for Remuneration Of their treaty
rights. The officials of the Indian
commission and the officials Of the
Indian bureau of the interior de-
partment have analysed this pro-
posal and figure that it means the
payment by the government TO the
Indians of in the neighborhood Of
$50, 900, 900. This indemnity does
not strike the officials in Washing
ton as being so outrageous as it
has been considered in quarters
adjacent to the Indian territory,
The sum asked is a large one,
but the value of the territory and
the benefit which would accrue TO
the United States from its opening
should be considered before tits
pronounced as exorbitant, said
Chief of the Indian Bureau White
today. THE territory of the five
civilized tribes Is as large as the
state of Indiana. There are at the
present time loo, 900 white people
in that country. There is no more
productive land in the United
States. Its mineral wealth, too. is
great. Some of the best coal mines
in the country are now being ope-
rated there. / have never seen
finer farms than are to be found
within the borders of the territory.
Several fiourishing towns have
been built up. South MeAlester,
MuskOgee and Ardmore have an
average population of 1000. and
have some fine business buildings
and beautiful residences. All this,
progress, il must be remembered,
has been accomplished in the face
of the fact that the white people
making the improvements have
not been able to get valid titles to
their lands, but hold them merely
on an arrangement made with the
Indians. 1t can he readily believed,
when the conditions in the territory
ure understood, that if that coun-
try was opened mp to settlement
by the whites that it would bios
som as a rose. The territory
under present conditions prevents
the development of adjacent terri
tory. Missouri, Arkansas, Kan
sas are all being held back by the
failure to open it up. / believe
that the government would be
making an investment which
would pay. it well if it paid to the
Indians the sum asked by them
and brought the territory under
government control. AS to the
townsites, / believe those who made
them what they are should be
: given them on the same terms as
the government allots public
lands"
Judge White said he believed
the opening up Of the territory
would mean hundreds of thousand;
of dollars increase in st. Louis
trade annually. The Dawes com
: mission report will 60 to congress
after the holiday recess.
Finest line of groceries in tn,
o,4,, - C&or. Gpoaarxv