The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-13
New York Times.)

(New York Times)
Tishomingo Chickasaw Nation, ]. T.,
July 11.-This little hamlet, with a pop
ulatlon less than 200, is the capital OF
the chlckasaw Nation. 1t stands upon
a beautiful knoll on the east bank of
the Washita River. The artists brush
never traced a landscape that would
compare, In beauty and charm, with the
prospect from the steps Of the rude
Capitol Of the Chickasaw Nation. For
q sweep Of twenty miles up and down
the winding Washita the eye feasts
upon rural picture the equal of which
cannot be found in all this Indian coun-
try. Along the banks Of this spark
ling stream are skirts of heavy timber.
while extending out for two or three
miles are bottom lands as rich and pro-
ductive as the Valley of the Nile. Then,
there are occasional bluffs and hills to
relieve the monotony and back of these
are beautiful stretches Of prairie COW
cred with blue stem, tall, rank grass,
which has ripened and rotted enrich
ing and fertilizing the soil, for untold
ages.
Many would suppose that In this re-
mote region isolated from railroads and
the influences Of high civilization, the
red man does not realize the extent and
appreciate the value Of the heritage be-
queathed to him by generous Govern
ment. To such trip through the Chick
asaw Nation would be a revelation.
Beautiful and well-cultivated farms,
adorned with comfortable homes and
outbuildings, herds Of fat cattle, miles of
corn fields, hundreds Of acres of cotton
and bins and cribs filled to overfowing
with last years corn are some of the
evidences that civilization, industry and
energy have taken deep root here.
The five civilized tribes of the Indian
Territory number about $1,000, the pop
ulahon Of the Chickasaw Nation being
at the last count about $780, OF these
about $500 were nominally dressed in
the clothing of the whites. There are
about 1900 who are classed as mixed
bloods," many Of whom show but a
slight trace of Indian blood, and are
among the most prosperous and ener-
getic people found in this country. The
largest farms, ranches and plantations
are managed by these mixed bloods
Hundreds Of white men have settled In
the reservation, married Indian girls
and are now the nominal owners of fine
farms, with as good and well-appointed
houses as can be found on the farms
in any State in the West. They raise
cattle, corn and stock. They seldom
sell a bushel of corn, but have large
and well-arranged feed lots, where Il
Is fed to cattle and hogs. These "squaw
men" frequently have fields of corn con
tanning from 500 to 5000 acres, and store
their corn In forty-acre feed lots, wei
watered and finely equipped for tina
purpose. They own the finest horses
and buggies, and their daughters U.s.
the most costly pianos. Their farm i'm
PIGMENTS are purchased by the car load
and their farm products-cattle, hog
and cotton--are sent away in like man
ner.
The Chickasaw Reservation contains
4,650,000 acres, only about 10000 acres OF
which are under cultivation. On the
north lie the Seminole and Pottawato-
mic Reservations and Oklahoma On
the west the reservations of the WITCH
itas, Kiowas Comanches and Apaches
On the south Texas, and on the east
the Choctaw Nation. At least one-hali
of the Chickasaw country will average
with the best agricultural land on the
continent. The other half excels the
Pan Handle of Texas as stock coun'
try, because there is an abundance o.
water, and timber for shade Travel
ing from north to south through thi!
country, one will not see any of thu
tree moss or mistletoe until the valleys
of the Canadian or Washita Rivers ar
reached. From there to the Texas lin'
it is common. This Is explained by tn,
fact that 1t is only found where tn
atmosphere is heavily charged with hu
midity. For this reason the Chickasav
Nation receives bountiful rainfall. ant
the farmers were never known to fai
on a corn or cotton crop. On any o
the lands in the Chickasaw Reserva
ton, If allowed to grow undisturbed
the blue stem grows eight feet Il
height. On the uplands it is also yer
rank, but not so tall, but on any o
this land the Texas blue grass will max
a fine and permanent growth.
If the professional lobbyist. VIII
works State Legislatures, should wan
der into this queer Indian capital whe
the Council is in session, he would fee
at home. These Indians pattern afte
the whites in their local government
When the Council. which Is the law
making body, is in session in Tishomin
go, all the big chiefs, rulers, and Lob
byists are here to exert their influenc
for or against the many schemes hatch
ed out by the more intelligent member
of the tribe. The Nation. as these II
dams insist on being denominated, pr
tend to have a tribal government, an
all legislation must go through certai
routine. But, as a matter of fact. tn
head chief, or Governor, his Treasure
and the judiciary generally constitut
the ring" whose suggestions are Law
Tbara are two classes of the thrift