The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-07


government.
The land office has not yet been EXTENT
ed to Alaska and the entries made there
up 10 the present are on spsc.all surveys.
By an act approved March 8, 1897. au-
thofity was granted for entry of land
for TOWNSHIP purposes and also for the
purchase of not exceeding 100 acres of
land for trade and manufacture. Con-
gress has enacted that only such regu-
lations should apply to the territory as
have been specifically named. It is read
lily seen what necessarily remains ITO be
done for that vas, but rapidly filling up
territory. Authority was granted by
congress last year to- divide that terri
tory into two sections for the purpose
of land entries and for the appoint
ment of registers. Pursuant to this au-
ehority a land office has been authorized
for Sitka. If during the coming season
the demand warrants 1t, further appoint
mentis will be made, according to law,
at some point ON the Yukon valley, whieh
is all THAT is now necessary 70 be done
for the two hand districts into which
the territory lis divided.
I concur with the secretary OF war In
the necessity of a military force in the
Territory of Alaska for the protection OF
property and persons. A small force I'M
der command of Lieut.. Col. Randall, of
the eighth infantry has been sent to st.
Michael to establish military post. As
it is to the interest of the government
to encourage the development and set
Element, and its duly to follow up Its
citizens there, with the benefit of legal
machinery, earnestly urge upon con-
gress the esta blishment of a system or
enable lit to ADJUST itself to the future
government of such flexibility as will
wants of the greatest popula ton.
The startling reports, though perhaps
grs atty exagg I'd, from the Yukon val
ley of q proba BILE shortage of food to
the number of people wintering there
without means of leaving, have CONCERN
ed the aughoHities to iInvesti gate the mat
ter and bring it bsfore congress. How
ever, should these reports or t.he surfer
ing of our fellow citizens be further
verified every effort at amy cost should
be made to carry them relisf.
The Indian Nation
For number of years past it has been
apparent the conditions under which the
Five Civilized tribes were establishsd In
the Indian Territory under treaty pro-
visions with the United States with the
right of f-government and the exclu-
sion of all white persons from Wfnln
their borders have undergone so COM
plte a change as to render. the contin-
nance of the system thus inauguTated
practica1ly inooperative. The population
of the Five Civilized tribes as Shown by
the last census is 5,511, and this NUMBER
has not materially increased. and the
white population is shown from 2Vo,ooo
to $50 OOO which, with the PERMISSION
eff sHis INDIAN government, have settled
sn the territory The territory consists
of %, $50 900 acres of land, most OF whlch
is FERTILE. The United states citizens re-
siding in the territory, most of whom
have gone there by invitation or with
the consent of the tribal authorities. have
roekle permanent homes fer themselves.
Numerous towrs have been built In
(which from 500 to 1000 white people now
| reside.
/ - Residences and business houses have
been erected in many of them: The
large business enterprises are carried
on and vast sums of money are employ
| ed. vet these people who have invested
| their capital in the development of the
productive resources of the country are
without title to the land they occupy
| and have no voice whatever in the gov
| eminent, either of the nation or tribes.
Thousands of their children who are
born in the territory are of school age,
| but the board of educators of THE terri
| tory have ruled against them, and what
education they receive is or private
source. No protection for the safety
80 tj1af
| is made by the tribal government and
| courts.
| The secretary of the interior reports
| that leading Indians have absorbed great
| tracts of land to the exclusion of the
common people, and government by In
| dian aristocracy has been practically
| completed DO the detriment of the peo-
pie. 1t appeals ITO the United States to
| keep its citizens out of the territory,
! and the executory conditions contained
| in the treaty with these nations have
| for the most part become impossible of
operation Nor has it been in the power
| of the tribal government to secure to
| each individual Indian his full enjoy
ment in common with either Indians of
the nation. A remedy for the evils of
the five civilized tribes would be found
| in American citizenship with all the
rights and privileges which belong to
| that condition aat
| By section 16 of the act of March 8,
| 1898, the president was authorized to
| appoint commissioners to enter into ne
gotiaItions with the five civilized tribes.
Practically the object of the negotia-
| lions was to break off the extingush-
ment of the title ito lands held in COM
may be agreed on between the tribes
conveyance to the United States and
the apportioning of the same in several
| ty among the Indians of said tribes as
| may be entitled to 1T by such method as
| may be agreed ON between the tsibes
aforesaid and by them with the United
! States, with a view of adjustment on
the basis of law and equity in accord
ance with the consent of the said nation
| of Indians so far as it may be requisite
and suitable to enable the ultimate crea-
ton of Stats or states of the Indian
| Territory which shall annhrapa fba Ia nj