The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-20
NORFOLK vIRGINIAN: SUNDAY JUNE 20. 1897

SLflctiy. Tor the use or each and every
secondly, theyprovided that the old sys-
tenn should pass away. It was provided
that whenever they chose they might
take land in allotment and the United
States would survey and alllot tho land
for them at Its own expense and that
whenever they chose they might estab-
l1sh q territorial government and legis-
late upon subjects prescribed, whose
scope and limitation depended on the
approval of the President. subject also
TO the constitution and laws OF the
United States. Provision was also made
for United States courts in the terrific
ry, post roads, poStofflces, and United
States mails and railroads under United
States laws--a perfect surrender OF au-
tonomY If IL ever existed Then they
stipulated how the land should be held.
That is what the United States SOL
emnly guaranteed they would do and
when they do that and restore to every
one OF these poor Indians his equal
share In every foot OF that land and
III every one Of those coal mines and
OF those vast possessions, he end has
come. Those who hold power there will
unloose their grasp and have no further
interest III opposing any proposition that
VIII bring these tribes into harmony in
thelr own relations and In their relations
TO the government Of the United States.
mat is what this commission has heen
lmportuning the United States ut one
end and the Indians at the other to do"
Speaking Of the invasion OF the Indian
says k
me Indian Territory possesses the
possibilities Of q great State Her area
IS 'o'eoO square miles. Her deposits of
G Iii are enormous and OF untold mill
mons OF dollars in value. Building
S,oie equal,. II not superior. to the best
Cotton Wood Falls limestone OF Kan
Sas, and Longmeadow freestone OF the
t.ilSt is FOUND, In abundance The sun
ply of asphalt is practically unlimited
Although largely IL prairie country. the
river bottoms are filed with valuable
lll1lper' while In some portions arc large
areas of pines.
The population is estimated at AGE. Ooo
or whom 600 arc whites. general lv
lersonS holding permits from the Indian
governments TO live and transact bust
lless. mere are among these whites
1 .lIlS intrnuers, VINO claim rights and
noio lands, but refuse to pay for, ncr-
inlts. There are many towns, some huy-
ing population of 5000 and claiming
Twice as many-towns provided with
rieciric iiSht tine hotels, large business
p'ockS ana elegant residences. No one
has legal right to the house or lot he
occupies; 1t Is merely Il title OF occupan-
cy. not of possession, and yet real es-
tate agents thrive as they do in tho
States. There are six lines Of railway.
running daily twentyfour passenger.
trains and a large number OF Freight
trains The country is beautruI hn-
yond description, and its resources, the
development Of which has scarcely be-
gun. are almost beyond comprehension.
ihe INDIAN in the Indian Territory
VIII soon be a man without q country
unless the United States steps in to aid
him In the preservation of his domain
and the maintenance of his property and
political rights
IN one nation there are 5000, 600 acres
OF land and 10000 900 acres are controlled
by siXty-one Individuals"
Here is 81 realistic pen picture illus
tratlVc of the watchfui care exercised
BY the United States over those who are
being subjected TO cvflizing influences:
The method of paying the large sun,
or money received from tie sale Of the
! Famous Cherokee strip was corrupting
ana demoraliZng in the extreme There
are nine districts in the Cherokee ma
tinn ana Il payment was made in ach
district 1t is "a common talk that no
one attempts to deny that the Cherokee
officials having the paymen in charge
agreed to locate a payment at Vinita,
H. busting and thriving town, If the
citizens would pay them $4,000 After
much hard hustling the sum was col
| iected and paid over to these unsclhsh
and patriotic citizen of the Cherokee
nation. 4 payment was accordingly To-
Gated at Ninita, accompanied by It's
inevitable train OF evils.
"A. another place and payment the
Sheriff rented the Courthouse for i'm
moral purposes. The upper floor was
given up to gambling, and the lower.
where gathered Indians negroes, low
whites and lcwd women to drinking,
carousing and fighting. After two
nights the lower room was closed IN.
complaints were so numerous, but the
room above was kept running. Gamb-
lers. fakirs 200 lewd women, from each
| Of whom the Sheriff collected tariff, and
the thugs generally camped for days a
few miles from this place Of payment,
and Strove in every possible way to get
the money paid the Indians. When the
Sheriff was demonstrated with for the
course he had pursued. he said:
well! The present order OF things
is not going to long continues; the land
Will be allotted, and the form Of gov
eminent changed, and ] am going to
make as big q haul tIs poasible!
"A prominent Cherokee, a man Of in
telligence and refinement, said with re-
ference to these payments. that the loss
to his tribe in moral Status could not
be overestimated. 1t was simply ap-
Dalling. 1t would have been better for
The Chcrokees if they had never re-
ceived this money"
Mr.. Dawes is responsible for the sta te-
mcnt that large towns Of from 1000 to
5000 inhabitants have been built on the
lands Of the Indians: that hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars have been invested
by Pennsylvania capitalists In coal