The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-17
Cc1tg Cbere
Uiew o. Witbita'S
Oldest Ilei9bbcrS.

IN the nations of the five civilized tribes,
but surprisingly few know exactly what.
Lutte Axline of Medicine Lodge well
known here and who is now an appraiser
OF Indian lands, in letter from Waham-
acka very clearly explains what is TAX
ing place. He says: Since sixty years ago
the government removed the Choctaw In
dams from Tennessee TO the Indian ter
ritory-a wilderness where it was suppos-
ed the red men could live safe from the
encroachment Of the white man and the
consequent. so-called civilization.
Time worked wonderful changes. The
Indian Territory, where it was supposed
the Indian would be safe and isolated, is
now the center Of an empire. The rest
less whiteman, not content with settle
ing all surrounding territory, has en-
croached and today we have prosperous
civilized Oklahoma, where fifty years ago
land deemed sacred to the Indian and
safe from the white race existed.
But to return to the Cnoctaws The
Choctaws are one of the five civilized
tribes. Their country shows many signs
of their long occupancy and of Indian
civilization. Scattered throughout their
nation are old cultivated felds-some of
them gone back to grass and thick COW
ering Of almost inpenetrable thicket of IN
dergrowth. But the thing that shows
length of occupancy of the land more than
the old cabins and fields are the graves.
In all parts of the nation are old burial
grounds that show age and indicate clear
y The occupancy Of a people for many
years.
Outside of the above indications there is
not much to mark long occupancy Of the
land. There are very few nice residences
and well improved places-only here and
there one TO stand as the exception 10
prove the rule that the Choctaw nation is
a country practically undeveloped.
All around the Indian country the white
man cleared and improved farms built
cities and factories, and from all sides
looked over into the so-calIed Beautiful
Indian Territory" and coveted possession.
Finally the Indian theory became a con-
dition TO be solved and the allotment Of
lands in severalty was decided upon as
the best plan. According the Choctaws
and some other tribes were given the priv
lege of taking their lands in severalty
They could select a homestead each and
turn Balance of land over to government
t. open for settlement and sale-funds to
be held in trust by government for tribe
or they could allot all the lands among
members of the tribe. The Choctaws
chose the last plan. and, accordingly, the
government. through the Dawes Com,nis-
sion, is proceeding as rapidly as possible
to carry out the PLAN
As the land varies in quality and value
in order to arrive at an equitable distri-
button thereof, a classification of all
the lands and the placing Of a money
valuation thereon became necessary; and,
also an enrolment of the members Of
the tribe, in order that individuals not
entitled thereto, be KEEP from securing
allotments. This work is being prosecuted
as rapidly as possible under existing con-
ditions and the limited appropriation made
by congress.
There is no question regarding the good
faith Of the government in the Indian
question. The history of the Indians of
America, while a sad one in many respects
shows throughout a constant effort on the
Tart of the government TO better their
condition and educate and advance-or
degrade If you see fit TO use the term
10 the point where they can successfully
compete with their white brother in trade
barter and the other points incident to the
white mans life The progress has been
slow. The Indian is instinctively welded
to the free, wild life followed by his an
cestors for so many ages. that he is-as
a peop!e-lOth to give up mis- old habits
and ideas. As a result the Indian Terri
tory stood in the center of n busy. active
commonwealth, a practically primitive,
Hndeveloped country where the busy. best
element Of whites would not enter because
they could not secure title to homes and
business interests, and still it was
country that became the refuge for many
OF the white outcasts from the states who
sought its seclusion and isolation to es-
cape the long strong arm Of justice. Hence
we had country where the best element
was composed of Indians and the worst
of whites. We do not mean by this that
all the Indians were good and all the
whites were bad, but that as a whole
the Indians. in the Indian country. were
better, more God fearing people than the
whites
We have not time to carry the argument
to its fullest extent and to sum it up will
say:
As soon as classification and valuation
Of lands is completed, the land will be
allotted to the Choctaw Indians according
to the dollars and cents OF the valuation
in proportion TO the number Of Indians
instead OF in proportion to number Of acres
As a consequence the Indian selecting poor
land will get a greater acreage than the
Indian selecting good land. This is logi-
cal and equitable. The Indian can then
tn the course Of years-under the law
dispose of all his land except homestead
OF 16o acres. which he cannot dispose Of
and give title to for q years after allot-
mept.
All COAL oil and other mineral is ex-
empt from allotments and must be work
ed un6er lease system: money and leases
II be paid into the United States trea-
sury for the Choctaw Indians.
This is not a first class country. In
TACT. taken as a whole, it is second class
While there are many beautiful spots and
rich valleys and prairies. the great ma
9ority IS rough hilly. rocky and barren
except for grass. And as a grass coun-
try Il IS not superior, Is 1t will not stand
heavy pasturing
Experience and inquiry Indicates that
the climate is not superior. The rule Is
rather heavy and constant rains during
the spring and up 10 about July n u.
then dry season sets in thar usually
lasts 10 about August Is. This year the
drouth over stayed its time and as a
consequence this section is drva- Than 7