The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-07-26
Here
and
There


wri,eup Of the Kiowa and Comanche
reservation II Is with view Of giving
truthful and accurate description,
nothing In malice or overdrawu. The
writer has been across the reservation
several times, on hunting and fishing
trips. and once with heavily loaded
wagons. lie has seen the reservation
as n wilderness. and again in q few
short years VIXEN he was seldom out
Of sight of a house. These houses are
those OF the Indians, who are now
largely upon their own a'lotments. and
each has house provided by the gov.
crnment and the Indians own effort
This improved condition is due largely
tn the efforts Of the Indian agents, the
foremost in this work being that OF
Major Frank u. baldwin. The Indians
are now living In houses and many of
them cu'tivnting more or less ground.
The lands lying south of the noun.
tains as well as To the north are largely
susceptible to the tickling of the plow
and the industry of the plowman and
farmer. That these lands arc produc-
tive is proven from the fact that such
lands are now cultivated, and further
by the evidence that the Chickasaw ma.
ton on the east and the county Of
Greer ON the west are in cultivation
and producing god crops and sustain
ing large populations There need be
no doubt as to the climate and produc-
tiveness Of the reservation. IL is not
only a good climate, bat has produc-
tive soil. Sur, ounded rs Il is by coun-
ties already settled, cultivated by n
people who are intelligent, cultivated,
religious and refined, makes II n land
very desirable in which to make a
home.
The surplus lands. after the Indian
has taken his allotment. will give
homes to great many families About
l,00o,o0o acres will be required to give
the Indian his share, about l,O00. 900
acres Is taken up in the mountains.
leaving about :,OO0.OoO acres to the
homesteader
The kiowa, Comanche and Apache
Indian reservation lies between the
Washita river on the north to Red riv-
er on the south, about 100 miles, and
n ON the Ysth degree OF west longitude
to the North Fork of Red river ON the
west. t. distance of about 10 miles and
comprises about s.oO0. 900 acres of land.
The location is easily found on any
modern map. The Rock Islands Texas
branch runs close To the eastern border
and has brauch line from this place
which follows the Washita river. which
river is the boundary line for u greater
part OF the way between this rescrva.
tion and tina, known as the Wichita
reservation. No map but Of recent
date will give this new line, IL having
been built during is?a.
This reservation is composed of fine
agricultural and grazing lands both
north aud south of the Wichita noun.
tains, which is range of low but
rough and rugged mountains reaching
from the eastern To the western bound.
aries, and comprises about i,oOo,OOt
acres These mountains contain min.
erals in untold quantitics-untold for
the reason tina, they have been guarded
with the jealous eye Of an agent and
his Indian olice and the United States
troops from the vigilant search and
covetous grasp OF the willy prospector
That rich minerals exist there canno,
be doubted ut this time There has
been enough found and tested to prove
that gold, silver, tin, platinum. zine
and lead exist there in paying quaint
ties. We have ON our table n piece oi
ore that will fuse with the heat of au
ordinary wood lire, and n metal, either
tin OF lead. will flow from IL. Gold and
silver are ye, undcvelopcd To an extent
to prove their real value, but assays
have shown values ranging from - to
el3O per ton, and even much higher
The rush for these claims will equa
tina, Of the ~ days Of California, that
Of Pixies Peak. and that of the --latest
gold find. the klondile.
The climate il all that one could ash
for, the temperature in summer seldom
going above 100, and in winter rarely
going To zero. and really cold weather
never lasting more than day or tive
ut time. The climate Is such that
the sweltering heat Of other sections !,
never felt here, white the nights ar'
linvariablc famed with breeze that
makes sleep not only possible but re
frcshing. Hut little snow falls, ant
from drinking from running streams
Along the foot Of this mountain
range are numerous streams Of running
water. sxirted with more or less timber
The land along these mountains Il
more or less broken, but afford fine u.
tie valleys of fertile lands and thu
finest Of pasture or grazing lands, thu
principal grasses being the gamma an'
mesquite, being the most nutritious
that grow. Cattle eat and fatten OF
this peculiar grass when II Is dry ant
brown rs the northern grass Is In th'
dead of winter. and of which cattl'
will not eat ut all Mt thai time. Cattl'
are turned loose upon these mesquit'
pastures and never eat anything els
summer nor winter
Among so large a tract OF land mus
come lands that are higher drier ant
poorer. There are sand hills ant
brakes in this reservation as in othe
places Some of these are utterly use
less. The sandy sections are easier o
cultivation, and better adapted TO corr
than Is the closer and harder soil Of tn
mesquite lands. The water supply
abundant in every part Of the reserve
tion, being found In springs, creek
and by digging to depths Of 20 to 4
feet. The rainfall In this reservation
can only be estimated by the countie
nd joining which would be from 20 to 0
inches year.
Away from she mountains the Ian
opens out into undulating plains cros'
ed aud traversed with fine streamS Q
flowing water, slirssd with more O
less timber. Often these plsius AT