The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-02
WY OsAGEs- ARE RICH.
Commissioners Of Indian Affairs Tells
Things About These Indians


Washington, April AT the office Of
the commissioner OF Indian affairs a few
days ago contracts were let to cattle
men for the renting of the pasture lands
OF Csage Indians, in Oklahoma. These
Indians have 800, 600 acres Of pasture
lands. Of which 100000 acres were rented.
This viii add to the annual income of
the tribe about 100000 And already. .
said Capt. A C. Tonner, assistant com
missione1. Of Indian affairs to the State
Journal representative, the Usage IN
dams are the richest people in the world
Several years ago the lands of the
Osages in Kansas We're sold. the sale
realizing $4,000. COO. This money was
placed in the treasury of the United
States, and from it the Usage Indians
derive an annual income of $400,o In
addition to this they own 1.570,195 acres
OF land, which is fairly worth IS an acre,
ma king the value of their land holdings
$7-S50,975. There are 1872 Indians in the
tribe, counting men, women and chill
dren. They all share alike in the tribal
wealth, and when child is born it be-
comes joint property owner with al
the other Indians in the tribe. The prof
its from the s., 000, 600 held in the treas
ury, the recent rental of pasture lands
and other resources of revenue give the
OsaEes an annual income of approx
mately 100000, q per capita income
Of $304-25 for each man. woman and child
Where a family consists of man and
wife and eight children, as often hap
pens. the family receives each year In
CAST 5000, and on their lands they raise
all their foodstuffs and cons1dera bic
grain for the market
THE realty holdings of the tribe have
a per capita valuation Of SO, 9S7 or, for
a family of ten .$39, $40. There is no other
race Of people in the world, it is de-
claIed, that can make such a showing.
1.-THE Usage Indians have not failed TO
profit by this wealth. The sons and
daughters are sent east to colleges and
boarding schools to be educated, mary
of them receiving professional training.
There are a few families, of course,
which still live with almost the simple
ity that marked the lives of their savage
ancestors. but the desire for education
and culture is rapidly spreading, and
when the Osages become citizens a few
years hence they will be fully equipped
for he duties and responsibilities of cit
izenship
'lhe homes Of some Of the most pro-
gress3ve Osages compare favorably with
the dwellings of white people of equal
wealth. Their houses are richly fur
nished with carpets and modern furni-
turc. and in many homes there are
pianos upon which the boarding school
trairing Of the daughters has taught
them to perform. Horses and carriages
are not infrequent, and though the auto
mo lie has not yet made its appearance.
it is not an impossibility of the future.
THE enyiable condition of the Osages
has led to a considerable influx of white
set ers on the reservation, many white
men seeking alliances with this daugh-
tiers of the Usage families The tribal
government, however, has found q way.
if not to stop at least to profit by TINS
white emigration. From every white
person on the reservation a monthly poll
tax of 81 is collected. The imposition Of
this lax has driven from the reservation
many suitors for the hands of the Usage
mai6ens and has given those who re-
main an ardor and eagerness for 1natri-
mor.y which might not follow were long
courtships not thus rendered expensive
lux1ries."