The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-23
INDIANS
ARE HARD
TO PLEASE
Agents Have Difficulty in
AlIOtting Them Land.
PROCESSES OF THE WORK
Judge MuseIIer Tells an Eagle
Reporter About 1t.
PROCESSES OF The WORK

Guthrie. 0. T, April 22.-Judge \ r.
Musener Of Perry. who has charge Of the
allotting in the eastern portion Of the
Wichita Indian reservation. was in the
city yesterday after having been out in
the Indian country starting his crew Of
men al work. There are now three crews
at work at the allotting. Perry and Kirk
patrick have the other crews and are
working in other parts of the reservation.
There are at present about $50 Wichitas.
including the affiliated trioes. TO aIiot.
In fact, there are about as many Caddoes
as Wichitas IN the reservation. About
two years ago lis allotments were made
in this country by Coleman ana Mills.
but they were never confirmed, and this
work must be done over again.
I'VE have been at work allotting nine
miles northwest of ChielIasha this last
week" said Judge Muscular. "and next
week we viii move up near A.lnco. Where
we have not been there are principally
white men who have married Indian
squaws. and we do not need an interpret
er. The men usually select the land that
they have been farming, although they
can select any OF the LAM that they wish.
The old ruling that the In-lan shall have
so acres Of farming land and 50 acres OF
grazing land still holds good. although
when the Indian takes what he wishes
and if he is next 20 hill he will usually
take what he has been living on rather
than change his Improvements.
ct Is hard 10 tell what progress can De
made IN aHotting owing to the fact that
sometimes we are hampered oy the In
dams changing their minds about what
they want. Now. we had case Of this
kind last week. One man had 10 chose
six farms. After he had made his decis-
ion he came to me and wanted TO change
in order that ne might have another piece
Of land. The law says that he is entitled
TO make his choice. and for that reason
we win have to make the necessary
changes. 1t is my impression, thouga,
that the work viii move along all right
after we get thoroughly started, and that
by the first of June it viii be completed
There is certainly some fine country in
the reservation, and it Is really surprising
to one who has never been over it.
''Are you bound to any secrecy in this
matter?"
1--WE have never had to take an oath OF
secrecy about telling what land has been
taken by the Indians or what has not. IL
probably would not make any difference /
If the land is opened by a lottery. but it
might make some change IN affairs if the
old fashioned horse race prevailed. How !
ever, we are not saying anything about I
the matter.
There are plenty Of people anxious to /
get into that country, and i do not blame /
them much for that. There are fine /
stretches Of farming and grazing land and |
without any question It is one Of the !
finest countries in the southwest
There is much interest being taken in /
the opening Of the new land and every {
day "schooners' of the original Oklahoma [
boomer style can be seen pulling for the I.
boundary lines Of the reservations which I
are TO be opened. In most cases the peo- (
pie look to be prosperous and 20 there +
for the express purpose OF getting a 4
home. Others. however. have not the afr 4
OF prosperity and are simply going 20 the Z
new country with the hopes OF getting
something for next 20 nothing and bet
tering their present condition. Their
horses look old and faded, as If they had 4
Travelled far. but for all Of that the occu-
pants Of the wagon have the character
istic expression of the westerner to make
the best Of any kind o. a proposition.
whether foT the better OF the worse.