Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-07-25
The INDIAN LANDS.
Preparations for the Opening in
Spite Of the Injunction Suit
10 SELLING OF NUMBERS ALLOWED.



Washington, July ga Secretary
Hitchcock said yesterday, with refer
ence to the effort to prevent the open
ing Of the Oklahoma Indian lands to
settlement by injunction proceedings
ct Fl Reno, that the preparations OF
the department for the opening
would proceed as though no suit had
been begun. 1--WE shall not let the
matter lgo by default" he said, "but
we apprehend no obstacle from that
proceeding. Anyone can bring q
suit"
The secretary yesterday took cog
nizance Of reports coming from Ok
lahoma that the men who are regis
tering at Reno and Fort Sill are do
Ing so with the intention Of trans
ferring their rights to others. 1.-THE
report" he said, sis TO the effect that
they can and will dispose OF their
numbers at enormous profits. That
ID absurd, because it is impossible UNI
der the regulations for them to
transfer their rights. For any OF
them to attempt to do SO would be
a clear violation Of the law. They
take an oath not to do such thing
and to use their rights for their own
conclusive benefit. There can be no
speculation in these numbers"
The secretary also said that reports
ore coming to the department OF
scheYes for disposing OF numerous
townsites, the promoters offering
chances to the public. "rhe only
townsites which have been author
ixed," the secretary said, "are those
OF the three county seats. No others
have been sanctioned and no one
knows where others will be. Hence
al except those three are bogus and
reports Of their establishment should
b. denounced as intended to deceive
the public
Referring to the suggestion that the
new lands should be sold at auction
and the proceeds Of the sale turned
over To the Indians, the secretary
said: "These lands are as much gov
eminent property as are any other
part Of the public domain. They have
been purchased from the Indians and
title Is no longer In them. Hence
the plan is not feasible. Moreover,
II would not be wise, II practicable,
for II the lands were put up at auc-
ton they all would fall into the hands
Of men with money and the poor man
would have no chance whatever. I'm
der the present plan all have equal
rights, regardless of conditions Of
wealth, and that this fact is recog-
nized IL made evident by the large
number taking advantage of the OPP
portunity for registration"
The registration will close at six
p. m. on The Goth.
The Total Registration.
I'll Reno, July 4.-The grand total
number of homeseekers registered is
1855. At III Reno yesterday there
were registered 1851; at Fort Sill,
2,4O3; total at FL Reno, loa,02o; total
at Fort Sill, 2To46.
General Passenger Agent Thomp-
son, Of the Rock Island, has advices
that passenger trains from the north
are heavily loaded and he expects a
big rush to-day, Thursday and Fri
day. Reports from Topeka are that
Santa Fe trains for Oklahoma are
packed. The Missouri, Kansas 4
Texas also is hauling several trains
Of homeseekers, who will be trans
ferred to tlp Inoctaw iuon nv ov.,,.
McAlester. The Choctaw, which picks
up Santa Fe passengers at Oklahoma
City, is arranging to run ten special
trains on Thursday.
II developed yesterday that the W.
C. T. U. Ia behind the scheme to start
Z woman's town near Anadnrko. The
Missouri and Kansas W. c. T. U. or
CARNATIONS are also interested. That
order wants to demonstrate that u
town can thrive without drop OF
liquor in II. For five years no man
can even hold office in It The women
will run the municipal machinery, the
stores and own all the property.
sixteen New Towns on the Map.
Fort Sill, Ok, July 24.--Within the
next fortnight at least l6 new towns
will be added to the map in the three
counties comprising the Kiowa, CO.
manche and Apache country. The
government is interested in only three
fowns-Lawton, Anadarko and Ilo-
bart--the three county seats. The
other towns will be started by pri-
vate townsite companies, but they
must get their credentials from the
government.
Want In thu Wall.