The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-06
ARE READY TO MOVE.
Fifteen Thousand People Waiting on
the Kiowa Border.

Kansas City Journal.
Inspector of Surveys C. n. Nessler. who
has had charge of the Indian land allot-
ments in the Kiowa and Comanche and
Apache and Wichita reservations and who
is probably the best posted single individual
in the United States on the actual condi-
tons surrounding the lands which are TO be
allotted Aug. 6. is at the Midland. lie Is
accompanied by his private secretary, Ii.
r. Herndon, and is on mis- way TO Washing
ton, ID. c., TO make the final report 10 the
Interior Department on the result or the
allotment. The following statements are
all made with his. concurrence and author
ity, and, coming from such an authentic
source. are absolutely reliable:
There are to-day upward Of 1900 people
on the Kiowa and Comanche border. Many
of them are in dire straits for daily means
of subsistence. They are mostly law-aoid-
ing citizens, although a few desperate char
acters are sprinkled among them. Those
he came in contact with are small farmers
who came from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and
Nebraska, and who had sold what interest
remained to them on their mortgaged
farms in order 10 make the trip into the
new Indian country. Some of them had
been crowded cut as failures, and are down
there on a hazard of new fortunes. Few OF
them have even the protection Of tents.
and are living a hand-to-mouth existence
that is a constant menace TO the law and
order that is to govern the opening. Des-
perate men do not respect life. and have
small regard for their moral obligations.
If anything should happen TO prevent the
opening next month there will be terrible
suffering, because In thousands OF cases
the heads of families have sold elsewhere
everything they had in the world in order
to get on the border in time for the open
ing.
Inspector Nessler says they are. nine out
of every ten. really seekers for homes and
land on which TO settle down and spend the
remainder of their lives. Earnestness char
acterized a large majority of the faces one
meets on the border, and the speculative
| Nessler says that one day last week he
met a man with a large family, who had
driven all the way from Iowa, after selling
had Just spent his last s. for provisions.
There are large numbers OF families NOV
ing on the reservations, but In the opinion
of the inspector, they are simply there Tor
the purpose OF looking over the land and
locating ~favorite claims.
He saws 1,5W. 600 acres will be thrown open
for settlement after deducting the terrific
| rial lands, such as government reserves,
school lands and lands allotted to the IN
dams.
TWO lHOuSdIu StNCn AZ MY
nine quarter sections have been selected
by and allotted 10 the Kiowas, Comanches
and Apaches and 1886 to the Wichitas. In
most instances the Indians will only retain
twenty acres and will rent the balance.
Each Indian in every township had the
privilege of selecting his land. Few have
any idea as to the size of an acre, and In
making his selection the Indian in many 10
stances would simply sweep his hand to-
ward and around the horizon and say,
This is mine" One Indian has a fine piece
of land adjacent TO Anadarko which VIII
be worth $4,000 In two years.
over $500 home seekers who fail to draw
land for themselves can lease the choice
| Indian lands. the only stipulation the first
two years being that the land must be Gull
tivated and a house erected. The lessees
will have no trouble. says Inspector Ness
Ter, in getting continuance at $1.50 an acre
annual rental. Regarding the quality or
the land he says that seven out of every
ten claims are equal to frst-class farming
land in Missouri and Kansas. Wheat, corn,
cotton and sweet potatoes are already
raised in abundance. and he says that cot
ton is going to be an important factor IN the
country. The water now runs of the virgin
soil, but. when it is cultivated. IL will abb
| sorb much of the water that now flows of
in the creeks and small rivers.
Regarding the important and interesting
matter Of the allotment itself, Inspector
Nesslei says that Ii will be made under the
personal supervision of Assistant Commits
sioner Richards, OF the United States Cen
eral Land Office. Commissioner Richards To-
Gated the county seats at Hobart in the
Kiowa country and at Lawton in the CO.
manche reservation. He says the lottery
plan will be carried through, despite the
report as to its alleged illegality. Lotteries
will be established at Fort Sill, I'll Reno.
Mangum, Lawton, Hobart and AnadarkO.
Inspector Nessler saws that the Indians
the Comanches especially-are not only
pleased at the idea of their and being
opened for settlement, but are violently
opposed to the action of Judge Springer.
He says that he IS satisfied only ten or
twelve disgruntled braves are making any
objection. AS for Lone Wolf, he thinks
he does not know for what reason he went
to Washington, and is simply a tool in the
hands OF cattlemen who have been paying
ten and fifteen cents an acre for grazing
privileges. The Indians will be protected
under any and all circumstances. declares
Inspector NesSler.
He will leave for Washington this morn
ing, and make his final report in the allot-
ment. He has had with him forty men,