Holbrook argus. (Holbrook, Ariz.) 1900-1913, 1901-07-27
ROLLING IN WEALTH.
Usage INDIANS ARE THE RICH
EST PEOPLE ON EARTH.
Every Man, Woman and Child Among
Them Has an Annual Income of
$3O425, and They Raise All Their
Fooastuffs in Addition to This.

At the office of commissioner OF In
dian affairs a few days ago contracts
were let to cattlemen for the renting OF
the pasture lands of the Usage Indians
in Oklahoma. These Indians nave
100000 acres of pasture lands, OF
which 100000 acres were rented This
will add to the annual income OF the
tribe about $4,000. "And already"
said Captain A. 9. Tonner, assistant
commissioner of Indian affairs, the
Usage Indians are the richest people III
the world.
Several years ago the lands OF the
Osages in Kansas were sold, the SAFE
realizing $S,OOO,OO0. This money was
placed in the treasury of the United
States, and from it the Usage Indians
derive an annual income of S4OO,OOo.
In addition to this they own 1,51O,l9o
acres of land, which is fairly worth 30
an acre, making the value Of their lana
holdings $7,S5O,S75. There are 1,9'2
Indians in the tribe, counting men,
women and children. They all share
alike in the tribal wealth, and when
child is born it becomes joint property
owner with all the other Indians IN the
tribe. The profits from the S8,OOO,oOO
held in the treasury, the recent rental
of pasture lands, and other sources OF
revenue, give the Osages an annual IN
come of approximately 100000, per
capita income of $304.25 for each man,
woman and child When family con-
sists of man and wife and eight chill
dren, as often happens, the family re-
ceives each year in cash $500, and on
their lands they raise all their food
stuffs and considerable grain for the
market.
The realty holdings of the tribe have
per capita valuation of 1897, or, for
a family of ten, S39, $40. There is no
other race of people in the world, 1t Is
declared, that can make such a show
ing.
The Usage Indians have not failed to
profit by this wealth. The sons and
daughters of families are sent east to
colleges and boarding schools to be
educated, many of them receiving pro-
fessional training. There are a few
families, of course. which still live with
almost the simplicity that marked the
lives of their savage ancestors, but the
desire for education and culture is rap
idly spreading, and when the Osages
become citizens a few years hence they
will be fully equipped for the duties
and responsibilities of citizenship.
The homes of some of the most pro-
gressive Osages compare favorably
with the dwellings of white people of
equal wealth. Their houses are richly
furnished with carpets and modern fur
niture, and in many homes there are
pianos upon which the boarding-school
training of the daughters has taught
to perform. Horses and carriages are
not infrequent, and though the automo-
bile has not yet made its appearance, il
is not an impossibility of the future.
The enviable condition Of the Osages
has led to a considerable influx OF
white settlers on the reservations
many white men seeking alliances with
the daughters of Usage families The
tribal government, however, has found
a way, if not to stop, at least to prof
by this white emigration. From every
white person on the reservation 6
monthly poll tax of 81 is collected. The
imposition of this tax has driven from
the reservation many suitors for thu
hands of Usage maidens and has give1
those who remain an ardor and eager
ness for matrimony which might no
follow were long courtships not thu
rendered expensive luxuries-Wash
:, ington Post.