The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13
INDIAN LANDS FOR RENT
A MISLEADING STATEMENT con-
CERNING THEM CORRECTED.
Information for Those Who Look
LonEing1y Toward the Rich
Country of the Southwest.
Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence OF the indianapolis Journal.
GUTHRIE. July IA widely published
statement says: The end OF the redskin,
so far as he Is officially concerned with
the United states government. is in sight.
Within two years the indian Of the Five
Civilized Tribes in the Indian Territory
will be stripped of their identity as a people
and will either ave TO become citizens
of the United States or leave it. When
these $1,000 Indians receive their deeds
in fee simple for their allotments of land
there will be opened for settlement a YER
table paradise for white people So anx-
ious are the Indians TO get rid of the land
that many of them sell their certificates
of selection, which become bills Of sale to
the land"
This is very misleading, and will impose
upon the credulous. If this letter saves
some man from being imposed upon. 1t
Will have served the purpose for which it
was written.
In all the towns throughout the Terri
tory real-estate men are opening offices
and preparing TO do business. People con-
templating visiting the country with a
view to investing in farm lands will save
themselves money by remembering that
the sharks act upon the theory that "a
sucker is born every minute of time, and
sometimes they are twins" Many years
ago. before it was dreamed the West was
TO be thickly populated and become the
richest portion of the United States. a
treaty was made with the Cherokees,
Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and Semi
noles by which twenty million acres of
land. known as Indian Territory were
L4-n
and to hold so long as an Indian lived.
OF the Five Civilized Tribes 1 shall speak
of but two for the present-the Creeks and
the Seminoles. The Creek and the Semi
mole country has always been looked on as
the finest in the Territory, and indeed 1t
is a veritable paradise. This land Is the
best watered in the Territory. Four large
rlvers-the Arkansas, Cimarron and the
North and South Ca-nadian-cross 1t, and
hundreds of smaller streams wind through
1t in every direction-clear. pure, cool
spring water flowing swiftly over beds Of
gravel, and Astounding in fish. There are
hundreds mnnx s. Of fine springs, several being being
water can be found anywhere at a depth of
from twenty TO forty feet.
Dol SOIL n CLIMATE.
The surface soil is mostly of a rich req
clay or sandstone decomposition mixed in
the valleys, with black alluvial deposits
and is highly productive. The soil is of
sufficient depth and character TO render it
almost inexhaustible and it will stand
many successive crops before needing fer
tilization. Dramatically the conditions are
perfect. geographically inspiration is not
wanting. With a soil whose fertility is
phenomenal and a climate unsurpassed
this region is a paradise for the white
men. But it will not become the white
mans paradise within two years, as the
published article mentioned predicts.
This land can be leased at surprisingly
low rates. In Indiana a renter gives half
he makes. while the farmer who owns a
quarter section pays from SIS to $50 a year
tax. Here the Creek and Seminoles' land
acre for a year. Some of the best Of this
land can be leased for Is cents per acre.
Think of getting a rich quarter section
for $24 a year and no taxes to pay. This
land surpassos in many respects the land
in the reservation soon 10 be opened. I'm
der a treaty of 1897 these Indians consented
to the allotting Of their lands and have
selected their allotment. The Seminoles'
Indian reservation consists of 5000 acres
of land, which, less reserves for schools,
ETC., is TO be divided between 2,757 Semi
noles at the rate of sixty acres per cap
tia Of the frst-class land, or at the rate Of
of the third-ciass land. People who have
been through the reservation consider that
two-thirds of the land Is as fine for agricul-
tural purposes as can be found. TIL other
third OF the and Is good for grazing pur-
poses. and. as a matter OF fact is con-
Sldered as good as some OF the OklanOInd
land which is now under cultivation.
TO LEASE INDIAN LANDS.
The rolls of the Seminoles are made and
this land is surveyed into townships ready
for leasing. The intention is at the present
time TO lease for a term of six years. The
lessees must be farmers by profession.
must nave teams. cows, plows and other
equipment, and last but not least, must
have visible means of support for at least
one year-in other words, enough of the
cash Of Uncle Sans domain to carry them
over the farming season. AT the end of the
lease the value of the improvements made
on the farm at that time will be credited
on the balance due on the lease. 1t is to be
supposed that a greater portion of the
money for the leasing OF the six years will
be spent in improving the farms and by
the time six years roll by the reservation
will have well-cultivated farms with good
houses. 1t may seem strange to the aver
age white man, but these Seminole Indians
will require a bond TO be given in order
that the lease is carried out in full. There
is a provision, however, that If a man de-
sires to throw up his lease, he must give
the principal chief six months notice. At
the time he gives up his farm the value of
the Improvements will be deducted from
the amount due on the lease. at the time
After the Seminole government ceases to
exist, which will not be for a number of
years yet. the Indians will have permission
to sell all of their allotments. This will en-
able white men to secure well-improved
lands at good prices.
The Creek reservation is about eight
times as large as the Seminoles' and as
the regulations for leasing Creek land is
somewhat different from that of the Semi
noles will give the true status OF affairs.
Each citizen Gan enrolled Creek Indian) has
allotted to him 1c acres of the public do
main and the commission issued 10 each
one a certificate of such allotment. He can
lease such land for a term of one year. and
in the near future the chief will issue to
him a deed TO his land: when he receives
the deed he can lease for any length of time.
At present he cannot sell any Of his land
or make a valid title. After he receives his
deed. which deed will locate forty acres of
his allotment as a homestead. that forty he
cannot make a valid title TO for twenty
one years: the rest of his land Q20 acres)
he can sell any time after he gets the deed.
but If sold within hve years from the date
OF his deed. the sale is not valid unless il
is approved by the secretary of the interior.
After the five years he can do anything
with the l2O acres that suits him without
anyone saying nay.
This letter applies only to the Seminole
and Greek nations. The other three tribes
are under different regulations.
JEAN CLAYTON BENBOW.