The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-15
rHe WEALTH OF 1Hs osAeEs.
They Are BY Far the Richest indiana
In the Country.

IN the Country.
some q the Indians in this countrs
afa fidrly well OF today but they ar
not many when compared with the
1 Osages. the richest OF the American
iaboriginies. whose affuence is de-
scribed in the following article FROM
an eastern exchange.
AT the Office Of the commissioner of
Indian Affairs a few days ago con
tracts were let 70 cattlemen Tor the
renting Of the pasture lands Of the
Usage Indians in Oklahoma. These In
dians have 100000 acres OF pasturs
lands. Of which 6o.oc0 acres were rent
ed This will add to the annual income
Of the tribe about $4,000 And al
ready. said Captain A. c. Turner. "the
Usage Indians are the richest people
in the world
Several years ago the lands of the
Osages in Kansas were sold. the sale
realizing ss.0o004O. This money was
placed In the treasury OF the Un.teI
States and from 10 the Usage Indians
derive an annual income of $4,000.
In addition to this they own l.57o1e-
acres OF land. which 's fairly worth
s. an acre. making the value OF their
holdings s7s50S75. There are 1872 IN
dlans In the tribe. counting men. won
eu and children. They all share alike
10 the tribal wealth. ana when a child
is born it becomes a Joint property
owner with all the other Indians Of u,
tribe. The profits from the s. 900 600
held to the treasury. the recent rental
OF pasture lands and other sources OF
revenue. give the Osages an annual 10
come Of approximately $500. 900, a pc
capita income ofs30425 for each man
woman and child. When q family cor
sists Of a man and wife and eight
children. as often happens the family
receive each year In cash 5000. and
on their lands they raise all their foo
stufs and considerable grain for the
market
The realty holdings OF the tribe
have a per capita valuation OF $3.50.
or for a family Of ten. S3s.s70 There
is not another race Of people in the
vorld. 30 Is declared. that can make
such a showing
The Usage Indians have not failed
% profit by this wealth. The sons and
daughters OF families are sent east -
colleges and boarding schools 20 De g
ucated many Of them receiving a pro
fessional training There are a few
families of course. who still live with
almost the simplicity that marked
the lives OF their savage ancestors. bat
the desire for education and cultiva-
tion is rapidly spreading. and when
the Osages become citizens a Few
years hence. they viii be fully equip
ped tor the duties and responsibilities
of citizenship.
The homes OF some of the most pro.
gressive Osages compare favorably
with the dwellings or white people OF
equal wealth. Their homes 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
them 20 perform. Horses and car
riages are not infrequent. though the
automobile has not yet made its ap-
. uaaranca IL fa NOT an frnuosgfhflfty- ~
the future
The enviable condition Of the Osages
has lea 20 considerable shfiux OF
white settlers on the reservations,
many white men seeking alliance with
the daughters of Usage families. The
tribal government. however. has
/ found a way. if not TO stop. at least
20 profit by this white emigration.