The National tribune., 1901-02-21

The Kiowa, Comanche and Apache res
eryation is located in Southwestern Okla
boma. is bounded on the east by the In
dian Territory, on the south by the State
of Texas. 1t embraces about 3,0OO,0OO
acres of land. The land was originally
treated for by commission known as the
Cherokee Commission in 1892, since which
time bills have been pending in Congress
providing for the ratification of the agree
ment then made between the commission
ers, on the part of the United States, and
the Indians holding the lands. AT various
times bills ratifying the agreement have
passed the Lower House of Congress, but
not until last June was it ever possible to
secure the ratification by the Senate, and
then only by adding it as rider on to the
bill ratifying an agreement made with the
Fort Hall Indians in Idaho.
Under the terms of the agreement, as
ratified by Congress, $2,000,000 was to be
paid for the land, after each one of the
5000 Indians located in various parts of
the reservation had each been allotted 16u
acres for a homestead. After this allot-
ment is made there is also to be reserved
4SU,U00 acres for pastu-r land, for the
benefit Of the Indians. Before these lands
can be opened up for settlement there
must consequently be $4,000 acres al
lotted in 160-acre tracts, and an additional
4Su,UU0 acres reserved for pasture, making
total of $4,000 acres, which goes to the
Indians. In addition to this sections ID,
33. IL and 81, in each Township are re
served for public schools, public buildings
and other purposes for the future State of
Oklahoma.
This makes the total reservation for all
purposes about 1,250,000 acres. There
are in addition to these few smaller res
ervations, the largest of which is the mill
tary reservation, known as Fort Sill,
which embraces $4,000 acres, and is used
by the Regular Army, where there is a
substantial military post.
The lands of this reservation will COM
pare favorably with the lands adjoining 1t
FOR agricultural purposes. The entire res
eryation is well watered. There is more
or less timber scattered over it, and in the
Wichita Mountains, embracing an area of
about 10 by 80 miles, there is said to be
considerable mineral, including gold, sill
yer and copper.
Among the richest agricultural lands in
the West are those located on the Wichita
River, which crosses this reservation from
the northwest and forms part of It's north
ern boundary.
The timber on the reservation Is largely
what we call black jack oak.
Unlike the ordinary Indian reservation,
this one is now well supplied with railroad
facilities. A person can start from Chi
cago and never leave his car until he gets
across the entire reservation, if he so de-
sires. The Rock Island Railroad virtually
constitutes the eastern boundary Of the
entire reservation, and has a branch rum
ming from Chickasha, on the eastern boun-
dary, clear across the reservation, east
and west and another one running from
Anadarko to Fort Sill. Consequently the
railroad facilities could not be surpassed.
The homestead laws under which the
reservation is to be opened are among the
most liberal ever enacted by Congress.
Every entryman who takes a homestead
there can either reside upon it five years,
and by paying S1.25 an acre obtain a pat
ent, or else reside upon 1t Ia months, and
then, by the payment of the same amount,
receive a patent. Every person in the
United States, who for any cause ever un-
dertook to make homestead entry, but