The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-08
THE DEAL TAKES A NEW TURN
MIR. ASHER HAS ABOUT DECIDED TO
MY FITZGERALD's LAND.
Probability that the Colony Scheme
Will BE Abandoned - Some
thing About Mr.. Asher.

G. NJ. Asher, one OF the most influential
men politically and financially in Ken
tuckys bluegrass region. has been in the
city several days staying at the Denison
Hotel. Mr.. Asher lives at Loudon Park,
one OF the suburbs of Lexington. His farm
is known as THE Meadows" While he
spends the greater part OF his time in Ken
lucky. Mr.. Asher is heavily interested in
Oklahoma land, owning in the neighbor-
hood Of 1900 acres in Pottawatomie county.
He came here with the view of disposng
of this land. or a part of it, to 2. III. Fitz-
gerald, who some time ago started a
colony in the Territory
Mr.. Asher said last night that affairs had
taken a different turn from what he had
expected. Instead of selling his land TO Mr..
Fitzgerald the latter had offered to dispose
of the land he had already procured for his
colony. Mr.. Asher said he had practically
decided TO buy this land, consisting of
about one thousand acres 1t is the under
standing that Mr.. Fitzgerald will not pro-
coed with the colony idea in Oklahoma. as
he found he would be unable TO buy as
much land as he wanted at the price he
had expected TO pay.
Mr.. Asher says that Oklahoma land in
the neighborhood of his holdings is worth
from $40 to $50 an acre. lie is much pleased
with the outlook for business prosperity
in the Territory. 1.-The opportunities there
for young men who are not afraid to work
are excellent he said last night. Tucum-
sch, the county seat of Pottawatomie
county, is modern town. he says, and the
L.. oh. h. Dl.DVa far-C fE0
cotton, wheat and corn in abundance. This
year the planting season is far ahead of
the North. When Mr.. Asher left the Ter
fitOry the corn was far enough advanced
TO be out of the ground.
INDIANS OWN LAND.
much land in the Territory is owned by
the Indians, the government acting as their
agent to prevent them from being swindled
by INSCRIPTIONS traders. If white man
or man of any color desires to pGrcnlse
land of an Indian the sale must first be
approved by the government, which sends
an agent to look the land over. The ,erms
OF sale must be submitted to the Depart
ment of the Interior and if 1t is found the
Indian Is not receiving a sufficient sum fer
his land the department interferes With
the sale. If, on the other hani. 1t Is
found that the Indian is receiving more
imam his land Is worth the uepdT d
lows the sale 10 proceed.
Mr.. Asher IS not highly impressed with
the stability of the average Indian. While
in Washington some time ago. he SAID, L
had a talk with the secretary of the in
terror and told him plainly that | did not
think the government had accomplished
anything by doing what it has for the In
dams. The secretary replied that the gov
eminent had the satisfaction Of doing its
duty" The government looks after the
Indians carefully. 1t takes the Indian child
from the door and places Il in school where
IL can be educated. When the child is old
enough to work the government gives ii
employment OF some kind during vacation,
ana pays it $3.50 week while ii is en-
plOyed."
Mr. Asher says that occasionally a white
settler in Oklahoma marries an Indian girl
usually 10 get the parcel of land she
owns. He says he knows of one white man
at whose house he has often remained over
night, VINO has an Indian wife. one is a
sweet, Christian woman, he says, devoted
To her family. She is an excellent cook and
makes the finest biscuit to be found in the
Territory.
AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY.
Mr. Asher is one of the most interesting
personalities in Kentucky. Residing now
in the heart of Bluegrass. he is a native of
the extreme southwestern or mountain sec
ton of the State. and his boyhood was that
OF typical Kentucky mOuntaineer His
first business ventures were at Pineville,
the county seat of Bell county, adjoining
Whitley, the native heath of former Secre-
tary of State Charles Finley. Asher, as
ardent a Democrat as Finley is a Repub-
lican, has been for years one of the latter's
warmest friends. He is one of a family of
five brothers. and all, without advantages
other than those given by the common
schools of their native county, have ac-
~ fra1 ,a1f and
ing investments have not alone occupied
Mr.. Asher's attention but he follows with
keen insight the fluctuations of the New
York and Chicago stock and grain markets
and is uniformly successful in his financial
ventures. lie is reputed to be worth about
$4,000, and the recent bull movements in
stocks and corn have borne full share in
raising his wealth TO this figure.
About fifteen sixteen years ago. while
he was living at Pinsville, the Louisville x
Nashville wished TO run a spur through his
land, the side Of a hill above his house,
paying him a merely nominal sum for the
actual amount of land taken. The running
of the road would destroy the value of the
land for residence purposes, and Asher
wanted the company to settle on basis
with the damage done. This
it refused 10 do. Asher laid in a Win
chester and a supply of ammunition, anu
when the graders reached his line he gave
them notice that the first man TO stick a
spade on his side of il would be perforated.
None had sufficient nerve for the test. He
enforced his rifle quarantine for several
weeks, and the company finally settled at
his figures. Soon thereafter he removed 10
Lexington.
I'm the Goebel-Taylor campaign of 1899
the Goebel election officers in his precinct
at Lexington, fearing that a majority
would be cast against their candidate, re-
fused TO open the polls. Asher and a col
lege professor forced an entrance. threw
out the Goebel men after they had again
refused TO permit the election TO proceed.
and called on the voters present 10 name
t1,f.sv oil
all parties being represented on the i'm
provised board. and the election proceeded
TO an orderly finish. with no complaint OF
discrimination or unfairness the part OF
any citizen entitled 10 vote.