The age-herald., 1901-05-09
ARE ROLLING IN WEALTH.
osa9e Indians Are the WeaIthiest Peo
 pie on the Earth.

From the Washington Post.
 At the office of the Commissioner of Indian affairs few days ago contracts were let to cattlemen for the renting of the pasture lands of the Osage In dians in Oklahoma These Indians have 800,000 acres of pasture lands, oi which 600,000 acres were rented. This will add to the annual income of the tribe about $120,000. And already said Capt A. c. Tonner, assistant com missioner of Indian affairs, yesterday, "the Osage Indians are the richest peo- pie in the world.
 Several years ago the lands of the Osages in Kansas were sold, the sale realizing $8,000,000. This money was placed in the treasury of the United States, and from it the Osage Indians derive an annual income of $400,000. In addition to this, they own 1,570, ,195 acres of land, which is fairly worth $5 an acre, making the value of their land holdings $7,850,875. There are 1872 h. dians in the tribe, counting men, wo- men and children. They all share alike in the tribal wealth, and when child is born it becomes a joint property owner with all the other Indians iQ. the tribe. The profits from the $S,000,000 held in the treasury, the recent rental of pasture lands and other sources of revenue, give the Osages an annual in- come of approximately $600,000, per capita income of $304.25 for each man, woman and child. When family con sists of man and wife and eight chil- dren, as often happens, the family re- ceives each year in cash $3040. and on their land they raise all their food stuffs and considerable grain for the market.
 The realty holdings of the tribe have a per capita valuation of $3987, or, for a family of ten S39,870. There is no other race of people in the world, 1t is declared, that can make such show ing.
 The Osage 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 which marked | the lives of their savage ancestors, but the desire for education and culture | IS Tdpluly dho WnCh thS Osages become citizens few years hence they will be fully equipped for the duties and responsibilities of citi zenship.
 The homes of some of the most pro gressive Osages compare favorably with the dwellings of white people oi equal wealth. Their houses are richly furnished with carpets and modern | furniture, and in many homes there are pianos upon which the boarding school training of the daughters has taught them to perform. Horses and | carriages are not lnfrequent, and al though the automobile has not yet made it's appearance, it is not an i'm | possibility of the future.
 The enviable condition of the Osages has led to a considerable influx oi white settlers on the reservations, many white men seeking alliances with the daughters of Osage families. The tribal government, however. has found | a way, II not to stop. at least to profit | by the white emigration. For every white person on the reservation a monthly poll tax of $1 Is collected. The imposition of the tax mas driven from the reservation many suitors for the hands of the Osage maidens and has given those who remain an ardor and eagernees for matrimony which might not follow were long courtships not thus rendered expensive luxuries.