The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-08-05
M CURE
WILL PUSH
ALL0T MEN Is
Delegate Announces One OF
His Pet Plans.
DISCUSSES OSAGE LANDS
Will Urge Congress to Pro-
Ceed to Settle Them.

Guthrie, Q. T., Aug. 4-Delegate Bird S.
Mcguire while in the city today made the
interesting announcement that it is his
intention to work for the speedy allot
ment of Usage Indian lands in the next
session of congress with the idea in view
of having that nation attached to Okla
homa as one county, or possibly two
counties. as congress may see fit. There
are nearly 100000 acres of land in the
with few exceptions no allotments have
been selected. The greater part of the
land is now used for grazing purposes,
being divided into twenty-five great pas
lures from the leasing of which the Indi-
ans secure $4,000 per annum. The land
along creek and river bottoms is very
fertile, while in many localities on high
er ground the soil is not of great value
for agricultural purposes.
There are probably enough Usage Indi-
ans in the nation to take all of the land
but Delegate Mcclure hopes to have some
provision made whereby the Indians will
be permitted TO sell the greater portion Of
their realty If such a clause can be in
serted in a bill it will give progressive
white farmers and cattlemen on oppor-
tunity to secure farms at reasonable
prices In addition to this feature, 1t is
Delegate McGuire's belief that the In
dian problem in Oklahoma can be more
easily solved by the opening TO settlement
of every available acre of land in the ter
ritory. The Indian will then know what
belongs to him individually and will also
have as an example the progressive white
farmer on every side of him.
The Csages are the richest Indians in
the territory. and at one time had s90OO,-
600 in the United States treasury to their
credit to be paid out to the various mem
bers of the tribe. The Kaw Indians have
a reservation of 10000 acres. which is
included in the Usage nation, and these
Indians have received their allotments'
the work being conducted by Indian
Agent o. A. Mitscher.
In connection with the allotting ana
opening to settlement of the Indian nation
Delegate Mcclure will introduce bill
in congress this winter opening up the
Otoe and Ponca reservations. These In
dams have secured their allotments and
there is a surplus of tribal land, which
may be sold at some future time. 1t will
be remembered that during the campaign
| of last fill Delegate Mcclure asserted in
Noble county that he would do every
thing in his power while in congress to
have these two reservations opened up
and viii make a determined effort to ac-
complish what is desired.
Noble county is not as large as II
should be, when compared with other
counties in Oklahoma said Delegate
Mcclure in discussing the matter. The
rate of taxation is high and if there were
more taxable property in the county
which would be the case If the county
could he enlarged. this rate would be de-
creased. 1 am in favor of large portion
of the two reservations being attached
to Noble county. and this would make
| this particular county as large in size as
| other counties. other portions Of the res
ervations could be attached to Kay and
( Pawnee counties or disposed of as con-
! gress might see fit, but I do want Noble
county enlarged. and I feel that 1t would
be an injustice to the people Of the coun-
| tv if this is not done"
As before stated, Delegate MCGUIRE VIII
introduce a bill opening to settlement the
pasture reserve In Comanche countw and
! in addition to his work for statehood TOT
J Oklahoma will devote much time to work
/ ing for the immediate opening up or all
/ lands now unoccupied in Oklahoma.
J oklahoma" continued Delegate NC
! CURE. has reached the stage when every
foot of land available for agriculture or
other purposes is needed, and am sat
isfed that when the story Of the terri
! tory's progress and enterprise is told TO
the members OF congress these men viii
not be reluctant to let Us utilize this land
rather than have IT held for an indefinite
period by Indians or leased by the gov
ernment. the revenue TO go to the wards
! .nf I-r,cla San