The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-21
Usage
Allotment VIII Open
( Fine Conutry to
Settlement

~ ~ ss.si-t tss 5lE7- -lI rrzIzi
Pawhuska, Okla, Dec. 19.-The
reement Of the Usage tribe Of In
ans last Friday that per capita di-
sion would be made of all their
nds and moneys and the election of
delegation To- proceed to Washington
formulate Z, treaty with the federal
ovenment viii open to civilization
early u million acres of land, Of
bieh not less than 60 per cent is
fobted to agriculture. As large a
percentage, including that portion un-
1 for farming, Is believed to be fabul-
nsly rich in oil and natural gas.
The reservation heretofore has
been walled about with a seemingly
mpregnahle opposition or the part of
Nne Osages to any form of material or
ocial progress. and thousands of
~ lcres that should have been produc-
ng wheat gnd corn have run wild for
~ sustenance Of cattle brought from
fexas ana pastured at q pluance price
iH thoy were shipped to the market
of Kansas City and Chicago. A few
mixed blood citizens who fenced thou
sands of acres Of the richest lands
have grown wealthy cultiyating these
~ baronial estates without paying rent
or taxes to the Usage tribe. All these
conditions are to be changed, and the
Usage reservation will become an in
tegral part of Oklahoma, contributing
B diversity Of wealth to the upbuild-
ing Of the state and giving homes to
INDUSTRIOUS white men. There are =
S6s citizens now on the tribal rolls
who viii have a per capita share in
t66, LAG. 81 acres Of land. The home
.ead allotment of 16O acres will be
inalienable for twenty-five years; it is
probable that the treaty viii permit
the surplus land to be sold at inter
walls with the approval Of the secre-
tary Of the interior. At best. the bulk
OF The land for several years will be
available to white men only in the ca
pacity cf renters; those who expect TO
E qwn Usage farms must wait till the
sa1rplus holdings can be alienated.
Praise for Mitscher
To Major O. A. Mitscher, United
States Indian agent, is due almost ex-
clusively whatever praise should be
given for the progressive action of the
Osages in agreeing to allotment Since
his incumhency, he has carefully fost-
erod every persuasive condition that
might lead the conservative full blood
to ses the wisdom of becoming the
IA individual owner of his property and
u placing himself in closer touch with
the white man and the white mans
civilization.
Three years ago the full bloods, of
- whom there are sac, against 1922
I mixed bloods were practically unani-
nous against allotment Even Gov
ernor James Pigheart, now a radical
champion Of Nlo ment, had scarcely
been converted from his former m
compromising opposition to the segre-
cation Of tribal property 1t was
dangerous TO use the word allotment
III talking with the full blood leader
A policy of expediency based upon
no act Of congress, but sanctioned by
] he Indian office, was carefully put
! forward It's purpose was to induce
the Usage citizen to designate 100
acres of land as his home, with per-
mission to lease it for agricultural
purposes ani eLioy whatever rentals
might accrue from it. Once anchored
to a certain tract Of land. it was be-
iieyei that gradually would come the
Willingness on the part Of the iuh
blood 70 listen OF ever ure for alloc-
meni in ae last two years "a large
majority 81 the Osage have selected
such quasi allotments ana asked that
4hcy be recorded Ia ae tract book in
the office Of the Indian agent
Then came the proposition Of actual
allotment. The consent OF a majority
OF the tribe was necessary before
treaty gotiations for allotment could
be undertaken with the federal gov
ernment AS may develop later, in
huences that do not look wholly to
the welfare and protection Of the