The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-02-27
CHEROKEE LAND OFFICE
UncOntrOvertable Reasons Set
Forth in Favor of Office
Being Again Opened
For Business
at Vinita.

The delegation selected by mass
meeting Of citizens Of this part of the
Cherokee nation to lay before the
Dawes commission a petition asking
that the Cherokee land Office be re-
opened at Vinita, performed that duty
yesterday.
The committe was cordially received
by the members Of the commission
present at headquarters, Col Tom
Needles and Coz. Breckenridge, and
given a courteous and patient hearing.
The committee consisted Of William
Little r. N. Burlington, Ed Shana-
han and Charles b. Rogers, and was
Joined by w. ?. Thompson, who hap
pened to be in the city.
OF course, the result Of their efforts
are unknown, but the gentlemen re-
turned with the belief that their visit
had not been m vain. The commits
sion delibefated q short time upon the
case and announced that they prefer
red 70 hold the matter in abeyance
until the other members of tile COM
mission were consulted. They gave
assurance that q contest diyisioR
would be located at Ninita in any
event, but the delegation made it
very clear that while this would be
very acceptable Il would not TN the
need which existed for q greater de-
gree Of accessibility for filing.
Tie committee feel encouraged 70
believe we viii receive fair treatment
and Col Breckenridge stated that the
commission would be guided in the
matter by what is the best for the
greatest number OF Cherokee citizens
He said it was a question Of public
convenience and public economy. If
the commission act upon this prlnci-
pie Vinita will get the land Office
back.
Chief among the reasons set forth
by Mr.. Rogers for the re-opening OF
the Office at Vinita was its accessi-
bility to the Cherokee citizens who
have not already filed Among the
points made was that there were 3s,-
0)O to file, more than half Of whom
live closer 10 Ninita than 20 Table
Quah that Of the 1900 who have al
ready filed more than one-half live
east Of Grand river, and that Of the
remainder vastly more than half live
IA the territory closer 20 Ninita, in
distance and III facilities Of travel.
Another point, and an important
one, was that a great per cent. of the
filings 50 far made were on lands held
by excess holders, and largely for their
benefit, and that the remainder Of per-
sons wishing TO file wish to do so on
their own homes lands they have al
ways held.
An estimate was made showing that
It would cost ten to twelve dollars TO
make the trip 10 Tahlequah, ON an
average. even though persons were
able TO tile promptly. In the matter
Of accessibility and cost in money and
time no other town in the Cherokee
Nation is in the running with Vinita,
and no one win have the temerity to
gainsay this assertion.
The free use Of the building form /
erly occupied was rendered the com
mission.
An members of the committee
we're heard and the remarks Of all I
taken by the commissions stenogra-
pher for future consideration when I
the entire commission is present, but
that date is at present unknown, for
Mr.. Bixley is still in Washington and /
there is no intimation as to when he /
viii return.
In the mean time the committee is
putting forth all It's efforts and the
same is true Of individual citizens OF /
the town to secure the return Of the
Office, (which, in view Of the exces-
sively hard times and shortage Of /
money, is so desirable.
/ handle an kinds of feed. Give |