The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-03-03
|vINITA'S CLAIMS
DULY PRESENTED
Dawes Commission Encourages
Belief in Return OF
CHEROKEE LAND OFFICE
UncOntrOvertable Reasons Set
Forth In Favor OF Office
Being Again Opened
For Business
at vinita.
CHEROKEE LAND OFFICE

The delegation selected by mass
meeting of citizens Of this part Of the
Cherokee nation to lay before the
Dawes commission d petition asking
that the Cherokee land office be re-
opened at vinlta, performed that duty
Friday.
The committe was cordially received
by the members OF the commission
present at headquarters, Col. Tom
Needles and Col. Breckenridge, and
given courteous and patient hearing.
The committee consisted Of William
Little, Il. NJ. Burlington. Ed. Shana-
han and Charles y. Rogers, and was
Joined by w. p. 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 In vain. The commits
sion deliberated short time upon the
case and announced that they prefer
red to hold the matter In abeyance
until the other members Of the COM
mission were consulted. They gave
assurance that a contest division
would be located al Vinita In any
event, but the delegation made II
very clear that while this would be
very acceptable Il would not fill the
need which existed for a greater de-
gree Of accessibility for filing.
The committee feel encouraged 70
believe we viii receive fair treatment
and Col. Breckenridge stated that the
commission would be guided Ia the
matter by what is the best for the
greatest number OF Cherokee citizens.
lie said II was question Of public
convenience and public economy. #
the commission net upon this prinel-
pie vinita viii get the land oiiice
back.
Chief among tile reasons sci forth
by Mr. Rogers for the re-opening Of
the Office at Vinita was rs aeeessi.
bility to the Cherokee citizens who
have not already filed Among the
points made was that there were 81.
000 to file, more than half Of whom
| live closer 20 yinlta than 70 Table.
quab; thai Of the 1900 w.io have at
ready illed more than one-half liYe
east Of Grand river. and that Of the
remainder vastly more than half live
In the territory closer to Vinita, IN
distance aud ri facilities Of travel
Another point, and al important
one, was that 4 great per cent. Of tie
filings 50 far made were on lands held
by excess b9fdefs and largely for their
benefit. and that the remainder of per.
sons Wishing to file wish 70 Do s. OIL
their own homes lands they have al
ways held.
An estimate was made showing that
il would cost ten ta twelve dolIafs 10
make tie trip 10 Tahlequah. Oh an
Iayerage, even though persons we're
able 70 file promptly II the matter
/ of accessibility aud cost III money and
time. 10 other town 10 tie Cherokee
Nation Is In the running with Yinlta,
and no one viii have the temenfy q
galnsay this assertion.
Tie free use Of the building form.
erlY occupied was rendered the com.
mission.
All memhers Of the committee
we're heard afd the remarks Of all
taken by tie commissions steuoga-
lpheF for future consideration when
the entire commission Is present, but
that date il at present unknown, for
Mr Blxley Is still ii Washington and
there II no lutimalion as to when he
/ wili return.
| III tie mean time The committee Is
putting forth aII - efforts ard the
same IS true Of individual citizens Of
the town 20 secure the return Of the
ofllce. (which, In view Of The exces-
slfsly hard times and shortage of
money, Il ~ desirable.