The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-08

I'D acres Of Creek land was proclaimed.
Also $4,000 acres OF Seminole land.
FULL-GRoWN CITY IN A DAY.
Guthrie. the now thriving city. arose In
less than a day with 1000 inhabitants.
oklahoma signifies beautiful country"
and was rightly named. II Is a paradise.
a paradi&s," again rightly
termed The first Governor was George
w. Steele. appointed by the President.
Oklahoma is about the size OF Ohio. and
Is bordered by Texas. Colorado, Kansas,
and the Indian Territory. Green valleys,
great forests of oak and silyery streams
make up the country. Some of the plains
are ~treeless and arid. principally in the
West. but the other sections make I'D In
richness what the Western lacks. Many
Indian tribes. supported by the Govern
ment. roam over the unsettled sections Of
the Territory. Upon the reservations the
Indians are well to do farmers and are
gradually cultivating a taste for thrift and
industry.
The Territory of Oklahoma was orean-
lied the year after 1t was settled. and has
grown In fourteen years with amazing
rapidity- Its cities rival those of the East
and excel many of the other Western
Sieico III cliltIpElsc All
Indian Territory was old before Oklahoma
was born. yet it to-day Is absorbed by the
growing infant Some of the principal
places in Oklahoma are Guthrie. Okla
homa City. Kingfisher. Norman, Edward.
FL Reno. Frisco. Reno City. Saltwater and
Union City.
Indian Territory was purchased with
Louisiana from france in 1903. II was not
settled however. until twenty-four years
later. being practically founded by the
Creek Indians. As its name signifies, It
WA set apart by the United States for the
Indians. a Territory in which the tribes
might pursue their natural course free
from the influences Of the whites, but un-
der Government Jurisdiction.
There is little snow or cold during the
winter months: NJ days or weeks of rain;
just a silvery. unbroken spring, which
leads to a long and hot summer, though
the heat. because Of the dryness Of the
air, Is never excessive.
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.
An international council Of the tribes
has heretofore administered government.
or pretended to. but the United States
Government exercises its rights Of domain
through Its agents. who are interested in
and are capable Of handling the Indian
problem. The Five Civilized Nations each
ave their Chiefs. who are chosen by
vote.
The school question Is an interesting
problem and one that will give the new
State more than serious thought. There
are about 75,oo5 Indians in Territory.
and these Indians must be kept civilized
Education Is sought by the children and
certainly encouraged by the parents. for
there are more than $50 Indian schools,
supported by the Five Nations at an an
nual outlay of $4,000. These schools In
clude high. common, private and semi
naries. Many OF the tribes are encour-
aging religion. The Territory is studded
with churches Of every denomination.
though the Baptists dominate. The Five
Nations include the Cherokees. one Of the
wealthiest; the Chickasaw. the Creek, the
Choctaw and the Seminole.
The reservation Indians in the foothills
Of the Boston Mountains include Qua
paws, Peorias, Kaskaskias. Ottawas. Wy
andottes. Miamis. Shawnees. Modocs,
Senecas and Cayugas from tribes scat
tered in all parts OF the United States.
Some Of the chief places in the Terri
tory are Lehigh, McAlester. Krebs. Mus
kogee, Purcell. vinita. Tahlequah. Ard
more, Atoka and Eufaula.