The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-04-13

: OkihhOma mas an area OF 3S,S
. square miles, or 24,979. 200 acres. snt
by the census OF 1900 a population o
3ss.3Si
Indian territory, which for conven
ience we shall refer TO as a territory
although 4 has no territorial organi
zat.on, has an area of $1,000 square
miles, or 1s,s4O,OOO acres, and by the
census Of 1900 a popula ion of 392.0G
1t is conceded by everyone who has
had opportunity for observation. that
since the census of 1900 the popuIa-
tion Of both Oklahoma and the Indian
territory has increased with amazing
rapidity until their aggregate popula-
ton is probably far beyond a million.
There are probably no better farm.
ing lands in the United States than
these in these territories. and vast
areas which we're unoccupied in 1890
have been rapidly settled upon since
that time.
Under the so called Curtis act pro-
vision was made for the organization
of towns in the Indian territory. and
towns have been organized all over
the territory. having populations
which are increasing with astonishing
rapidly
!, The arbitrary and irregular bound.
airy line between Oklahoma and the
Indian territory is in itself an argu.
ment in favor of their joinder in one
state, and indicates the progress made
up to date the gradual addition of
Indian reservations to original Okla
homa, which al tn outset. constituted
only about one eighth of the present
i territory Of Oklahoma.
Indian territory. as or g,nally set
apart in 1884. practically comprehend
ed what are now known as Oklahoma
and Indian terri ory, except that
Beaver county, formerly known as
No Mans Land, was added to Okla
homa by act Of congress, May 2. 1890.
Original Oklahoma containing|
about 100000 acres in the heart a
what now cons itutes Oklahoma, was
opened TO settlement April 2, 1889 but
no form of government was provided
for the country so opened to set le
ment until May 2, 1890, when the or
ganic ect of the territory Of Oklahoma
was approved.
BY that organic act It is provided
that all that portion of the United
States now known as Indian territory. |
excepl so much as is actually occu-
pied by the five civilized tribes and (
the Indian tribes within the Quapaw
Indian agency, and except the unoccu-
pied part of the Cherokee outlet, to-
gether with that part OF the United
States known as the Public Land
strip is hereby erected into temp /
oraIy government by the name of the /
territory of Oklahoma Whenever the
interests of the Cherokee Indians in
the land known as the Cherokee out
let shall have been extinguished and
the president shall make proclamation /
thereof. said outlet shall thereupon, ]
ana without further legislation. be-
come part OF the territory Of oklaho- 1
ma Any other lands within the Ia |
dian territory not embraced within
these boundaries shall hereafter be
come part Of the territory Of Okla
homa whenever the Indian nation or
a tribe owning such lands shall sig
nifty to the president OF the United
States IN legal manner its assent tha
such lands shall SO become part of
the territory q Oklahoma, and the
president shall thereupon make proc
lamation OF the same"
BY this organic act IL is apparent
that IL was not Intended to draw any
line Of division beween Oklahoma and
Indian territory. but that oklahoma
should Increase in geographical scope
from time TO time within the limits OF
the original Indian territory
whenever the Indian nation or a tribe
owning such lands stall signify 70 the
president Of the United states in legal
manner It's assent
II is therefore apparent from this
organic &C. that Il was tho intention
Of congress thai the original Indian
territory. together with the strip of
land running westward to the east
line d New Mexico and formerly
known as No Mans Land. should
eventually become one state.
oriet,altv oliahoma has been in.