The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-16
BY HERBERT OF.
Special Correspondence. 49,

|
Special Correspondence.
CHICKASHA, Ind. T., Oct. 10.-This is |
one Of the coming towns Of the Indian |
territory, or perhaps 1t would be better
expression to say that it is one Of the |
towns that have already arrived" tits
located away down in the southwest part
Of the territory, in the Chickasaw Ma
ton, In the heart of one of the richest
agricultural districts In the country, and
Is right on the Oklahoma border. There
Is no other town of any size approaching
it within a considerable radius, and con-
sequently the great trade of this section
naturally gravitates toward it. 1t is not
Only a great receiving point for the crops
of this territory adjacent to it, but it Is
also a considerable jobbing center, and
it's streets in the business section are
alive. with the rush and hustle Of thriy-
ing commerce.
Wheat, cotton, corn, and oats are the
great staples Of this region and some Of
the finest farming lands in the world are
teund about here. The town is we'll built,
g its streets are broad and we'll kept, and
all the modern comforts and conven-
fences OF life are to be found here. The
milling industry has obtained a firm hold
here, and large quantities of -four are.
being shipped daily. In time Chickasha
destined to be large cotton manu-
icturing center, because of it's close
roximity to the cotton fields, and in
he immediate vicinity are extensive ce-
ment formations, which, when developed
by capital, are bound to give employment
to many thousands of men. The country
Is interlaced by a network Of creeks and
streams, which assure an abundant wa
ter supply. - -. = -'T.'S - e
Future of the Country. -.
What the future of this country is to
be when the allotment Of the land to the
Indians is completed it is beyond the ca
pacity of any man to foresee. With a
soil of amazing fecundity, climate that
is as near perfection as it is possible to
imagine, and the vast timber and min
eral; resources that are known to exist,
but which have as yet barely been
scratched, there is no apparent limit, to
its growth. In every respect the land
Is equal to that of Oklahoma, and
the amazing development of that terri
tory is certain to be duplicated in the
Indian territory. The law, by limiting
the possibilities of ownership, placed an
obstacle in the way of the development
OF Indian territory which until the pres
ent time could not be overcome.
1t is estimated that nearly a million
farmers have within the past twenty
years lived within the Indian territory
: boundaries. They came here to win a
B. living. They stayed, wondering at the
generous fecundity of the soil, till they
had amassed sufficient money to buy for
themselves homes in some perhaps less
., favorable region. They left regretfully
to make way for other "nesters," bound
like themselves, to tarry only long enough
to take fortune from the earth.
1t is said that these migrating hus-
bandmen have carried annually out Of In
dian territory an aggregate sum Of S.,
100000 for the past ten years. But tht
land was the red mans, and, no matter
how, fertile. the soil might be or VIVA
other resources the country might pos
sess, he alone could reap the benefits O
its ownership. 1t could not be home tt
the white man.
Resources of the Land. :
Where ownership was impossible tt
the worker of the soil, there could there
fore be no great interest in the ultimate
- development of that soil; but it must 10
on that account be deduced that the re
sources Of the land were counted les
than those which guaranteed the fam
of Oklahoma.
Consider Indian territory as an enor
nous tract Of land, containing 81
square miles. Cut 1t up into five larg
subdivisions and several smaller and les
important sections. Look upon it as til
common property of about 80, 900 Indians
or rather the property of five or more ma
tions of Indians numbering $4,000, eac
OF which holds and governs It's own par
ticular territory in common, and a TAI
idea of the original conditions from whic
the present and future Indian territor
Is being evolved may be had. Comm
ownership Of these lands, which was pro
vided for by the old treaty, is a forl
Of civil government which has proved
failure wherever tried. 8,
What other result could therefore b
expected in this. instance, more espe
cially when it Is remembered that wit
royalties and rents the red man had a
sufficient unto his needs? The land we
dormant 1t was going to waste. tt
white man saw it.. He realized what
wonderful opportunity was being ove1
looked. He "nested" on 1t. All Wou
have been we'll had he not been followe
by scheming element, i'll content :
nest" The schemer grew covetous, ar
so many abuses, Irregularities, and 81
tanglements resulted that Congress
length determined to equalize the con
mon property as the only practical mea!
ure toward the bettermeQt Of condition
Plan of Allotment.
This was the first step toward openin
The plan adopted and now being work,
out is unlike all territorial openin,
hitherto recorded in that the Indian
given a chance. It is briefly this: Fl
Indian is the only direct beneficiary,
parcel of land Of his own choosing bell
allotted to him. This land is to be
and he himself to be a self-reliant citiz,
Of the United States.
The accomplishment of this end seem