The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-01
END AN EYE SORE
Old Indian Cemetery In Kansas
City to Go.
Government Decides That Place
Will Be Sold.
TAKEN TO QUINDARO.
Remains Of Old WyandOttes to
Be There Reinterred.
Land viii Then Be Reduced to
Street Level.

Washington, June Huron Place,
situated in the heart of the downtown
section of Kansas City, Kan, which.
because of its elevation above street
level, and its use as a cemetery, viii
cease to be an eyesore to the citizens
of that city in the near future.
The Indian appropriation bill, which
has Just been agreed to in conference,
and will shortly become a law, has a
provision, due to the efforts of Senator
Long, and Representatives Curtis and
Bowersock. which enables the place to
be sold by the government.
The spot is used as a burial place by
the Wyandotte Indians. Provision for
such use was one of the results of the
treaty made by the government with
the Wyandotte Indians January 81.
1855. It has not been in active and
actual use as a cemetery for some
years, though many bodies lie buried
there. The Wyandotte tribe is greatly
scattered, many living now in Oklaho-
ma and Indian Territory, though a few
remain in Kansas City, Kan, where
they are old and respected citizens.
Among such members of the tribe left
in Kansas City are Frank H. Betton,
who was once labor commissioner of
tAdliSciSs anu 4NlCIO4dS HlCAtDllet dil OiO-
time surveyor and civil engineer. But
for one reason and another, the bury
ing ground has almost fallen into dis
use.
In the Indian appropriation act of
this year, as stated above provision is
conferred upon the secretary of the in
terror to provide for the removal of the
remains of the persons inferred in the
cemetery, and their reinterment in the
Wyandotte cemetery at Quindaro, west
Western university stands. The secre-
tary of the interior is also authorized
to purchase and put in place appropri-
ate monuments over the graves.
After paying the cost of such removal,
as specified above. and the costs incl
dent to the sale of the tract, and pay
ment of costs to Wyandotte people, or
their legal heirs, of claims for losses
sustained by reason of the purchase of
the alleges rights Of the tribe in a Ger
tain ferry named in the treaty referred
to above, if the secretary considers such
claims just and equitable, the balance
of the money derived from the old GEM
etery is to be paid per capita to mem
bers Of the WyandOtte tribe who were
parties to the treaty, or who are the
legal heirs and representatives of such
persons.
There was considerable difficulty in
enacting this provision of the Indian
appropriation act into law The move
ment had its inception with Mr.. Bower
sock, but Ending the way hard. he call
ed on Senator Long and Mr.. Curtis to
assist him. Senator Long secured the
inclusion Of the provision in the Indian
act in the senate. Objection was made
by some prominent citizens of Kansas
City, Kansas, that the proposed trans
fer was in the interest, not of the In
dians, but of real estate men. The OBJ
jectors however. if they had good case,
did not present it to congress, and in the
end there was little trouble with the
provision from such sources.
The fact is, as shown by letters and
statements prepared by other citizens of