The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-18
CI4EROKEES OWN
Fl. SMITH LAND
Original Treaty Gives
Them Possession of
Part Of City
BOUNDARY WAS MOVED
Old Settler Changed Marker;
Nation May Never Sue for
Rights Of the Treaty

sa.al 70 The World.
TAHLEQUAH. June 17.--ln
these days when various claims
asamst the government Of the
United states are sought to be in
sNutod by the representatives OF the
various organizations Of the Chero-
E..s. little or no mention has been
made concerning matter which
wIs often mentioned years ago. II
ors stated by an authority on the
history Of the Cherokees, one who
v.. familiar With the various trol-
tics since the establishment Of the
republic, that the present city OF
Fort smith, Ark. Is built partly up
on and conveyed TO the Cherokees
r the patent signed by President
Martin Van Buren on the 3lst day
Of December, 1888.
I'm describing the boundaries of
the vast territory which was speci-
fled as being the domain OF the
Cherokees in the west 1t was stated
that a portion Of the boundary eX-
tended down the main channel Of
the Arkansas river TO the western
boundary OF the state OF Arkansas,
az the northern extremity of the
eastern boundary of the lands of
the Choctaws on the south bank of
the Arkansas river. four chains and
Nf'y-four links east Of Fort Smith,
etc.
Old Fort Was Standing
Tho original fort erected in 1917,
or twenty-one years before, was
s'ill standing, and the fort and not
the town was meant, when II was
stated that the lands of the Chero-
KEGS extended four chains and fifty
four links east of the fort. The
location Of the old fort was near
the river and a gooGly portion Of
what is now Garrison avenue, with
the land on either side, according
70 the patent, is without doubt,
really the property of the people Of
the old Cherokee nation. Millions
OF dollars worth OF property is to
be found upon the tract OF land
conveyed by the patent to the east
ern Cherokces, who n the year
mentioned, were started on their
way west from the original Chero-
kee nation beyond the Mississippi
river. Fort Smith. the town, was
bur a small place at tho time but IL
seems that none OF the citizens of
the Indian nation sought TO make
their homes along the banks of the
river near the military post. West
Of the river, among the hills and
valleys of the district eventually to
be given the name of Sequoyah, in
honor Of the inventor OF Cherokee
letters, the Indian settlers We're
numerous. Few of them, 1t Is safe
. TO say, had no knowledge of the
fact that the lands of their new ma
ton extended cast of the river,
which most of them appear to have
regarded as the boundary line.
Many years after. however, when
the lands of the Cherokees were
being allotted the Rev. w. A. Dun
can, one Of the leading citizens Of
the Cherokee nation, sought TO file
upon that portion Of the city Of
Fort Smith falling within the metes
and bounds as described In the pat
ent, he having caused to be pub
lShed in one of tho newspapers OF
the nation his intention TO claim as
a portion of his allotment from the
lands OF the Cherokee nation, that
which has been hercluhefure men
toned. He was ignored as 10 the
request TO be allowed 20 receive
deed 10 the section Of the city men,
toned but often mentioned that the
Cherokees had a very fair and val
ID claim TO the particular portion OF
the Arkansas city which had been
punt upon the land extending tour
chains and fifty-four links east OF
Fort Smith. The death of the aged
minister occurred n few years after
TIM admission of Oklahoma to state
hood but in some Of the old news
papers, printed more than fifteen
years ago there are some interest
ing articles which explain in detail
Why the Cherokees should have re-
celved the tract in question.
"Movcd" the Boundary
Among other stories which have
come down from the remote past
concerning the Cherokee boundary
me in the vicinity OF Fort Smith,
one TO the effect that one of the
early settlers in the town, one who
was instrumental in its establish
meN', in fact, deliberately removed
me stone marking the boundary and
IL