The Chickasha daily express., October 30, 1900, Image 1

About The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current

Image provided by: Oklahoma Historical Society

                
V
The Chickasha Daily Express.
Vol. 1.
WEEKLY, EXPRESS
ttaousnd IB9Z,
OVERCOAT
WEATHER 1
Had you thought
about it?
Kortbeis and Ice
and Know ....
and eo forth . , .
Will be here soon
and where will
you be without an
. OVERCOAT?
lie most complete line of Coverts.
Kerseys, Chinchilla, Beavers, etc.
Square yourself agiinst
.the weather
See
, THOMPSON THE TAILOR.
jPoBtofllee building.
Making Indian Citizens
Chaotic conditions ex isting in
Indian territory at present are
without a parallel in history.
Nearly 90,000 Indians are with
out a country and 300,000 white
citizens are not allowed to use
their right of suffrage, liut out
of this state of matters the
United States government is
busily engaged in framing a
policy for the future guidance of
a country that bids fair to equal
any part of the Union.
A commission made up of three
members with 300 assistants is
now engaged in taking the final
roll of the Indians of the different
tribes, appraising their land and
placing them on their allotments.
By the 1st of Jaunary, 1901, this
work will have been finished and
the Indians will be ready to take
out their naturalization papers es
citizens of the United States. To
bring this to a conclusion will
have involved many years of
labor and an expenditure ot a
million dollars.
"So long as grass grows and
water runs," by the terms of this
nation's promise, made in 1832,
the Cherokees, CreeKs. Sem noles,
Chickasaw and Choctaws were to
have for their own -this tract of
land known as Indian territory.
So the Five Tribes set np their
government, each holding to its
own tribal forms. There was not
even an Indian commissioner
sent to keep his more or less
paternal guardianship over them.
Bnt the whites came in, inter
married wiih the squaws, cheated
the easy-going and indolent full
bloods and gradually gained con
trol of the crovernmeut. The
United States government step
ped in to limit the power of the
whites and preserve the rights
of the Indians. Despite disabili
ties imposed upon them the
whites kept pouring iu and, as
their number increareu, iuev bo
vehemently demanded recognition
that the government decided ou a
readjustment in the interest of all
concerned. The advances of the
commission, first appointed to
visit the Five Tribes in 1803,
Iwere slow and halting, though
well planned.. For three yeais
hey could oo nothing bnt ride
ver the territory and meet the
"big" Indians, who promised to
do much but who never did any
thing. Theu they sent out the
report that the Indians were
harboring outlaws who commit
ted crimes in other states, that
the fullbloods were being de.
ccived as to the real intentions of
the United States toward their
government and the wily halt
bloods, who at that time had con
trol of the affairs of the Indian
I ,jrovernment, were using every
incana to thwart the purposes f
For Chickasha First; The Indian Territory 'Second; The
the commissioners, alt of which
was true. Congress replied to
this anneal bv 1h1 vinrr intn Mm
treaties with the Indians and
there finding a clause whereby it
could deprive the Indian courts
of their jurisdiction whenever it
saw fit. Certainly now was the
opportuue time, and the act was
forthwith passed. The Indians
squirmed aud the full bloods
threatened to rise. Some of the
old full blood judges refu3ed to
quit their benches, but finally
they learned it was of no use to
kick; the act would be carried
out. Other drastic measures were
sngges'.td by the commission and
the Indians began to make over
lures. Little by little they were
hersuaded to the steps which
have led to the abolishment of
the tribal rule. Though com
prehending fully that the change
would accrue greatly", to their in
dividual advantage the Indians
held tenaciously to the traditions
of the tribes and surrendered
them only when they saw that
the new movement was inevitable.
WEALTH FOtt THE INDIANS.
When the division is made
those who have fought so hard
and so loud against it will be
probably the richest savages in
the world. The country which
will be parcelled out among them
Is larger than the state of South
Carolina, and of great beauty
and variety. Most of the soil is
very fertiie. The water supply is
ample. A belt of splendid onk
forest, thirty miles in widib, runs
through the territory, and many
other valuable woods are found
there. Rich pasture lauds afford
fat grazing for thousands of sheep
and cattle. Two million dollars'
worth of coal was taken out of
the Indian territory last year. It
is estimated that the products of
the soil for the year 18'J'J amount
ed to G million dollars. Besides
these things petroleum in large
quantities vis known to lie be
neath the soil aud valuable veins
of lead and zinc are indicated by
rich outcroppings which have
never been mined. A fine climate
and beautiful scenery make this
country one of the garden spots
of the nation.
All this goei to about 87,000
Indians, 19,098,030 acres being
GRAND
OPENIS
OF
FALL
WINTER
GOODS
THE BIG CASH
Chickasha, Indian Territory, Tuesday, October
divided about equally among the
differnt tribes. There are Indians
and freedmen (negroes whose an
cestors were or who are them
selves freed slaves of Indians) who
have head rights in the differnt
nations as follows: Cherokee
freemen, 4,000; Cherokees, 30,000;
Delawares having head right in
Cherokee nation, 1,000; Creeks,
10,000; Creek freedmen, 0,000;
Choctaw's, 10,000; Choctaw freed
men, 5,000; Chickasaws, 7,000;
Chickasaw freedmen, 5,000; Semi
iioles, 3,000. The Cherokees have
invested or loaned to the United
States 2,G3a.000. The Creeks
have two million dollars thus
loaned, the Chickasaws $1,308,
000, the Choctaws $540,000 and
the Seiuinoles 1 1-2 million dol
lars. It is estimated by Tarns
Bixby, chaTiuan of the commis
sion to the Five tribes, that each
Cherokee citizen will get 120
acres of land of average value as
his allotment, the Creeks will get
between 1G0 and 200 acres, the
Seminoles about 1G0, the Chick
asaws and Choctaws about 500
acres each. Besides this land
they will get equal shares of the
invested funds which are to be
paid to them just as soon as they
have all selected their allotments.
RESULT OF THIS ENRICHMENT.
What will become of these In
dians, thus suddenly enriched f
In the opinion of those who know
tueui best the outlook for them is
not hopeful. Conditions at pre
sent are in a chaotic state, and it
does not seem likely that Hying
conditions will improve when the
Iudiaus own the territory. Towns
with a population of 5.000 or
0,000 people have no sidewalks
at all and no roads worthy of the
name. After a heavy rain busi
ness is practically suspended
Ihe buildings are of the fiimiest
character. In the farming dis
tricts the Indians will not im
prove their farms because they
have no positive assurance where
they can take up their nllotmeuts.
Few of the fullbloods send their
children to school. At present,
the whites, of whom there are
3(0,00() in the territory have
practically no rights. They can
not own land, and prior to a re
cent decision they have not even
been allowed to own houses or
AID
stocks of merchandise, so that
any white desiring to do business
must do it under the name of an
Indian or of an intermarried
citizen having Indian rights.
Many whites married squaws,
thus obtaining tribal rights and
the half breed children of these
unions, are the most intelligent
and progressive members of the
Indian community. Others paid
the monthly tax of fifty cents and
hired out to the indolent Indian
farm owners or storekeepers,
accumulating money by industry
and thrift. '
It is from this class that the
danger to, the Indian portends.
These whites know the value of
the lands. They have or can get
money. As eoon as the Indian
takes up his allotment it is his to
do with what he pleases. There
is little donbt that in most cases,
as regards the fullbloods, who
make up about one-third of the
total Indian population, they will
sell out to the whites. It is gen
erally predicted that they will
sell out almost in a body, and
emigrate'to Mexico to find a wild
erness wherein they can rear
another edifice of tribal mismana
gement, while the half breeds will
remain to become citizens of the
new state that will eventually be
made out of the Indian territoiy.
Wily fellows are these halfbreeds
who well understand the value of
what is coming to them. Far and
wide they have roamed prospect
ing for lead, zinc, coal and oil
and their discoveries they have
kept secret, with a view to get
ting their allotments where these
treasures lie. Then when local
or Eastern capital comes with
money in both hands the half
breed wilf be in a position to get
about what be asks.
ORDERLY ENROLLMENT.
Tourists from the East visit In
dian territory rather expecting
that wild Indians clad in blank
ets and gorgeons paint will be
found hanging around the towns
and railway stations and avidly
eyeing the scalp iof the .paleface
invader. Instead one meets a race
of dark skinned people, some
highly educated and glad to meet
you. others a little stubborn with
the deeply imbedded hatred of
Continued on 4th pare.
THE BIG CASH
THE BIG CASH STORE, ns
usual, right in the lead
with the Largest, Best,
and Cheapest Line of
Dry Goods, Clothing,
Shoes and Boots ever
brought to Chickasha.
We have the Cheapst
and lest assorted stock
of CLOTHING' IN THE TOWN.
STORE.
30, 1900.
World After.
-V
DON'T
BLAME
THE
COOK
If the biscuits are not good;"
It's all in the Flour.
0
SUPREME FLOUR
IB GUARANTEED
To be the Best Flour sold in Chickasha,
Or your money refunded.
HIGHEST PRICE!
HIGHEST QUALITY!
WHITEMAN BROS..
Solo Wholesale Distributing Agents for above Flours.
ARDMORE, -HOUSES- CHICKASHA
a-
MMMOccMCcmmKCMMMq,;
v ava..,k,i.',' , : 1 : MV
y mcuuui uvcryuuuv a piiut; un liar- j
f ness.
1
We have the best, more of them,
Better leather, made better
Looks nicer and give a belter
Guarantee. Send for catalogue.
For the next few days we will
Make a run on harness,
vi
vi
ii
CROSS
A
REAL CALIFORNIA SUIT FOR
S12.50.
Heal California Pants $3.50 and $4.00. Can give you
A Good Suit $1.00, $1.50 and $5.00.
w
E SELL THE OLD RELIA-
BLE HAMILTON BROWN
Shoes and Boots. The best in the World.
ON DRY GOODS WE ARE
STRICTLY IN THE SWIM.
A good yard wide Sea Island Domestic 20 yards for
$1.00. A good Outing, 20 yards for $1.00.
Flannel De-Laino A Bplendid goqds for Ladies house
Dresses 8 J cts. Can give a good Standard Calico,
fast colors for i cts. Cotton Checks -30 yards for
$1.00. We can save you money
J. G. MAYS Error;
No. 267
DAILY EXPRESS
Established January I, 1900.
4S
1
M. T. CAETWRIGHT, WM. MURRAY,
GartwrigM & Murray
(Successors to C. A. Horn.)
MEAT MARKET, ,
Also Dealers in Cattle, Hogs and Sheep.
We Kill Only First Class Cattle.
m
m
m
m
m
& CHEANEY.&
STORE: