Before the Founding of Lawton
Land Lottery and Auction
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Teaching Materials
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For years, Texas ranchers had wanted to graze their cattle on rich grasslands. The grasslands lay north of the Red River. But the grasslands belonged to the natives. Many ranchers broke the law. Their herds grazed on the land anyway. But now several ranchers were willing to pay the tribes. In 1884, Quanah Parker and Permansu had a talk. They chose to go to Washington, D.C. Some white ranchers went with them. All of the men talked to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. They wanted him to favor leasing the pastures. The delegates were not able to get a formal approval. Instead, the agent agreed to accept leases for 6¢ an acre. |
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The ranchers had to pay this money each year. This amount was a great bargain for the ranchers. The money from the leases was called "grass money." It was divided up equally among the natives on the reservation. But the natives did not get the money. The government held the money in trust for them. |
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