the same, or by such other method as may be agreed upon
. . . to enable the ultimate creation of a state or states of the
Union, which shall embrace the land within the said Indian territory." 1
The commission appointed arrived in the Indian territory in January,
1894, and at once began negotiations. 2
At this time the noncitizen element in Indian Territory was officially
reported to number at least 200,000 souls, while those having rights
as citizens of the five civilized tribes, including full-blood and mixed-
blood Indians, adopted whites, and negroes, numbered but 70, 500. s
Not all of the noncitizens were intruders, many being there by per-
mission of the Indian governments or on official or other legitimate
business, but the great body of them were illegal squatters or unrecog-
nized claimants to Indian rights,fraternal
feeling which must be cultivated and secured before allotment is prac-
ticable and statehood desirable."' The removal of the intruders was
still delayed, and in 1896 the decision of citizenship claims was taken
from the Indian government and relegated to the Dawes Commission. 6
In 1895 the commission was increased to rive members, with enlarged
jiowers. In the meantime a survey of Indian Territory had been
ordered and begun. In September the agent wrote: "The Indians
now know that a survey of their lands is being made, and whether
with or without their consent, the survey is going on. The meaning
of such survey is too plain to be disregarded, and it is justly con-
sidered as the initial step, solemn and authoritative, toward the oxer-
throw of their present communal holdings. At this writing surveying
corps are at work