The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-06
Kansas Land Sale.

A gentleman who left Kansas on the Goth
alt. informs the Chicago Tribune, that the
government sale of the Delaware Reserva-
ton was progressing quietly $ and that the
squatters, whether Free State or Pro-Slave-
~, were generally bidding in their claims at
the government appraisement; though, at
the same time unoccupied lands, eligibly sit
uated, were bringing exhorbitant prices
About two thousand strangers were in the
Territory, it is supposed, with at least mil
lion and half of gold, much of which will
Zoe brought back uninvested The settlers
have what is well-knoWn in all Western set
nts-club-law-by which all imperti-
nent bidders are kept quiet until the actual
occupants Of the soil are served with all they
want.
LATER.-We find the following in the st.
Louis Republican of Nov 25th. Mr.. Eddy,
who was the Government Commissioner at
this sale is the District Attorney for Mime
sofa:
We are indebted to friend whe recently
spent some days at Fort Leavenworth, for
some incidents attending the sale ofthe Del
aware. Lands, last week. 1t seems that
there was an immense crowd there, consist
ing of spectators and preemptors, but that
no serious difficulty occurred. Our friend
says:
The Squatter Court had been sitting for
some days previous to the sale, and each
township had completed an organization to
counteract the spectators, who had hocked
to Leavenworth in great numbers. On the
morning Of the 18th, some 1000 or $500
squatters mustered at the Fort, and, owing
to rumors that "by-bidding would be Of
fered, there was good deal of excitement
but thorough determination to prevent the
purchase of claims over the heads of the
squattees. The sale commenced at the sew
each township, some fractions of which were
o, en- to competition, and brought So 10. At
this time the crowd became somewhat rest
less, when Mr.. N. Eddy, the Government
Commissioner, came forward, and having OBJ
tanned a hearing, stated, in substance, that
she spoke by authority in saying, that it
was the desire of the Government that the
squatter who had improved the land by the
labor of his hands, should have preference
to his claim at the appraised value" At
this point, the crowd cheered vehemently.
" But" continued he, :" the lands are to be
sold at auction to the highest bidder, and
am prepared to accept the highest price,
The men composing the township on sale
stood round the door from which the Sec
tions were sold, and it is needless to add
that no outsider was fool hardy enough to
offer bid on the claims, which were sold
rapidly at 81 so to ST. SIS an acre. The sale
was adjourned after the seventh township
had been about one-half sold. On Tuesday
the sale was continued, and part of the
eighth township was disposed Of Some
difficulties arose between the squatters on
4" rival and jumped Claims" but nothing
involving loss of life. The fever occasioned
among the spectators by being prevented
from bidding, has given large prices to the
squatters who felt disposed to sell their
claims. One man, living some twenty miles
out, asked $1,000 for h claim; and gen
theman sold some IS acres, lying one-and-a
half miles from town, for $ll 900. From
these two items an average may be inferred
There is supposed to be three millions o
specie on the ground. The place is not only
overcrowded, but densely so-every store
and boarding house have sleepers on the
floor. No party cries have been raised, ant
the {" pro " and anti men seem to BLEND
harmoniously for the time but, after thu
claims are secured, there may, and doubtless
Will be, some individual feuds.