New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-10
FINALE or THE LAND SALE IN IOTA
PROSPECTS OF MINNESOTA.
Corre.pcudeuee Of Tie n. Y. Tribune.
Dt-ptoVr May ~ lSJ7

DUBUQUE, Ma! %, I'0''
When | last wrote, the actual settlers were qal-
city receiving their eTtra quarter OF land, and the
sreculators were generally agreed as to the mum
Der system" Only occasionally, from day to day,
would some one get 50 full to have to LEI of his
steam by bidding on the settlers, who, as soon as
they found their plan was working, went far and
near to bring in more of their kind to get land, with
the hope Of afterward to divide the spoils On the
twelfth and hast day of the sale about 900 names
rcportcd 10 be actual settlers, had received ther
certificates for 100 acres each, beside their pre-
o,nnted ouarter section. This absorbed the best
rnd largest part Of the land. But the number or
lottery system was then carried out by the specula-
tors e. as far as to draw their numbers was
concerned There were 7y1 names registered, and
consequently ~ numbers. A poor well-dggcr, to-
ward The latter part OF the drawing drew No. !,
and IN half an hour sold it for $50 bonus. Nos :.
3. and brought from S25 to 800. No "a sold
for $50 This was on Saturday morning Mon
dav al q. M. the office was 10 be opened tor
private entries, with warrants or gold. No matter
Lat private arrangements any body of men might
enter into, the right of any who chose to buy
land could not be disputed. The spectators knew
this before well enough but they thought their power
was in their numbers strength, and felt that they
could get into the Office first by main force. SO
plan. The majority of the latter party were towns
men Of Usage, and on Saturday at ; p. III. five men
of GOOD standing among the citizens took their seats
quietly Al the door of the Land Office. Soon others
h .ard Of il and Joined them. About twenty passed
that night there. Sunday they were joined by 9th.
ers. Food was brought 10 them and they remained
all day Sunday and Sunday night, and BY a. IN. on
Monday hundreds of men were there awaiting the
Orening Of the door. OF course those who had been
there since Saturday were weary and those who
came Monday were fresh and stroDg The over
coats " hch had been necessary Sil night were 4
great burden when by O'Clock the heat Of the sun
was at 90 The crowd outside began to press to
and fro. and those who would have been glad 70
have escaped could not About 9 o'clock some FIVE
or six men began to show signs OF exhaustion and
the Register appeared and exhOrted the crowd
10 fall back a. those near the door would
be killed as they could not get our.
One man tainted and others were entreatlng for
drop Of water to quench their thirst and strengthen
them. ] sat on high place near by, and never
have ! witnessed such hellIsh scene. Water was
parsed out Of the window 10 them IN a small dlpper,
and hundred hands would reach mp for portion,
and oaths grOans and threats were heard from al
quarters. Finally, the door vas opened. In the
crowd Was forced, as if by steam power. One man
succeeded in getting his bosy half in, aud the
crush caught him on the corner of the door snd
broke two of his ribs. Another had leg broken.
Two tainted after getting in, and were carried out
through the window. Only one or two hundred
could get in, and thousands were outside. Many
had their clothing torn to taters in the crush. After
all only IL received any ands and they only $50
acres each, and the Office was closed until another
day. The same scene was passed through the next
day houghle furously, as the Register promised to
take aarrdats from those outside Of the building as
well as from tie inside. He said be should not
give my man more than 80 acres, unless the case
was very peculiar. But | know Of one OF those
peculiar cases who got =, 100 acres. Ills name was
Dodge. Quite q number resOrted 10 the ruse Ol
bringing women III carriages, Ia whom the Register
would 60 and very politely and mOdesty receive
their packages. | know also Of cases where hard-
working men could not get even one warrant LOT loo
acres into the Registers hand. Others would get
township entered daily. But game was beng
played which few thought Of.
Hundreds Of those actual settlers had sold OUT
their e1fra quarters and preempted quarters for
cold. and they went out in all directions and made
new prefmptions after midnight of Sunday. and
came and filed their intentions on Monday and
following DAYS. On the purchase certificates of
land there is clause which subjects the land en-
tered TO BE- open for preempuon for forty days.
In this case the purchaser must wait year, and
in some cases two, to get back his money. Uncle
Sam moves slow, but sure. Thus many who en-
tered land. found out too late that their selections
had been fled ON for preemption and they must
wait long time on Uncle Sam to refund, or else
buy out the preemptcr. / know that many bogus
preemptions were made, and a large number OF ont
sders bought tier way Vto Tie Settlers CLUB, and