Daily globe., 1882-09-29
DEVILS LAKE.

A Review of the Various Points Involved
in the Proposed Addition to the Military
Reservation n Substantial and Urgent
Reasons Why the Actual Settlers Should
Not Be Disturbed, and why the Territory
Should at Once Be Opened to Settlement.
The bombshell that was thrown into the
DEVILS lake settlements in the shape of
the proposed addition to the military res
ervation, cutting out the choicest lands,
and that portion that has been so rapidly
peoplsd, threw not only the squatters
around the lake into CONSERVATION, but 1t
resounded through the entire north Dako-
ia and the Northwest. and there has been
anxious inquiries about the party who fred
the fuse that created the explosion. The
smoke has cleared away, and nearly all
parties concerned have been heard from,
which enables one to get a
clear idea of the past and present situa-
ton. 1t appears that ex-Lieat. n. N.
Creel, until recently connected with the
army at Fort Totten, was some time ago,
detailed to make q military survey of
Devils lake. During this survey he dis
covered a heavy body of timber on the
south shore, at point designated on
Creers map, as Rock Island. Half of this
timber belt was set aside for the military
reservation, for the sake of the timber
1t is alleged that Creel took possession of
the balance of the timber land, estimated
1000 to 1000 acres, and arranged with
some parties to squat on this land,
placing one settler on each 16O acres
This occurred about eighteen months ago,
say-a year ago last spring there was only
one actual known settler on the east or north
side of the lake, Lamoreaux by name,
and consequently there were no envious
eyes on Creel's Rock Island ranch, but this
last spring, when the settlers began
to come in thick and fast, and the
entire north side, from u reu1's-
Jerusalem postoffice -towafl and to Rock
Island was teeming with settlers, and
| people everywhere squaring off their I60
acres, then people began to wish they had
part of Creel's timber, and attempts were
made to take forcible possession of Rock
Island, which failed, and the parties thus
defeated very naturally went to military
quarters at Fort Totten with their COM
| plants.
1t was probably about this time that
| His Excellency Gov. Ordway, happened
| out at ForttTo ten, heard these complaints
about Creel, and without 60
ing on the north shore
was led to believe there were but few set
tiers there and these all of the Creel
stamp, and, in fact, there were then not
many as far west as Rock Island, or Six
milo bay.
That was in June, and since that time
the emigration to the north side of Dev-
iPs lake has been large, the settlers claim
ing to be upwards of three thousand
| strong, of thrifty, active, energetic
class of people, peaceably disposed, and
ern Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa
and Illinois, many of them with their all in
the covered wagon, others again with
means enough to make good improve
ments.
They have broken from ten to fifty acres
this season, for cropping next year, cut
hay for winter use, in short, making actual
settlement in the fullest sense Of the term.
| using their means, influence and time to
improve and develop the land chosen for
their homes. No one will dispute Govern
| or Ordway in his statement that the inten-
tion was only to protect the fns timber
belt On the north shore from the timber
aside ten by forty miles took not only the
timber section, but the entire north shore,
including, of course. the settlements at
IamOreaux's," the Narrows, "Dana's''
| Point, Zimmerel's and Creelsburg; in
short, fenced in,iguratively,t the continuous
settlement, except that part extending to
Freshwater lake, toward the west.
Now it is claimed that the rsmonstranee
and Indignation meetings are largely man
| ipulated by the timber, crowd but they are
not one to hundred of the real settlers, and
the interests and rights of the ninety and
nine should certainly be respected and
| protected, and some means should be
found by which to distinguish the
settler from the proxies. 1t would appear
| right and proper to gnell the
disturbance and pacify the settlers
that Secretary Teller should issue his
proclamation Immediately declaring the
territory opened to settlement and order
the lands surveyed.
This accomplished let commission be
appointed to look into the alleged fraudu-
| lent claims
To let the matter hang fire now,
would stop the steady emil
grafton that has been, and
which would otherwise increase fold
next season. With this land regularly
opened to settlement and surveyed, the
| emigration next season will meet the
widest expectation and be an ,important
factor in the development of north Da-
kota.
A SUCCESSFUL OPENING.
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