The Mineral argus., 1885-05-07

% Among tine UottAo3o.
A dispatch from Chamberlain says: Attor-
nsy General Rice is distributing copies of the
following proclamation among tho settlers on
the winnebago and Crow Creek reservations:
The president has deemed II necessary to re-
woke the executive order Of Feb ..,s, lsS5, OPEN
ing the above reservations to settlement This
action is plainly inspired by the single purpose
of maintaining what Is regarded ~ the plighted
faith of the government and keeping invio.ate
tho sacred terms Of treaty.
realize the harilships TO settlers involved
in this order, and am sure the president IL
not oblivious 70 or unmin,lful Of them But il
has been issued under what seemed to the gov
ernment u necessity, and it should be quietly
and pcaceably obeyed Considerations of
good citizenship, and considerations OF self
interest favor such action
The president and congress will not neglect
to see Justice done Ia those who have gone on
these lands under color Of right, and who sac
rifce their property and yield what they have
gained IN order to obey the command of the
executive.
Of law and order, and for the sake of the set
tiers themselves, that the proclamation Of the
president will DC obeyed without compelling n
resort to any show ot force whatever. Nothing
can be gained; much can be lost by failure to
voluntarily comply with the order.
l suggest, also, that measures of some kind
bc taken by the settlers To preserve proof OF
their respective claims. II books be opened
in each settlement, and record be made Of
the facts in each case, describing lands set
tied upon, buildings erected aud expense IN
cured, it may prove of much convenience and
possibly facilitate q settlement of claims,
should the government consider IT proper TO
recognize and make provisions for them
To assist in devising somo method by which
this can be done, the attorney general OF the
territory will visit the reservations and will
aid the settlers in any manner possible by his
counsel and advice.
GILBERT n PIERCE, Governor.
The Attorney General was questioned and
said: would not place the number Of claim
ants 1T less than two thousand. probably rep
rescnting about three tn family or six thous-
and in all actual settlera l have found no
evidence that there are any Spectators hgur-
ing with the lands or squatters. i have not
found men holding claims that have their
homes in town, as il common when business
men go out and take claims Men who have
families there are actually ,,,, residing
on the claims with them Thar they
have endured great hardships is certain
They show all the evidence of pioneers and
hard work, evidently trying to get home OF
their own. Most of them are breaking and
seeding This portion OF Dakota Is settled
thicker than most new countries probapiy from
the reasons that it is close To a railroad ana
towns and the fact that tree claims cannot DC
filed and there Is no way To get rights TO The
land except 10y actual settlement Spectators
have been efYectually barred ont, there being
no way of filing or making bogus entries
by land sharps. There seems 10 be set
tier ON every quarter section OF desirable land;
passed through the five townships occupied
By the Indians, and still left TO them. The
land for the Indians is good as any l have
seen in Dakota There only about 100 In.
tlians, including woman and children, and
large tracts of many sections together are uii,
occupied They could Craze 10000 head OF
cattle if they mad them. l have heard OF no
trouble between the whites and the Indians.
have no proclamation from the governor,
but have an address from him 70
the settlers, advising them To peaceabiy
obey the order of the president and advising
them to form local organizations fol
the purpose of making records of their I'M,
provements and the land they have located
upon. with the object Of preserving evidence
VI their rights and the damages sustained
should congress in the future grant them re,
lief of any kind, i, can be used do not fnd
any disposition TO resist the authorities by
force, but an honest determination TO use all
legal means TO protect their rights, and they
are bona fide settlers. The governor feels a
deep interest in the matter and is anxious tt
render the settlers any assistance in his power.