The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-04-30
: :. :. :.
TIE W1NNEBAao LANDS.
A Proclamation by Gov. Pierce Dlstribut-
Cd Among tho Settlers


A dispatch from Chamberlain says: Attor-
ney General Rice is distributing copies Of the
following Proclamation the settlers on
the Winnebago and Crow Creek reservations:
This president has deemed it necessary to re-
tohe the executive order IF Feb 27; 1885, epen-
ing the above Reservations TO- settlement This
aeti6n is plaiiilA inspifed by the single purpose
Gt 1Pi'sheg i she gsau SSsa9a S se e @ Basss
the Sacred terms of treaty.
realize the hardships to settlers involved
in this order, hnd sm sure the president is
not oblivous to or unmindful of them. Bit it
has been issued under what seemed to the gov
ernment necessity, and it should be quietly
and peaceably obeyed Considerations of
good citizenship, and considerations of self
interest favor such action.
The president and congress will not neglect
to see Justice done to those who have gone Oh
theso lands Under color Of right. and who sac
rifce their property and yield What they have
seiS& ss25t}Vs u sfdSf to obey the command of tn"
I earnestly trast therefore; 10th for the sake
of law and order, and for the sake of the sst-
tiers t6emsaHly9Ms M tahat the proclamation Of the
resort to any show 6 Of force 1 Thatets t e. NSthHg
voluntarily comply with the order.
suggest, also, that meas ures of some, kind
be taken by the settlers to preserve proof of
their re5pective claimsA If books be opened
in each settlement, and a record be made$ of
the facts in each case, describing lands set
CURED, it may prove OF much convenience and
possibly facilitate settlement of claims,
should the gdveiriuient consider it proper to
recognize and make provisions for theDl. =, !,
To assist in devising some method by which
this can be done, the attorney general of the
%n,, }iSif f11n will
aid the settlers in any manner possible by his
counsel and advice;
The Attorney General was Questioned aid
said l would not place the number OF clalnt-
ants at less, than TIVE thousand, probably. rep
and in all actual settlers. I have foi1llld no
ing with Tie lands dr sdHatters. 7 have not
found men holding claims that have their
homes TN ttP%n,, as is common whom business
faniliss @ 0i there ere are are ''" Aotuaily residing
on the claims with them. Tket 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 probably from
the reasons that it is close to railroad and
towns, and the fact that tree claims cannot be
filed and there is no way to get rights to the
land except by actual settlement Spectators
have been effectually barred out, there being
no way OF, filing Or making bogus entries
by land sharps. Thefe scents TO- be o, Set
tier on every quarter section of desirable iatld
passed through the five townships occupied
by the Indians, and still left to Them The
land for the Indians is as good as any have
seen in Dakota. There only about 1,1cO In
dians including woman and children, and
large tracts of many sections together are un.
occupied They could Craze 10000 head OF
cattle if they had them; have heard Of no
I have no proclamation from the governor,
but I have an address from him to
the Settlers. advising them to peaceably
obey the order of the president and advising
them to form local ORGANIZATIONS for
the purpose Of making records Of their im-
provements and the land they have located
upon, with the object of preserving evidence
of their rights and the damages sustained.
Should congress- in the future grant them re-
lief OF any kind, it can be used. do not find
any disposition to resist the authorities by
forcc, 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 to
render the settlers any assistance In his power