Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-27
Adding to the Public Domain.

The recent announce ment tsat few mil
lion acres only remained of the public lands
subject to the homestead and presumption
laws WAS an unpleasant surprise to the people.
They had settled down TO the comfortable be-
lief that the area of fertile soil owned by the
Government was practically inexhaustible.
The knowledge that much of it had been
sQusndered and had passed into the hands of
land sharks and alien landlords instead of be-
coming the property of actual settlers did not
lessen the popular dissatisfaction. Since then
the probability of increasing the visible sup
ply of fertile lands subject to purchase or en-
try has been topic for earnest discussion,
and public attention has turned naturally to
the opening to settlement of the Indian Ter
ritorv and of some of the reservations now
held bv Indian tribes.
Senator Dawes hill throwing open a large
part Of the Sioux Reservation is, therefore.
timely. This great body of land lies in West
ern Dakota, and comprises more than $4,000
square miles of territory. Its boundaries are
the state of Nebraska on the South, the
Missouri River on the East, the South Fork
of the Cannon Ball River on the North, and
the Black Hills on the West better idea
of its extent can be gained by stating that it
is four times rs large rs Massachusetts,. and
three .fourths as large as Pennsvlvsnia. Ii is
channeled by Ave rjvers--the White, the Bad,
the CHEYENNE. the Moresu and the Grand
and their tributaries. all of which flow into
the Missouri River. The Indians inhahiting
this reserve number less than $4,000. and
their rights are carefully guarded by stringent
provisions in the bill OF Senator Dawes. The
Indian Rights Association has approved the
measure. believing that it will benefit the red
man to be brought into closer contact with his
white brother The Senate has already con.
tho hill and 10 rho Hnuxs nf Rsr,
sentatives approves, about / | .000, 900 acres of
arabic land will be added 10 the puplic do
main suitshle for actual settlement.
Another project which will largely increase
the available amount of agricultural land is
under consideration in Washington Terrific
~. Nearly two thirds of that territory is
practically still terra incogniia. Settlements
have been confined to the Pacific coast and
the borders of Puget Sound the unbroken
range of the Cascade mountains having
proved an etfectual barrier to immigration
into the central and eastern sections of the
territory. The great Columbia river flows
through both these sections and its tributaries
channel the neighboring country. Around
the great bend of the Columbia are great
tracts of fertile lands capable of sustaining
large population. The elevated plains are
sterile, but the valleys are rich and Weld
enormous crops. The few scattered farms
that have heen touched with the plough have
produced eightv-fve bushels of wheat to the
acre. weighing siNty-two pounds to the hushel.
Nutritious bunch grasses abound and admira-
bly, adapt the country to grazing. Gold is
known to exist and iron ores are plentiful,
bu; the growth of timber is less abundant
than in the section bordering on the Pacific
ocean,
The most valuable parts of Central and