Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-21
A SUGGESTION TO SETTLERS.

The rush to Oklahoma showed that
there is very large number Of people
in this country dissatisfied with their
condition and anxious 20 improve 1t at
almost any hazard. Thousands who
went to that territory to settle were
disappointed. There was not enough
land to supply all of them. Some OF
these have gone TO the borders OF the
Sioux reservation 10 await the opening
OF that region, under the impression
that it is likely TO occur within a short
time, or as soon as the Indians have ac-
cepted the terms proposed by the gov
ernmeut. In this they are misled. and
the result to most OF them can hardly
be otherwise than sad and severe ex-
perience of hardship and privation.
We print elsewhere letter OF the COM
missioner OF the general land office to
Mr.. William F. Payne, county surveyor
of Cheyenne county, Nebraska, to which
we would direct the attention of those
who may contemplate taking up lands
in the Sioux reservation. They will
learn from this letter that the consent
OF the Indians to the opening up OF
their lands to settlement is but the trst
step. The cession OF the lands will
have to be approved by congress, and
after this is done they will have to be
| surveyed and subdivided, for which
congress must make provision. Until
this necessary action by congress, the
| department OF the interior will do moth
| ing in the matter of surveying the
lands, or authorizing the opening up OF
| the same to settlement. 1t will thus be
seen that under no circumstances can
the Sioux reservation be opened up for
| settlement within a year, and it may
be much longer time, depending,
after the consent of the Indians is OBJ
| tanned, upon whether congress acts
| promptly or delays in approving the
| cession of the lands and making
provision for their survey, subdivi-
sion and allotment. Those who are
hanging about the borders of the reser-
walton are therefore assured Of an ex-
tended period OF suspense, and some OF
them OF a hard and cruel experience.
1t is not difficult to understand why a
new country has peculiar attractions for
people seeking to better their condi-
tion, and undeniably the Sioux reserva-
tion, or very large part of it, is one of
the most desirable regions for settle.
ment in the country. But there are
very desirable lands elsewhere which
settlers can secure at once
and which are located in propin.
guilty to already well-established
facilities OF civilization which the
territory not now open to settle
ment can not possess for years. For ex
ample, in Cheyenne county, Nebraska
there is a large area Of fertile govern
ment land we'll adapted to the growth
OF all kinds of agricultural products
while unsurpassed for stock-raising
Here the settler would find all the con
dltions of organized government, a milo
and heathful climate, and markets al
ready established. Were some of thos,
who are still hanging around Oklahoma
and on the borders of the Sioux reser
vation to betake themselves to Western
Nebraska the time they ar
wasting they could make profit
able to themselves, and doubtles
in the end reap reward quite a
satisfactory as they can reasonably hop
to obtain from settlement elsewhere
Unquestionably when the great Siou:
reservation is settled by white men
will speedily become one of the gardel
spots of the country, but portions o
western Nebraska offer no less favor
able conditions and promise to th
home seeker, and such at least as Cal
not afford to sit down in idleness for
year or two until the closed territory i
opened, would do wisely to turr
their attention to region that /
ready to be occupied and is rich in pos
sibilities.