St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-10
THE NEW LANDS.

1HO ldNOldDlO VI uhO Ia
bors of the Sioux commission will insure
the early opening of the 100000 acres
covered by the ceSSion or purchase, and
there will be general interest to know
the character of lands and their deSira-
bility for those seeking new homes.
The provisions of the act under which
they are to be opened are designed to
shut out spectators and those who want
large farms, as the homestead law only
applies, and permanent residence and a
payment of S1.25 an acre are requisite.
The chances for spectators would
seem to be confined to the town sites.
There will not be many cities needed
until there is population and develop
ment, and their location will be gen.
orally determined by the railroads.
There are no reliable intimations
that any railroad will push its ex-
tension there this season. The
impression prevails quite generally that
the land the Indians have held must be
choice; in fact, superior to the other
parts of the territory. This is due to
lack of detailed information and the
presumption that the aborigines would
select the best. There are rumors of a
good quality of coal being found there
in several localities, with perhaps some
special mineral and natural resources,
but for agricultural uses there is little
ground for claims of superiority to the
older neighborng sections. Some years
ago JUD LA INQUIRE operated an ex-
detrimental farm at one of the agencies,
with no very notable success. He is
not understood to be inclined to leave
the Red river valley for the new region.
1t will be noted from the map that
the portion to be opened COM
prises two nearly distinct belts, one
extending from the Missouri river west
to the Black Hills. and the other run
ming north, with the Sioux reservation
between it and the Missouri. The lat
ter region will require an artificial sup
ply of water, if any portion of the Da-
kotas does. 1t is believed to have a
very fertile soil, and only in need of
irrigation to produce abundantly. 1t
will be surrounded almost entirely by
unsettled country, with reservation on
one side. Present settlement will be
directed mainly, perhaps entirely, to
the lower portion. This will soon have
railroads, and secure whatever of a
rush there may be for new homes.
Most of the lands to be opened will
they are not in what is known as the
distinctive wheat region. The country
north of the Black Hills has been re-
garded as specially adapted to stock
ranges. It has been utilized by whites
very considerably by making Indians or
half-breeds nominal owners of the cat
tie. If it is to be disposed of only in
manifestations on the homestead plan,
it will not be available for stock uses.
A railroad may be built through it con-
Meeting the Black Hills and the North
ern Pacific. 1t has been SO remote
from white settlement, and possessed
by Indians, that comparatively little
accurate knowledge is had of it.
But even if the allurementS to immi-
grants on the new lands are not greater
than elsewhere, the mere fact that such
a vast area is to be opened up will be a
wonderful stimulant to immigration.
No such jam as in the Oklahoma case
will throng the banks Of the Missouri
when the proclamation Of the president
is issued in few weeks, as anticipated.
But the country is widely advertised,
and large human tide could flow on to
it without much jostling. Its opening
will measurably benefit other parts of
the Dakotas and this state. Many of
those induced by the opening to come
West will visit other sections and pre-
fer to settle in older communities.
There is room in the Dakotas and Min
nesota for a good many million new
settlers. They can support as large a
population as any other agricultural re-
gions in the country, and there will not
be any crowding when the three states
shall count from ten to fifteen million
in the census.