Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-14

@~T 11N - - Va NAo h1St hAo" N41 ~
sSal thousand persons, many of them with
their families, had gathered upon the
borders of the indian territory with
a view OF securing homesteads on
the ceded lands, and that delay
would involve them In much loss
and suffering, I did on the ed day of
March last issue a proclamation, declar-
ing that the lands therein described would
be open to settlement under the provisions
of the law on the 22d day OF April follow
ing, at IL o'clock noon. Two land districts
had been established and the Offices were
open for the transaction of business when
the appointed time arrived. 1t IL much to
the credit of the settlers that they very
generally observed the limitation as to the
time when they might enter the territory,
and care will be taken that those who en-
tered In violation of the law do not secure
the advantage they unfairly sought. There
was a good deal OF apprehension that the
strife for locations would result in blood
shed, but happily these anticipations were
not realized. IL Is estimated that there are
now in the territory about 10000 people
and several considerable towns have
sprung up In which temporary municipal
governments have been organized. Guthrie
10 sold TO have now n population
OF almost 5000. Eleven schools and nine
churches have been established and three
daily and FIVE weekly ~newspapersa are pub
lisut1 IN tnib City, "hJs CHdELSE Il 4
dinances have only the sanction of the vol
untary acquiesence of the people from day
TO day. Oklahoma City has a population
of 5000 and is proportionately as well pro-
vided "a Guthrie with churches, schools
and newspapers. Other towns have popu-
~iltions of from 100 to 1000 scattered over
the territory.
In order to secure the peace Of this new
community in the absence of civil govern
ment / directed General Merritt, com
manding the department of the Missouri,
20 act In conjunction with the marshals of
u. United States 10 rreserve the peace
AID 6roh their requisition 70 Use taetroSps
70 aid them in executing warrants and in
quieting any riots or breaches OF the peace
that might occur. He was further directed
so use his influence 10 promote good order
and 10 avoid any conflicts between or with
the settlers. Believing that the Introduction
and sale of liquors where no legal restraint
or regulations existed would ~endanger the
public peace and in view OF the fact hat
such liquors must be first introduced into
the indian reservations before reaching the
white settlements, l directed the gen
eral commanding to enforce laws relating
to the introduction of ardent spirits into
Indian country. The presence of the troops
has given n sense of sincerity TO the well
disposed citizens and has tended 20 restrain
the lawless. In one instance the officer in
tmmelldte colnfnHfu OF tnc troops went
further than | deemed justifiable in sup
porting the defacto of the municipal gov
eminent OF Guthrie and be was 40 informed
and directed to limit the interference of
the military to the support Of the marshals
on the lives indicated in the original order.
I very urgently recommended that con-
gress at once provide a territorial govern
inert for these people. as serious questions
which may at any time lead to violent out
breaks are awaiting the institution of
courts for their peaceful az adjustment. The
American genius for self government has
been well illustrated in Oklahoma, but II Is
neither safe nor wise to leave these
people longer TO the expedients
which have temporarily served them.
LAND TITLES ~ ALASKA.
Provisions should be made for the acqui-
sition of titles TO town lots in towns now es-
tabiished in Alaska, for locating town
sites and for the establishment OF municipal
governments. Only the mining laws have
been extended to hat territory and no
Sther form to title to lands can now be OBJ
eained. The general land laws were framed
with reference TO the disposition of agricIl-
tural lands and it Is doubtful II their oper-
ation in Alaska would be beneficial.
We have fortunately not extended to
Alaska the mistaken policy Of establishing
q reservation for the Indian tribes and we
can deal with them from the beginning as
individuals with, | am sure, better results.
But any disposition OF the public lands and
any regulations relating to the timber and
"a the fisheries should have a kindly regard
to their interests. Having no power 10
levy taxes the people of Alaska are wholly
dependent upon the general government to
whose revenues these fisheries make a
large annual contribution. An appropria-
ton for education should neither be ever
looked nor stinted. The srnallness of the
,np,,iatfnn aud fhA prauf histaneax hat vaan
the settlements offers us obstacles TO the
establishment of the usual territorial form
of government. Perhaps the organization
of several sub-districts, with a small muni-
cipal council of limited powers for each
would be safe aud usual. Attention Is
called In this connection TO the suggestions
of the secretary of the treasury relating TO
the establishment of another port OF entry
Ina Alaska and of other needed custom
facilities aud regulations. In the admins
tration of the land laws the policy of facili-
tating in every proper way che adjustment
of honest claims Of individual settlers On
the public lands has been pursued. The
number of pending cases had during the
preceding administration been greatly in
creased under the operation OF orders for
q time s~uspending final action In a large
part Of the cases originating In the ives
and northwest and by the subsequent use
Of unusual methods of examination. Only
those VINO are Iamillhr win t4s GDuultiOn
under which our agricultural lands have
been settled can appreciate the serious and
often fatal consequences TO the settler of a
policy that puts his title under suspicion,
or delays the issuance of his patent. While
care is taken To prevent and expose fraud,
Il should not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose of the homestead
and redemption laws was to promots the
settlement of the public domain by persons
having q bonafde intent to make a home on
selected lands. Where this intent Ia well
established and the requirements Of law
have been substantially complied with, the
claimant il entitled to a friendly considera-
tiQn TO his case, but where there is reason
td1helieve the claimant IL the mere agent of
another, who Is seeking to evade a law In
tended to promste small holdings and to Sc
cure by fraudulent methods large tracts
- tlpber other lnndAs hofh
sprincftaf an ageats should not only be
thwarted in their fraud purpose. but
should DO made to feel the full penalties of
our criminal statutes. The laws should be
20 administered As not to eonfound these
two classes and to visit penalties upon the
latter. The unsettled state Of the titles TO
large bodice of lands in the territories Of
New Mexico and Arizona has greatly re-
tarded the development Of those terri
tories.
MEXICAN LAND RANT.
Provision should be made BY
law for the prompt trial and final adjust
ment before q Judicial tribunal or commits
sion Of all claims, based upon the Mexican