The morning news., 1889-05-31
More Land for the Landless.

Our dispatches yesterday leave little, if
any, doubt that the Sioux Indians viii
almost ali sign the agreement to accept the
proposition of the government to sell H.
| 900. 900 acres of their reservation, in accord
auce with the terms Of the bill passed by
the last congress. The commissioners
which have this matter in charge are at
present in conference with the Sioux chiefs
at Pierre, OAK. The agreement to be bind
ing must be signed by two-thirds Of all the
| Sioux Indians.
The Sioux reservation is an immense re-
gion, containing about %, 900, coo acres. 1t
is bounded by the Niobrara river, in Ne
braska, on the south, the Cannon
Ball river, in North Dakota, oa the
north, the 1o3d meridian on the west
and the Missouri river on the east. 1t is
about 325 miles long and 140 miles wide
This reservation has been an obstruction
to civilization fJr a long time. No rail
roads are permitted to be built through it
and none but indians can occupy its lands
Last year a government commission under
took to get the consent of the tribes to sell
q portion of il, but failed. Just before
ordered the reservation to be thrown open
to settlement His administration was of
the opinion that the Indians had no title 10
it. Mr.. Cleyeland's administration took a
different view, and those who settled upon
it under Mr. Arthur's proclamation were
ordered off of it.
The commission which undertook to get
the consent of the Indians to sell a portion
of this reservation last year was authorized
to offer so cents an acre for II ,0G0, 900 acres.
The Indians considered that price too low
and refused to sell. Congress, at its last
session, increased the price to 81 25 per
acre for all that may be entered by settlers
within three years after the opening Of the
reservation, rs cents for that which may be
entered during the next two years and 50
cents for that which may be entered during
the next five years. OF course the settlers
will have to pay these prices. All the
lands not entered at the end Of the last
mentioned period the governm ent agrees to
take at 50 cents an acre.
The Sioux have no use for the immsnse
body of land in their reservation. They do
not cultivate much Of it, and it is not now
rich in game. Tney want money, and the
money they will get frcm the sale of the
part of their reservation which the govern
ment has offered to take will make them
comparatively rich.
The prospect is that the signatures Of the
Indians will be obtained within a very
short time, and then the lands will be
opened to settlement by proclamation by
the President There will be no need for
any further legislation by congress with
regard to them. No doubt there will be
great rush to them because some of them
are very desirable.
Land hungry people will have better
chance to get a good homes cad in the new
territory than there was In Oklahoma 1t
is six times as large as Oklahoma, aud, it is
alleged, much more fertile. The climate is
rather against 1t, but it is noticeable that
cold weather does not seem t. discourage
immigration. More immigrants have gone
to the northwest within the last few years
than to any other section of country.
The Indians are being crowded into mar
rover limits in all parts of the country in
which they still are If they do not be-
come civilized and adopt the customs and
methods that prevail among civilized people,
their numbers will steadily grow less until
they finally disappear. 1t is probable that
it will not be many years before the Sioux
will be ready to part with the greater part
of the remaining portion of their reserya-
tiOn.