St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-30
WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM.
The Story of the People Who Went Upon
the Reservation Years Ago
AND HAVE REMAINED THERE
The Sioux Bill Will Give Them a
Chance to Live in Quiet IS,
ude.

Special to the Globe.
CHAMBERLAIN, S. D.. March 29.-The
settlers On the Crow Greek and Winnie
bago reservations are anxiously looking
forward to the ratification of the Sioux
bill by the Indians. They will when
this is done be able to secure title to
the land they reside upon. This reser-
Walton is a portion of the Great Sioux
reserve, and is situated on the east bank
of the Missouri river, the southern
boundary adjoining this city on the
north. Many Northwestern people will
remember that on Feb. 81, 1885. Presi-
dent Arthur issued proclamation de-
claring nearly 600 acres of the Grow
Creek and Winnebago reservation
opened for settlement. A large number
of people from the East anticipated the
opening of the land, and were in Cham
berlain and other bordering towns when
the proclamation was issued. Of course
great rush Immediately took place, and
in very short time all the available
land had been taken up by hardy pio-
neers who wished to secure homes
for themselves and children. Houses
were at once erected OH nearly every
quarter-sectiOn and other preparations
were made fol- putting in crops. Many
OF the people invested all they pos
sessed on earth in buying what was
necessary for the beginning of farming.
On April II of the same year, less than
two months from the time the land was
declared open for settlement, President
Cleveland, acting on the decision of At
tOrney General Garland, who claimed
the land was illegally opened by Presi-
dent Arthur, issued proclamation
withdrawing the land from the market
and ordering those already located
thereon to
vACATE At ONCE,
or they would be removed by United
States troops. A number of the settlers
left as soon as possible, but large pro-
portion refused to vacate, and a posse
of Indian police attempted to remove
them by force, but in this they were I'M
successful, and they fually abandoned
the effort and the settlers were allowed
to remain in peace, as the troops
were never ordered out to remove them.
The settlers who refused to leave at
that time are still on the land, and have
yearly run the risk of having their
crops confiscated by the Indians, who
threatened to do so. but for some rea-
son have never attempted it. Those
now on the lands were unable to leave
when ordered to do so, as they had in
vested their all in procuring what was
necessary to successfully begin farming.
They have suffered many privatiOns,
being without schools for their chill
dren, and have been deprived of other
necessities that all settlers in new
country are entitled to and should have.
Their greatest cause of anxiety, how
ever, has been in regard to the
TITLES OF THE LAND
they occupy, and numerous petitions
have been forwarded to the
authorities at Washington setting
forth the fact that they had gone
upon the land by the authority of the
highest power in the land asking that
something be done so they could receive
patents to their land and secure schools
and other privileges that they consid-
cred they were entitled to. A clause
was inserted in the present Sioux bill
that will give them the relief demand
ed, and the land in this reservation that
was opened by the presidential procla-
nation of Feb. 81, 1855. is included in
that to be opened by the provisions of
the Sioux bill. Upon the satisfaction
of the Sioux bill by the Indians and for
ninety days after the procama-
ton is issued by President Harri-
son declaring the land open for settle
ment. those who left the land when or
dered to do so will have the right to re-
enter upon said claims left by them.
and can prove up under the homestead
and presumption laws, their claims to
have preference for the ninety days
over all later claims. By this it will be
seen that the ratification of the Sioux
bill by the Indians means considerable
for these settlers, who have labored for
years against serious disadvantages.
They will then have schools and other
necessities that will benefit them very
materially