The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-13
UNPARALLELED IN HISTORY.
Hundred Thousand Applications For
10000 HomcstcRds.

- hNhuFtu tNouNNuu AupttcWNtous TOT
10000 Homcsteads.
WASHINGTON, April l2.-The Commits
sioner OF the General Land Office has made
public the following letter as being OF gen.
eral interest to persons contemplating set
Element in Oklahoma
DEPARTMENT or TnE INTERIOR, I
WARRINGTON, d, c. March l., 1889,
O. NJ. Wilson, Arkansas City, RG
Sir-lour letter Of tho ith inst, adj
dressed to the honorable Attorney-Gen-
eral in reference to the Oklahoma lands,
which are to be opened for settlement un-
der the act OF March 2, 1889, has been for
warded to this Office for answer.
In reply, have to state that the lands
in question are to be Disposal OF to actual
settlers under the homestead laws only.
A party desiring to become an actual set
tier under the homestead laws may iniu-
ate his claim by applying to the district
land Office, after selecting the land de-
sired, in which case he Is allowed six
months from date Of entry within which
TO establish his actual residence on the
land, or, II he 80 elect. he may initiate his
claim by actual settlement ON the land,
which must consist OF some act or acts
connecting himself with the particular
tract claimed, said act or acts TO be cquiva.
lent TO an announcement Of such his
intention, and from which the public
generally NAV have notice Of his claim.
Thereafter he is allowed three months
within which 20 make his claim OF record
hxta In 1tatrt,l lunl nIlt.sa 4 In
close for your further information copies
OF circulars Of January /, 1889, and April
l, 1882 Respectfully,
5. nj. SroCKsLAGER Commissioner.
wAHrSGToS. D. C., April ~, 1889.
To the Hon. j. J. Ingalls,, United States senate:
Dear SRI have the honor to receive
by reference from you aud herewith re-
turn a letter addressed TO you by Mr.. q.
I. Sommers dated at Oklahoma Station,
Indian Territory, the Goth ult. In reply
have to state that the act Of March 2. 1889,
TO which Mr.. Sommers refers, provides ~
he states that no ono shall be permitted 10
enter or acquire any right TO any of the
Oklahoma lands, TO DO disposed of there.
under, who violates It's provisions by
entering upon and occupying tho same
prior TO IL o'clock noon oil April %, 1889,
the date fixed in the Presidents procla-
nation OF March %, 1889, for the said
lands TO become open TO settlement The
statutes make no exception 10 this proyis-
ion. am inclined 10 think, however, that
whenever person was already within
these lands at the date OF the approval of
the act by proper authority, his presence
thoro should not bc regarded rs violation
OF this provision OF the act The primary
jurisdiction to act upon applications TO
enter rests with the district land officers,
and MIR. Sommcrs may present his apple
cation Tor entry TO them with proper proof
of.his allegations. Should they refuse "a
permit an entry, he may appeal from their
action, which would bring his application
and proofs before this office for It's adjudi-
cation Of the case. Respectfully,
3. NJ. SfocRsLAoER, Commissioner.
In speaking OF the great line Of immi.
grafton now setting toward Oklahoma,
Commissioner Stockslagor today said that
from newspaper estimates aud from inior.
nation received through official and per.
sonal sources lao was OF the opinion that
fully 100000 persons would enter Okla.
homa within a month after the I'D OF
April. For these 10000 persons, said the
Commissioner. thore are only about 10, 600
homeslcads which may DO entered under
the Presidents proclamation. Therefore,
for each quarter section open % entry,
there will be at least five or six applicants
Never before In the history Of the coun.
try has there been q parallel 10 H. The in
eyitablo result OF this tremendous influx,
the Commissioner thinks, would DO n
great many contests and probably some
personal conflicts. A further result, no
feared, would be the spreading Of this i'm
mense surplus over the adjoining Indian
lands from which Il would be difficult 10
recover without much trouble, aud possi-
bly, some bloodshed. II the Commission
appointed 10 treat with the Chcrokces for
ccsion OF the Cherokee outlet could
complete their labors within the next few
months 80 that the now tract might be
open 10 settlement before Congress
again mcois, this might, and prob
ably would, relieve the pressure. Other
wise he feared matters would become
complicated and the equilibrium restored
with difficulty. However, the Commits
sioner has no doubt that the precautions
now being taken 10 preserve order In
Oklahoma, and 10 keep the intfudcrs from
the adjoining lands, will be amply suiii.
ilfHA lHi hAN IhAE'u' VI wv hhWhN ~
pointed registrars and receivers OF the
recently created land offices ut Guthrie
and Kinglshor Stage Station, with their
clerks and two special agents OF the de-
parincnt will meet In Arkansas City, Kas.,
on April ~, and together proceed 20 their
posts Of duty. Every facility will be ex.
tended BY the local officers 10 applicants
In making their filings, and every effort
made 10 dispatch the business Of the Office
with expedition. In order b. save the
time OF the receiving officers they will DO
supplied with rotary consecutive number
ing stamps, instead Of making their in
dorscmcnis with pen. The order In
which an application Ia received ~ indi-
Gated by the number stamped upon II,
and will determine and settle its priority
over applications bearing higher mum.
Dor. A force Of clerks In the General
Land Office has been hard at work since
the Presidents proclamation was issued
preparing plat books, blank books, blanks
and supplies Of all kinds for the new
Offices, and everything Is said 10 DO in
readiness.
wisaeid BOOMERS Happy.
WINFIELD, Kas., April l2.-'fho hun