Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-05-16
WILL BEAT OKLAHOMA.


A Fertile Territory I'm Southern Dskota
and Northern Nebraska Likely TO ne
Thrown Open 20 settlement by Purchase
from the Indians.
Washington %. CT special.l
The instructions for tho Sioux Commits
sion. which have been under preparation for
some weeks by the Indian Department.
have been given TO the three Commits iion-
ers at the Interior Department. 1t will now
be strange II tho stream OF emigration
started in the direction OF Oklahoma. only
to be checked and thrown backward at the
discovery OF the limited quantity OF the
land available there. is not directed 10 the
Northwest by the opening OF the great Sioux
Reservation In Dakota. This reservation.
which Is expected to be opened In the
course OF a month OF two. comprises $780,
OOO acres OF land. IL Is owned by the Sioux
tribe. The land TO be purchased lies In the
southern portion OF Dakota and on the
northern boundary line OF Nebraska.
Several Intellectual attempts have been
made In years gone by to negotiate with the
Indians for this land. Lastyear a commits
sion was appointed to purchase the lands.
but the Sioux chiefs refused to accept the
price offered-50 cents per acre. Later In
the season the heads OF several OF the
VI
appear before the Secretary OF the Interior
and state to him on what Just grounds they
would be willing to dispense with that part
OF their lands which is unused by them.
The chiefs demanded $1.25 per acre and the
immediate payment OF the whole sum.
They We're assured by Secretary Villas that
they woull be given proper consideration
by the department AID legislation recon-
mended which would be so conditioned as
to prohibit the taking OF any OF their lands
without their consent.
The law by which tho consent OF the
Indians is to be obtained is almost exactly
like that o. last year, except in these three
particulars: l. In distributing cattle. farm
ing implements and money TO Indians who
wish allotments, the cash payment Is in
creased from $40 to $50 each. z. The price
paid for land settled In the old bill was so
cents per acre; in this IL is 81 for that taken
the first three yeats. rs cents for that taken
Inc next three years. and 30 cents for all
that taken thereafter, with the proviso that
the Government shall buy all that remains
after ten years. 3. The immediate appro-
p;iation to create a fund for the beEetit OF
indians, TO be repaid out of proceeds of
sales OF land. Is increased from $1,000. 900 to
S3.OOO.OOO. The sections numbered 16 and
30 OF each township OF the lands open to
settlement, whether surveyed or unsur-
veyed. are to be reserved for the use and
benefit OF the public schools. rs provided
by the act organizing the Territory OF Da-
kota.
Inc law provided an appropriation Of
$4,000. which sum shall be expended under
the direction OF the Secretary of the Ints-
rior for procuring the assent OF the Sioux
Indians. The commission to procure this
assent is composed OF Gen. Crook, William
Werner. and Charles Foster. The instruc-
lions to the commission differ little from
the last. except that they are less In detail
and leave more 10 the discretion of the
commission. The plan OF tho Secretary has
Leen to seek good men for Commissioners.
and then leave them to work as much as
Is Gu te confident OF the success OF the in
tended negotiations, and that confidence
is generally shared by Northwestern men
here. The Indians have already indicated
their intention to accede 10 the provisions
OF the bill. and will probably unhesitatingly
give their consent and allow the land to be
opened to settlement, civilization, and
prosperity.
There is no free land in the Sioux Reser.
walton and it will have no attraction for the
lmpsoyldenJ boomers who want to got
farm for nothing. But for the thrifty sst-
tier with little capital it offers the most
promising location now open at Government
price in tho whole public domain. III the
negotiations with the Sioux are 10 success
ful as they are almost certain 10 be this
region will be open to settlement nearly as
soon as the Cherokee Strip and as early as
many OF the those disappointed in Oklaho-
ma can conveniently reach thore. 1t is ac-
ces sible from Nebraska on the south as we'll
as from Minnesota on the east without
crossing the indian country or encounter.
ing any OF the complicated delays and en-
barrassments incident to emigration to
Oklahoma. Almost before the settl oment
OF the reservation is to begin 1t Will como
under the jurisdiction of the new State
Government OF South Dakota and enjoy all
the advantages OF social order and material
we'll being such Government is compe-
tent to guarantee.