Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-13
PROVISIONS OF THE ACT.

Hon. j. J. Ingalls,, United States Senate;
DEAR S1R-l have had the honor to receive
by reference from you, and herewith return,
letter addressed to you by Mr.. G. 7. Sommers,
dated at Oklahoma station, Indian Territory,
the 18th ultimo: In reply have to state that
refers, provides as he states, that no one shall
be permitted to enter or acquire any right to
any of the Oklahoma lands, to be disposed OF
Hereunder, who violates its provisions by en-
tering upon and occupying the same prior to L.
o'clock, noon, of April y, 1889, the date fixed
in the Presidents proclamation of March
@ for tine sHs m.ksS 10
no exception to this provision. am inclined
to think, however, that when person was
already within these lines at the date of the
approval Of the act by proper authority, his
presence should not be regarded as q violation
Of this provision of the act. The primary
jurisdiction to act upon applications to enter
rests with the district land of1cers, and MI.
Sommers maypresent this application for entry
to them, with proper proof of his allegations.
Should they refuse to permit an entry, he may
appeal from their action, which would bring
his application and proofs before this ONCE for
its adjudication of the case, Respectfully,
s. M. SToCKsLAGER, Commissioner.
THE GREAT RUSH FOR LAND.
In speaking of the great line of immigra-
ton now getting toward Oklahoma, COM
missioner StocksIager to-day said that from
received through official and personal
sources, he was of the opinion that fully
100 900 persons would enter Oklahoma
within a month after the 22d of April. For
these 100, 900 people, said the Commissioner,
there are only about 10000 homesteads
which may be entered under the Presidents
proclamation. Therefore, for each quarter
section open to entry, there will be at least
five or six applicants.
Never before in the history of the country
has there been a parallel to it. The in
evitable result Of this tremendous influx,
the Commissioner thought, would be great
many contests, and probably some personal
conflicts. A further result, he feared, would
be the spreading of this immense surplus
over the adjoining Indian lands, from which
it would be difficult to dislodge them with
out much trouble and possibly some blood
shed. If the commission appointed to treat
with the Cherokees for a cession of the
Cherokee outlet could complete their labors
within the next few months, so that the new
tract might be open to settlement before
Congress again meets, this might, and prob
ably would relieve the pressure. Other
wise, he feared matters would become COM
plicated and the equilibrium restored with
difficulty.
PRESENT PRECAUTIONS SUFFICIENT.
However, the commissioner has no doubt
that the precautions now being taken to
preserve order in Oklahoma and to keep the
intruders from the adjoining lands will be
amply sufficient for the purpose. The
newly appointed registers and receivers of
the recently created land Offices at Guthrie
and King Fisher stage station, with their
clerks and two special agents of the depart
ment will meet at Arkansas City, Kan, on
April II, and together proceed to their posts
of duty.
Every facility will be extended by the
local officers to applicants in making their
filings, and every effort made to dispatch
the business of the offices with expedition.
In order to save the time of the receiving
officers they Will be supplied with rotary
consecutive numbering stamps instead of
making their Endorsements with a pen.
The order in which an application is re-
ceived, as indicated by the number stamped
upon it, will determine and settle its
priority over applications bearing higher
number.
A force of clerks in the General Land
Office has been hard at work since the Presi-
dents proclamation was issued preparing
platbooks, blankbooks, blanks and supplies
of all kinds for the new offices, and every
thing is said to be in readiness.