Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-02-15
new PROMISED Land.
The Great Sioux Reservation
Opened to Settlement.
Eleven Million Acres of Fertile Land
in South Dakota Added TO the
Pubic Domain.

Pubic Domain.
President Harrison has just issued his
proclamation opening the Sioux r sarvation
in South Dakota to settlement. AT the same
tims he issued an order establishing land
Offices at Pierre and Chamberlain for the
new country. The proclamation sets forth
the portions reserved for the use OF the In-
dams, and warns all persons not to enter on
those lands. The necessary surveys will be
made as early as possible
The great Sioux Reservation, upon which
the various bands were established after pro-
tracted negotiations and with no Little diff.
Guilty, about ten years ago under Secretary
Schurs, contains more than q, 900 900 acres
of land. The enormous development of DA-
kota during the last ten years has been so
extensive as 30 form basis for the Admit
tance OF the Territory into the Union as two
States The Sioux Reservation forms a great
block in the midst of this busy and growing
life It stretches distance of nearly 25l
miles northward from Nebraska, and has
width fully 100 miles.
In May, 1SoS Congress passed law pro-
viding for opening part of the reservation
for settlement, and a Commission was APP
polluted by President Cleveland to uesotiats
with toe Sioux for the purchase of about
IL COO, 900 acres, or about one.hal6 of the res
ervation. The leading chiefs were opposed
to the sale, aud the Commission abandoned
the task In April. 1882 another Commits
sion was appointed by President Harrison,
its members being General George Crook, U.
s. A. Ex-Governor Charles Foster, Of Oaio:
and ex Congressman William Warner, OF
III ssouri. This Commission was more sue
cessful and hnally secured a sufficient mum
b,r OF signatures of the Iniians to secure tue
transfer of the IL 100000 acres TO the Gov
ernment
The land thrown open to settlement will
be disposed of by thu Uaitsd States to actual
settlers only at the following rates. Ole
dollar and twe.:ty five cents per acre for all
lands taken within the first three years after
the act takes effect, seventy Ave cents per
acre for all lands disposed of within the sue
ceeding two years, and fifty cents per acre
for the residue OF the lands then lisposel OF.
A residence of live years Is necessary to o.
tain patent. Each entry is limited TO
haif-mile SOU ire, or 100 acres. AS there are
no free Ianus the boomers who rushed into
Oklahoma will find no attraction in this new
land.
The tract which has been coded to the gov
erument, and has now been thrown open TO
settlement, extends from the Missouri to the
Black Hills ami then North; it embraces,
likewise, a part of the fertile Winneoago
1TOW OTeek IetoSTNdllOI On tut i6b Dduk VI
the Missouri River, South of Pierre Tue
area of this great tract is equal to that OF
N W Hampshire and MAssach Jsetts combined
and lies, all OF it, in South Dakota. Three
rivers run throu III it and the valleys are of
wonderful fertility. Since the extirpation
of the gregarious Lison no animals beyonI
few beavers are found in the area, although
the grass is luxurlant in its growth aud
plenty of water is found there.
These IL 10000 acres will afford farms for
not less than ~, 900 families. The climlte is
good, the mean annual temperature being
45 degrees above Zero; the nights are COO,
the days warm in summer Ihe soil is de-
cared TO be for the most part rich, dark
drift of alluvial loan, the very kind tn II
delights the eye OF the intelligent asr.cu-
turalist, who sees in 1t the sure promise of
rich yie4ds OF golden grain Tne clay sub
soil is also of the DRIFT formation, aud de.
clared to be as rich as the loan OF the sur
face, and is pronounced absolutely inexhaus-
tible Il invites to the raising of stock as
we'll as the growing OF the cereals, and
most of the tluts OF the Northern temper
ate belt will thrive there. Markets are ac-
cessible. great raj roads run into Pierre
but snort distance away, opposite the con
tire line and but half q mile distant from the
border. Each road has right of way through
the country aud will b. sure to get there
shortly