The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-02-14
Particulars ana Incidents of the
Opening-News from the Front

Farticulars and Incidents of the
Opening-News from the Front
The long expected proclamation open
ing the big Sioux reservation to settle
ment was issued by the president Monday
afternoon. The proclamation opens the
lands to immediate settlement. For a
week past the boomers at Pierre andCham-
berlain have been on the ragged edge, not
knowing positively whether a date would
be set for going upon the lands or whether
the settlement could be made as soon as
the proclamation was issued. At Cham
berlain wagons loaded with lumber have
been standing ready for agrand stampede
providing the president gave the word.
A party from Mitchell was on the ground
ready to jump o whole town site, another
party from P%lankinton hung around, bent
on the same mission, while the Chamber
lain boomers were determined that no
blankety blank outside gang were going
to get the start of them. On the day the
proclamation was issued the Chamberlain
fellows quietly gathered by twos and
threes on the lower end of the island.
When the telegram came that the presi-
dent had issued the proclamation, a boom
ing anvil on the bluffs and a signal flag
from the Touring mill conveyed the well
come news to them and they made a
grand rush for Mr.. Los domain, getting
n or two hours start Of the Mitbhell and
Plankint0n fellows. In less than two
hours three 'townsites" were taken up
by as many different organizations,
Load after load of lumber was transported
across the ice as rapidly as teams could
haul it and the work Of constructing
shanties commenced. the three "town-
sites" were all taken close together on the
bank Of the river below the Island. Sur
veyors were set to work, but they got
their lines hopeiessly entangled in run
ming into each others "townsites." An
effort is being made to consolidate the
whole tract taken into one town to be
called "Nobleton" or "Nobletown," or
ootuctuAuS Alhe tlldt'
The townsite scheme If worked under
the United States laws governing such
matters something like this: Each in
diviiual is allowed to take a two-acre res
ident lot and a business lot and hold the
same, providing he places 5000 in i'm
provements upon his lots within 60 days.
In this way a 160 acre or q 800 acre tract
can be coveredi in q jiffy by a hundred or
so boomers.
The land across the river taken by the
boomers is claimed by Indians as their
allotment under the act opening the
lands to settlement. Other parties will
also claim q homestead right. A TRAN
gular fight is inevitable, and the result
one that no man can foresee. Those who
have gone into the townsite scheme take
their chances on buying Mr.. Lo off and
in any event of the whites obtaining the
land to have the first chances at it by be
ing OF the ground. On the other hand,
the Indians will not lack for plenty OF
advisers and if they consent to dispose of
the tract 1t will be a a good round price.
Already they say, Lots in Chamberlain
worth $500; lots here just as good"
But money will accomplish most any
thing, and the men who are at the bot
tom Of that townsite scheme on the west
bank Of the river have not only got plenty
of it but they have any quantity Of nerve
ond p,,eh ho oly ~ ~ iThoro mill ho n o;%,
there somewhere, and one that inside of
a very few years will make Chamberlain
very tired.
At this writing very few quarter sec
lions have been taken under the home
stead law, those near the river and most
ly by Chamberlain parties. No one here
abouts seems to have any particular de-
sire for farm landssacross the river, the
absorbing desire being to catch on to
some new town property for specula-
ton.
Under the act by which the reservation
was opened several townships in the Crow
reservation on this side of the river are
opened to settlement, comprising a part
Of the land thrown open by President
Arthur in the spring Of 1885 and after
ward closed by executive order from Pres
ident Cleveland. These lands are far
more valuable for agricultural purposes
than those on the other side. Under the
provisions of the act all those who en-
tered upon these lands under Arthur's
proclamation, in good faith, and legally
entitled to do so now, have 9Odays prefer
ence right to re-enter their claims. Some
Of the quarter sections have had squatters
upon them continuously since 1885. AT
that time a good share Of the claims were
taken by Kimball and Pukwana people
who were obliged to abandon them by
Cleveland. Some Of the claims have
since been taken by the squatters. There
will probably be considerable trouble
over some Of the Uuartars.