Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-04-22

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 16. The
secretary Of the interior has sent 8 tele
gram to the register and receiver of the
land office at Ashland, Wis, suspend
ing indefinitely his orders authorizing
filings on the 18th and 18th inst.
within what is known as the Omaha
land grant. This action is taken upon
information that serious trouble would
be likely to follow the opening of the
lands to settlement on the dates named.
ASHLAND, Wis, April 16.-Not since
the days of the famous boom in 1887 has
Ashland been so overcrowded. It is
impossible to find accommodations for
the thousands of strangers in the city.
In the vicinity Of the land office the
streets are biockaded with crowds of
excited men, waiting for some opportu-
nifty to squeeze into line. Positions in
the line are selling at big figures, and
one man has already made several thou
sand dollars in deals Of this kind. The
line was in an uproar this morning when
it became known that ten places near
the window had been sold to
the delegation from Wausau for
something like $1,000. Their scheme
is to have these ten men hold
the main line back until the Wausau
crowd, which is alongside and parallel
to the main line, rush in and make their
filings. If this is done nothing
can prevent battle, as the
men who hold the next places,
when they awoke this morning
and found strangers ahead of them,
mistrusted some scheme, and
were free with bloodthirsty threats.
Another alarm was spread this morn
ing. Hundreds Of men are going
around by Duluth on the Northern Pa
citic, and getting off at intermediate
stations, making their way through the
woods, and it is estimated that every
foot of the restored lands is settled upon
already, before filing sare made. This
will result in a great deal Of trouble, as
the tilers who have stood in line for
two weeks will not be baffled by such
a scheme. Lumber is being sent out
every day to build shanties, and it is
stated upon good authority that over
500 shanties have been built within the
past two weeks. Another new phase of
the situation was presented last night,
when the following notice was issued
by the land officials:
Notice is hereby given to all persons who
desire to file on land TO he opened on April
II, 1890. Filings Will be received
at both the western windows
until the space within the railing erected
by this Office is cleared. After the filings
will be received only at the center window,
and no person without the space
enclosed by the railing will be per-
mltted TO enter the same until it shall
have been cleared Of all applicants. All
applications must be presented in an or
derry manner, and no person will be recOg
nized at the window in a position that he
has gained by violence or threats. Dis
orderly conduct, riot1ng or fighting will
cause the office to be closed.
c. w. CARRINGTON, Register.
r. c. HEYDLAUFF, Receiver.
This means that applications will be
received at the two windows about sim
ultaneous filings. The land officials say
they will alternate at each window as the
applications are made. The scene at
the office is striking. 1t looks
like large army encampment. Three
men were carried away in a dead faint
this morning. "My mammals dying,
but papa can't come" cried little
child, piteocsly, in front of the
line this morning. Hundreds of
dollars are paid for substitutes
and when place in line is offered for
sale the scene is equal to that of board
of trade ready to make an assault. Six
more women are in line to-day. The
total number of liners at noon was 546.
A party of explorers returned to-day
and estimate that 100 of the 700 claims
are worth over $1,000 each, and that
twenty will bring $4,000 each. Four
hundred men may be sworn
in for special police service tomorrow.
Filing begins at 9 o'clock, and special
trains will start out on the Northern Pa
ciic at once to take the flers to their