The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-23
SURPLUS LAND.
Description of the Sisseton Indian ResAr-
vatIon-R Rain That Falls There Finds It's
Way both North nnd south,


vatlon-RaIn That Fails There Finds Its |
Way Both North and south
ST.. PAUL, Mimi, April 16.--Thc Sisse-
ton Indian reservation surplus lndds |
that were opened to settlement at noon
Thursday, are located in the northeast
ern corner of South Dakota, covering
the most of Robert county, tapping over
on the edge of Marshall and Day count
les, crossing the panhandle of Grant and
the sharp point of the triangle shaped
reservation extending down to the cen.
ter of Codding, few miles from
Watertown, where filing may be
made and where much of the crowd of
eager seekers after lands have been
awaiting Thursday. The northern base
OF the triangle extends over into Sar-
gent and Richland counties in North
Dakota, and for that reason filing may
be made at Fargo.
The reservation is the source of the
Rcd river Of the north, which flows
ultimately into Hudson's bay,
of the Minnesota river, which
crosses this state and empties into
the Mississippi. near this city, and of the
Big Sioux river which flows south and
joins the Missouri. The lands are rich
and numerous lakes cover the entire
extent OF the reservation, q good por-
ton of which is wooded and of hilly
character. In fact the character of the
lands reflects much credit on the iudg-
ment of the Sisseton Indians, who chose
this land as their reward for their help
to the settlers in the Indian war of 1862.
Il, la, 1,a1J h,,
reservation intact, but finally concluded
they would prefer to have their lands
in sevcralty and live like whites, SO the
matter was soon arranged with the aid
Of commission, and Thursdays scram-
BILE for lands is the result. The Indians
have selected many of the best lands
on the reservation, but it is estimated
that enough for about 1000 claims of
100 acres each still remained up to noon
Thursday. BY Thursday night there
was very little, if a.ly, left. There now
remain some 700,00 acres, the reserva-
tion being forty-fve miles across the
northern side, and seventy miles on the
southeastern and southwestern sides of
the triangle respectively.
This reservation is right in the heart
of well settled country, and small
towns and cities are within easy reach
of the settler in whatever part of the
reservation he may make his home. The
| Great Northern and the Milwaukee
railroads run all around the reservation,
while other roads are within easy reach,
running to some of the many nearby
towns. The nearest to a central point
is Browns Valley, Mimi, which is close
to the line of the reservation and al
most in the center of The eastern
boundary. 1t Is at the lower eXtrem.
ity of Lake Traverse, which is
part of the eastern boundary
OF the reservation, and along
the shore of which are said to be some
of the choicest lands. This town is a.
the end of the Great Northern railroad
and has been the point of chief Interest
to many of the boomers A little further
south along the same boundary is vii
mot, South Dakota, on the Milwaukee
and within few miles of the line, u
which the road extends A crowd O
several hundred will make the race TO
the reservation on a Milwaukee train
and from the end of the'traclS they viii
rush for the promised land on whateve
conveyanccs they can secure.
Watertown is near the southern poin
of the triangle, but not in a position 70
other than filers. Waubay, on the Nil
waukee, is close to the line on tn
western side of the reservation ant
farther to the north and n few mile
farther away from the line is Britton
Along the line of the Great Northern
Milwaukee on the northern bound
ary of the reservation, are locates
Fairmount, Oswald, HanlIinson, Stiles
Ledgerwood, Gayuga, Rutland AM
Sprague Lake, in North Dakota, all O
which are from one to ten miles fror
the line and all of which have had thei
share of boomers during the past wecl;
Other towns there are that have NOR
or less interest in the opening of thcs
lands to settlement, but these are tn
new centcrs and from them will com
the reports of the sudden growth of seN
eral counties and new towns