Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-03-31
NEARLY READY.
The Cheyenne and Arapahoe Lands
VIII Soon Be Opened.
SECRETARY NOBLE is INTERVIEWED.
Town sites Have Been SeIected-The Lands
to Be Opened For Settlement Have
Been Divided Into Six Counties
Many Anxiously Waiting.

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Secretary
Noble was found at the interior de-
partment. The secretary was hard at
work, but suspended readily to permit
an interview. The questions asked
related entirely to the coming opening
OF the Cheyenne and Arapahoe lands.
I'VE have the prelininaries virtually
completed now, said Secretary Noble.
There is but very little to do before
the lands are thrown open. The sur
veys and allotments are all completed
and the reports are on their way and
should be here Monday. The presidents
proclamation will follow almost immedi-
ately. AL of the preliminary work has
been done, as you know. I have already
proclaimed and fixed the county seats
and transmitted all necessary papers
and maps to Governor a. J. Seay OF
Oklahoma, so he will be in perfect rea-
d1ness, and equipment for the opening.
81 have struggled for two things in
this matter: To open the lands as soon
as possible and to have everything clear
and understood so that no one could go
astray, and at the same time dis
couraged the mere spectators and fast
horse andSg1ard rider men from picking
up the best lands as against bona fde
settlers who are actually and honestly
seeking home
1--WE can hardly open by April 1, as
had set my heart on. The rains have
been against us and rivers high. Maj.
Weigel, the inspector, was almost
drowned crossing the Canadian and lost
his horse and buggy. But it's all over
now and early next week we ought to
get the presidents proclamation. 1
Fsax i
to occupy these lands, and, by the way,
the Cherokee strip also, as 1 learn that
In defiance of the executive order the
cattlemen are again beginning to occu-
Ply the strip.
The principle underlying the use of
military ought to be understood. These
lands-all of them-are part of Indian
territory until the hour of actual open
ing, and all law as to the occupation
of the Indian territory applies to them
The troops are meant only to preserve
order and protect the weak from the
lawless. Yes said Secretary Noble in
conclusion, you can say that we can't
quite make it by Aprilo1, as 1 wanted,
but we'll have it open before the 10th
several days before. BY the way, we'll
soon open 100000 acres at Sisseton,
Dakota, too"
TOWN SITES SELECTED.
Secretary Noble has issued an order
locating and reserving from settlement
and entry, under the act of March 3,
1891, certain lands in the unallotted por-
ton of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe In
dian reservation in the Indian territory
soon to be opened to settlement under
the proclamation by the president soon
to be issued, for county seat purposes.
The lands to be thus opened to
settlement have been divided into six
counties and the lands to be reserved
for the purpose stated are described as
follows: For county Sc" the south
half of section 10, township l. north,
range IL west. For county 3D." north
half of section Is. township IS north,
range Ii west. For county e. the
south half of section Is. township II
north, range % west. Fer county F.
the south half Of section s, township Is
! north, range g west. For county g.
the north half of section %, township
13 north, range. II west For county
III, the north half of section 13, town
ship north, range 16 west.
GETTING READY FOR THE RUSH.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, March 2S.-Hon.
c. Z. Davis, inspector in the public land
service arrived here yesterday and will
remain in the city for several days. He
is here for the purpose of looking after
the interests Of the government and of
the settler as soon as the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe lands are opened to settle
ment. He is unable to state at what
date the lands will be oeened but thinks
that it Will not be later than April y.