The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-04-21
WORTHLESS LAND
Settlers on the Sisseton Reserva-
ton Express Dissatis-
faction.
Many DESERVING Their Claims
and Returning to Their
Former Homes.

Browns VALLEY, MIMI, Special, April
19.-Disgusted honeseekers are returning
to this village by the dozens. All OF them
succeeded in locating claims but they
claim that the land is worthless devoid OF
the most essential qualities and not worth
paying taxes on. True, there are some good
lands in the Sisseton reservation, but they
were gobbled before the ordinary home
seeker, who was willing to hustle tor him.
self had chance to make his appearance.
So far as the other lands are concerned they
may be aptIy described by the remark of
high official who said:
don't blame the government for giving this
land away. Instead of placing troops here to
keep the people off it, they should have directed
the soldiers to every honest effort to push
them OH it. ....
The exaggerated stories sent out by cor
respondents interested in one Of the smaller
land companies have had the effect of de-
ceiving great many people and bringing
them TO region that is replete with bar
renness. These stories nave had one good
result, and that is to convince people what
good place home is, and how utterly fool
ish it is to madlv rush to some remote re-
gion in order to secure something for moth
ing. To my knowledge fraud has been
practiced on a large scale, and is openly
boosted of by the parties who practiced it.
Upward of twenty persons, so far as I
have learned, have staked as many as three
claims each, putting on the stake some
fictitious name i'll order to hold 1t for some
friend, or perhaps speculate with it. This
is fact that has not been brought to the
attention Of the proper authorities. and
when it does reach them it is liable to play
havoc with the chances of the guilty par
ties for holding even one quarter section.
That it is
FRAUD AND INJUSTICE
is too patent to need explanation, and vet
it is perhaps just as WE'LL for it prevents
other poor mortals from being deluded into
settling on a barren waste that has its at
fractions only on paper. The government
inspector is not in love with the land COM
panies, and recommended but one-the Sis
seton Land company-to the would be set
tiers. This company guaranteed to locate
people, and if the land did not suit them
their money was returned.
Expressions of disgust are loud and Deep
They canDot be mistaken. The returning
crowds have filled the trains to overfowing
ever since Friday. AS most Of these per-
sons have been obliged to walk all the way
from ten to twenty-five miles in order to
reach a railroad, their feelings, aided
somewhat by the disappointment they
have experienced, can better be
imagined than described. The claims
located and afterwards deserted will reach
upwards Of fifty already, with more to hear
from. If all the flers knew the land as
well as the squatters do now, there would
be no excuse Tor trouble of any nature, but
they will not be convinced until they have
seen for themselves, hence the fear of
trouble OF a serious nature has good
foundation. H.. lev.
BY the way the road used here as the
port OF entry to the reserve is the old Sibley
trail. 1t was here that Gen. Sibley and
his command had serious brush with tue
Indians nearly thirty years ago. and threw
up rifle pits within few hundred yards of
where Col. Bernard stood when he gave
the signal Tor the rush on Friday. The
rifle pits are still there though they are
more than half filled up