New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-20
NEW HOMES FOR THOUSANDS
,mJIoNS OF ACRES THROWN OPEN FOR
SETTLEMENT
40 ARMY OF rAIEFACEs SWEEP OVER THE
LANDS OF THE CHEYRNNEs AND ARAPA-
HoES-LANp ENOUGH FOR ALL
THE HOMESEEKERS.

HOES-LAND ENOUGH FOR ALL
THE HoMEsEEKERs
Kansas City, Mo-, April ia dispatch to
srbe STAR from FL Reno, Oklahoma, says
s.mst at noon to-day, as provided by the Pres
dents proclamation. the cannon thundered forth
tho signal carbines repeated 1t, and $4,000 men
tn horseback in wagons and on foot rushed into
the country of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and
this afternoon horselesh is suffering. Animals
drawn from the Cherokee Strip to the country
of the Wichita, from Oklahoma to No Mans
Land, rushing over fiat and hollow, under
whip and pur, madly racing for quarter-sec-
hons and tovn-sites.
A feldpiete had been hauled from the fort and
stationed a rising knoll. and as the hour for
the dash drew near the word went down the
line. Horsemen twisted 10 see that their saddles
were tight and drivers looked to their harnesses.
About O'Clock the boomers began to line up. In
all places where there was any considerable crowd
there were detachmentS of troops stationed, about
half mile apart where the country was level
and closer when necessary. In the places which
the soldiers not able to cover
the people acted as check upon one
another and there were few men who
drove an inch over the line before 12 O'Clock.
In the arrangement of the line the same order
was observed all along the border. Horsemen
were in front. the men who were to make the run
in wagons were second. and the few in wagons
who were following up the horsemen took the
rear place. BY IL o'clock everything was in readi
ness for the start.
Just at the sharp report OF the cannon,
followed by the cracks Of carbines sounded, and
the next second the horses of. The horse
men sprang away as though they were riding
quarter-dash. The wagoners put the whip to
their beasts There was a cloud Of dust. and the
food of paefaces swept into the country. The
soldiers at the signal put spurs to their horses
and flew to get away from the rush behind them.
After ride of mile two, they formed line.
Every man seemed to know just where he
going, and headed for his longed-for-land without
even bestowing glance Of attention at his brother
rushers. few wheels were lost near the line
and many more will be left in the guues but
there were no serious accidents"
Kingfsher Okla, April l0.-The Cheyenne and
Arspahoe reservation, where so 900 citizens of the
United States found new homes to-day, is stu
ated in the Indian Territory between the Chero-
kee Outlet on the north and the Kiowa, Co
che and Apache reservation on the south. Its
eastern border adjoins Oklahoma and its western
the Panhandle of Texas Its area is much
greater than it is generally understood to be.
II would make two Oklahomas or five Rhode
Islands, while the States of Connecticut and
Rhode Island could be set in il and there would
still remain room for four districts of Columbia.
II contains $500 square miles 1000, 900 acres
Out of this the resident Indians have been
allotted by the Government $780, $50 acres, giving
to each of the Indians 100 acres There
thus left for general settlement about 3,500,0O0
acres, which, allowing quarter section, or 160
acres, TO each home-scrker, would accommodate
abart 22,OO0 settlers outside of Tie town ates.
Few Of the thousands who have been
waiting for weeks the border and IN
the frontier towns for to-day's final rush had
anything but the vaguest idea 10 the
real character of the land they were so anxious
TO possess. Exaggerated reports of the wondrous
fertility Of the land were readily believed. and
were not easily contradicted, for few people had
that intimate knowledge of the country upon
which 10 base successful contradiction. So. when
the rush was made to-day, the boomers believed
they were entering into veritable Garden Of
Eden When they had reached their claims and
had stalled them on and had taken the opportunity
10 survey their broad acres, they found that in
stead of a Garden of Eden, Promised Land flow
ing with milk and honey, they had fondly
believed, they had really possessed themselves of
section of ordinary Western prairie land flowing
with nothing but high grass and brackish streams
bitter with alkali. That, at least rs what a
rreat majority Of them found. Some Of the land.
as a matter of course-that along the river DOT
toms and that in the valleys-is excellent iarni-
ing land, but the Indians were sensible enough
N choose most of it, OF the land remaining 10
the white settlers, some of 1t was good, Dnt most
Of il was poor. Many of those who rushed in
full of hope will slip out quickly to take al
vantage of the next gift of land by the Govern
rI,-. IL
east corner of the new country. South Of 1t Is
th. North Fork of the Canadian River Further
south is the South Fork Of the Cana
dian. and still further south is the
Washita. The bottom lands along these rivers
have been all, or mostly ALL taken up ny 'he
Indians. These bottoms are not wide, ana INC
land on both sides OF them rises rapidly INTO grassy
plateaus Over the divides the lands become ieVel
ssiries poorly watered, similar to much OF western
Kansas Between the two branches OF the CANADIAN
the land is rather rough, but much OF IL If eooo
for farming The Canadian forks are nelther ol
them reliable. The North branch runs dry about
once in five years, while there are times every year
when the South Canadian Is nothing but a long
chain Of brackish mud-holes. The greatest trouble
the settlers will encounter in raising crops In this
Canadian country will he from drouth- Those
familiar with the country say the betllers VIII pe
fortunate If they raise one crop III tnree
The scarcity q the negroes is one OF the most sur
prAng things. An estimate Dy heWspnpcr niHil 5nr
who hes ridden nearly around tht whole border
during the last week places the proportion VI
negroes TO the whole number of settlers at Only
sixteen per cent.
VANISHED DREAMS IN TIE NORTHWEST.
Browns Valley Mimi, April 10.-Disgusted hoine'
seekers are returning TO this village by the ooAen'
All Of them succeeded In locating claims, but they say
that the land Is not worth paying taxes on lrue'
fhsro ennao In the SssetOn ReServatOn