The morning call., 1893-09-03
RUSHING FOR PUBLIC LAND.

On the 18th of this mouth 5000, 900 acres
of land in what is known as the Cherokee
strip will be thrown open for settlement,
and before the sun goes down it is probable
the whole area will have passed into private
hands. town lots as we'll as agricultural
lands. and still large numbers of would-be
settlers not be so lucky as to obtain
slice. Boomers have already mustered for
the wild rush into the new region-families
now living in wagons or tents who have
pulled up stakes on farms or in trade, and
are lured to the virgin soil vacated by the
Indians in the hope that they may draw
lucky number in precari0Os lottery. 1t
is estimated that the emigrants on the
opening day may number as many as
$4,000. In that event the scramble for DOS
session must be severe, and a considerable
percentage are doomed to disappointment.
About two-thirds Of the area is good soil.
Each settler is required TO pay So so per
acre for land east of 97h degrees west
longitude. and from 81 to 81 80 per acre for
tie remainder. with interest at per cent.
Precautions of an elaborate character
against grabbing are taken; but that these
will wholly exclude unfair practices is not
pro bable. Instead of United States Mar
oudio OCihB III VI al 80 biiC bdoh -
to the militar who have no interest in
Selling for personal benefit the best sec
tions. There are seven townsites. which
have been surveyed and plated by Govern
ment engineers. The situation of these is
as far a possible kept secret.
To afford fair chances to all strip of
land 100 feet wide on the rim Of the terri
tory is available for boomers as camping
ground upon making declaration in certain
booths OF their intentions and receiving a
certificate. Those who hold certificates
are placed on an equality in regard to the
facility in making homestead entries, and
those who neglect this form will not find il
easy 70 obtain the land they desire. This
device of 100 feet round the reservation
prevents adjoining owners from playing
the scurvy part of excluding settlers with
the design of securing lands themselves.
Thus as far as possible the evils which
heretofore marked booming in Oklahoma
are to be kept in check. Even the rail-
roads are not to Iun trains int the region
some hours before the opening nor resume
running until some hours after. This
tends to prevent the danger of such mad
struggles as took place in Oklahoma. As
an outcome Of the confusion and struggling
in that Territory there are still some thou
sands of disputed land cases awaiting
settlement in the General Land Office.
For few years the new lands of the
Cherokee strip may be expected to show a
high fertility. but without fertilzing the
crops are ultimately certain to fall off In
yield, as they do elsewhere under nom
scientific farming, and then the condition
of many boomers may be no better than
on the lands they have deserted. But this
is familiar process in Western agricul-
ture. The practice will never be stayed
until the public lands are well taken up
and the growth of population renders mi
grafton less hopeful or tempting. There
will be no time for crops this year and
those who stay on the land must be pre-
pared for hardShips.