Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-08-28
BOOMER ONTHEMOvE
Cherokee Strip VIII Be His Gov
eied Land Of Promise.
WOMAN BOOMERS AFTER LAND


Der 10. 9n0 aside from an tuotSu fcrrffa-
ton 10 Washington = tho la<i large cue
% be thrown open 20 settlement The
Cherokee strip IL one of the most valna-
be tracts of farming land Ia tho north
wcst
Speculation on the future development
of the now virgin prairie has brought
ont many odd schemcs for reaping \
financial harvest One of the most
unique of these is village on wheels
being prepared for the rush. Twenty
four small houses. containing one room
each and built ia sections. ready for
quick coupling and loaded on wagons.
withstand In long line ready 10 start at
the crack Of the rifle giving notice Of the
strips opening. A central site for the
location Of town. intended 90 be a
county seat later on, has been selected.
A plat In the hands IL every driver will
tell exactly where each building is 10 be
set down and the syndicate Interested in
the venture will have assistants 30 cover
the immediate surrounding country. In
half an hours gailoping race from the
Kansas line the location will be reached
and half an hour more will see a town
standing on the prairie. with streets.
houses, store buildings and bank. Small
stocks Of goods will be taken along and
everything will soon be running in a
businesslike manner.
Women Amer Land
As in previous openings the ladies
will be well represented. Many young
women. and even some married women
with families. will with true western
grit exercise their rights as citizens. and
incidentally make homes for themselves.
Two sisters. one Of them newspaper
woman. will ride horseback twenty miles
on the day OF the opening on the fleet
est Indian ponies they can secure and
erect kind OF twin cabin Of canvas and
light poles, suitable for the warm fall
weather Of the territory. with its cen
tral partition exactly on the line between
two quarter sections or claims. In this
way they can practically live together.
yet each have residence on her own
claim, and between them take up" 80
acres OF rich land. sufficient to net them
several thousand dollars.
If the boomer women have any OF the
enterprise OF Michigan's women shown
at the opening OF the land in the upper
peninsula. they will grab or some Of
the most valuable homestead sites.
Scheme OF Cowboys
Not entirely honorable are some Of
the devices Of the eager searchers for a
competence. Evidence has come 10
nKht that number Of cowboys. famil-
lar with the territory lands through
years OF cattle herding, have selected
some of the best quarter sections. close
TO the projected county seats, well
watered and certain TO be valuable. A
few days before the date Of the opening
they will smuggle across the line some
fast running horses which will be pick
eted in clumps OF trees that dot the
plain along the water courses These
will be placed about five miles apart. On
the day of the opening they will start
with the rest. but, darling through the
groves, change horses. and SO ON fresh
steeds easily distance all competitors
and locate their claims according TO
previous arrangements. More leisurely
companions will gather up the loosened
horses and get them away before they
can be used In evidence OF unfair deal
ing.
There was unearthed by a deputy
marshal the other day another unique
plot on the part Of some venturesome
young men. They proposed to enter
the lands by stealth day or two before
the opening and hide with their horses
along the timber ten miles or more from
the line. BY means Of drugs they would
give their horses the appearance II ex-
ceesive perspiration and weariness. as IL
from hard run. Then when the ad-
vance guard OF the boomers came up
they would swing into line. and un-
noticed among the throng with horses
actually fresh and eager have no dit
Iiculty in making their wished for goal
claims sure 10 become valuable.
Plans OF the Boomers
The infinite variety Of plans talked
over by the thousands of anxious boom
ers camped along the edge of the prom
ised land include many hat are simply
ridiculous and many others that could
only be carried out at great expense and
risk. The men who stand in" with the
Indian leaders. who have the right 20
select land in advance Of the opening.
are sure 10 make money. Thousands of
decrepit outfits. with shackling prairie
echoonera drawn by weak and III fed
horses. will be left behind in the race
and the owners find themselves still
homeless But the "sooner~ and the
dishonest settler wall gain nothing from
their shrewdness IL the vigilance uf
Uncle Sans soldiers and marshals can
prevent. Scores - kodaks are now and
will he until the cventful date used ia
photographing suspects. and the land
of'iccs will be well prepared with eyi-
dence.
United States marshals will not be
used % preserve order at tho opening.
as was the case when Oklahoma was
thrown open IN April. isct The var
department has sefIt enough trcopa 10
10 any police work that may be ncces
sary. Three military stations viii con
tribute mounted soldiers Tor this work
When Oklahoma Vas opened the mar
shals selfed some n the beet lands
themselves and neglected their duty ~
oifiesfs ef the iaw aud this circamstaDce
- the cause ~ employing troops "A the
preaeni ease. To prevent Teraons sho
own lands adjoining the Chcrokee strip
fftsm unfairly Interfering with land
seekers neutral strap ilO feet wide hss
lren dFasn al,,ng the Kansas and psia-
hams iofslefs Along tins "trip tte
heBesteasiete ard settlers vii D. ref
mliied O. ~ antaolessed on The opening
slay.
Wiz Head 90 spessaissss~
Ga 10th sisies - the coveted land
tseths have lser erected. ~ etse a
whth rtefy hosnesteales AL y -
aaifed g. NE ,ieeisrstissn e his lnten
tlis a. take - lsa1 IA acoersiante STA
tie rFeeiaAst.pn. TIE csftsfesif that
hs - thea fss<ise he n.usi ksff ossitl
Il.