The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-09-29
THE STRIP LANDS.


Reports That the Best Claims Were Taken
by Persons Who Have No Idea of Be-
coming Permanent Residents.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. Sept. 27.-This
city continues to reap harvest from
the strip opening and the boomers.
The prairie schooners continue to pass
through, some going home, and others,
who have been successful, have gone
back, got supplies and household goods
and are pulling into the new country.
The homes in the new country are made
Of stock boards, roof and all and in size
are about 10x12 feet or 12x14 feet
They are what are called box
houses, but are the poorest kind,
with no batting on sides, and
most of them have dirt floors. In most
cases they are erected by the home
seeker himself and in construction are
as rough as the average barn. Only a
few sod houses have been constructed.
1t seems to be about the first thing a
majority of the settlers want to do
after getting up house or sod pen is
to go and file; this is why the, land
Office has had such rush. Many have
only spiked four 2x4s together; others
enough sod up to hide a cracker box,
and some are not large enough to ad-
NIT of a cracker box.
A trip overland will convince anyone
that the claims were not taken up by
the farmers who camped along the
borders with his family, his household
effects, his chickens and his COW, but
by the cowboy, the jockey, the clerk
and the young men in general who
have learned to successfully manage a
horse, and who knew exactly where
their claims lay and when they
were on the nearest corners.
This fact will materially interfere
with the growth and population of the
country and the new towns. Already
a number, and in fact most all who
have fled, have asked and been grant
ed the leave of absence, and when this
'leave" has been granted to two-thirds
of the settlers. who will support the
many new towns that are springing up
like mushrooms all over the strip?
If the land had been taken by the
class of home-seekers who brought
their families along and who intended
to Immediately go upon the land and
build good homes, fences, barns, dig
wells and cultivate the soil, then the
merchant, the blacksmith, the phys
ician and all the mercantile and pro-
fessional men who have located in
these new towns might have prospered,
but such is not the case, and, for a
while at least, these men must prepare
to live economically and undergo many
hardships.
TO REGULATE IMMIGRATION.
A Bill Presented by Congressman Curti,
Far Reaching in Eject.
WASHINGTON, Sept 27.-Mr. Curtis.
of Kansas, has presented a bill in the
house to further regulate immigration
| which, if it becomes a law, will be far
reaching in effect and tend materially
to restrict immigration to the United
States. The bill provides that it shall
be unlawful for the commanding Off.
Ger of any vessel to receive any
alien passengers bound for the United
States If an examination discloses
the fact that such person
is unable to read or write; that
his passage has been paid by any other
person or corporation; who does not
possess, if a single man, the sum OF
$500; if single woman, 500; if head OF
family, $500, or who is not mentally
and physically sound; who has ever
been in prison for any infamous crime
or misdemeanor involving moral turpi-
tude; who has been in aims house, or
supported by charity within two years:
who is polygamist, anarchist, or un-
der contract express or implied to
perform la Dor in the United States.