Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-30
GRAND RUSH.
Prospective Settlers Ready For It
in the Cherokee Strip.
A NEW PLAN TO Be TRIED.
The Free-For-An Scramble an Acknowi-
edged Failnrs-sooners stiii Being
Sent to Prison For Perjury
Delays Expected.


W. Gillingswater, representing the in
terror department, and j. II. Cisney, Of
the Indian land commission, who were
sent TO the Cherokee border to investi-
gate the conditions existing, have just
completed their first tour OF the Indian
lands soon TO be opened The govern
ment officers went dir ectly from here
to the Oklahoma side and made the
circuit Of the entire western division.
They found the same conditions pre-
vailing everywhere which exist here.
More prospective settlers have located
on the southern border than on the
Kansas side and have everything In
| readiness for the grand rush for n
homestead.
There is very little difference in the
character and wealth OF the settlers, so
the officials say. They are with few
exceptions very poor and have used
what little means they brought with
them in providing food for their fami-
lies and stock Few, II any, of them
have taken any steps toward renting
land and putting in crop, for
all expect the new lands to be
opened this spring Every small creek
hiAhb hONb AhNO rum
the Kansas or Oklahoma side is lined
with prospective homeseekers and
every day brings additions TO the rest
less colonists. The prospective home
steaders almost without exception ex-
| pect TO make a rush for the interior
lands, Just as was done when Oklahoma
was opened, but IL this policy is pur.
sued by President Cleveland It will be
| against the protests of nearly all the
government officers who have made n
study of the conditions
Although II has been impossible 10
| get any expression from either Presi.
dent Cleveland or Secretary Of the In.
terror Smith regarding the plan which
will be pursued in opening up the new
land, the reports which have been for
warded to Washington are indirect pro-
tests against the free-tor-all scramble
which took place when Oklahoma and
other new lands were opened. II is
thought by those who have been
charged with the investigation that an
entirely new policy will be pursued
| The plan which meets with the most
favor among the government officers
| who have prosecuted offenders and
been In position to judge of the un-
satisfactory results attending former
| openings, is 10 have all prospective set
tiers enrolled and all agents appointed.
/ A plan will then have to be devised by
which prospective homesteaders can
draw lots for their pieces of land The
records in the Oklahoma land Of
flee and United States courts have
| been overhauled and IL has been
found that contests have been en-
tered against one-half of the lands
located upon. Only last week nineteen
persons were sent TO the pententiary
for perjury committed in an attempt to
hold lands which sooners filed upon
and there are 1000 more cases on the
docket One of the government agents,
in Speaking of the old plan of having a
ircc-for-all race, said
at is admitted on all sides that the
Oklahoma opening was Hat failure.
Secretary Noble so recognized it and
am satisfied would never have consent
ed TO n similar plan with the Cherokee
lands So far As the coming opening Is
concerned the whole matter rests with
President Cleveland and he has given
no indication of the course he will pub
sue"
| Notwiths landing the statement sent
from Washington that an attempt will
be made to open the land in time for u
spring crop, many things have arisen
which will cause delay. Tuesday the
Cherokee council will meet at Table
| quah and advices received here are that
the sale will be ratified without much
difficulty, but no end of trouble is be-
ing experienced with the seventy
| Indian allotments, which must be
made before the lands can be
opened According to the provisions
of the bill, there were 10 Indians
who had improvements in the strip,
each of whom is entitled TO select 100
acres of land. II will be necessary TO
appoint an agent or commission TO
settle the controversies which have
arisen. More than 200 Indians will
contest for an allotment under this pro-
vision, each claiming TO be one of the
original 20, Land Inspector Cisney
stated to-day that he did not believe
matters could be adjusted before fall
Mr. Gillingswater, who represents
, the interior department, however, is OF
the opinion that after the CherolSees
have ratified the sale everything can be
rushed through, so that the lands may
be opened by May 90 An opening at a
later date would do little good so far as
spring crop is concerned. The
boomers who have settled along the
, border are daily becoming more rest
less, but there is no talk of invasion,
Every sec tion of land in the strip
Is patroiled once day by United
States troops, and the steps taken tC
, identify the sooners has deferred the
prospective settlers from entering or
, the strip lands. The company organ
lied here to invade the strip has beer
dissolved and the boomers have sys
tematically gone about presenting the
, necessity for an opening in time for Q
spring crop TO the interior department
D There are $4,000 farms Of 1850 acre.
each in the strip, including the lands
/ Of the Tonkawas and Pawnees, which
will be opened at the same time.
| -==--===
Anti-TruolS Law Unconstitutional
, JEFFERSON CITY, Mo, March 27-Tht
supreme court to-day declared the stat,