The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-14
Butte Department..
LAND FOR SETTLERS
The Nez Perez Reservation Will Be
Thrown Open Next Monday.
ALL READY FOR THE RUSH
A Letter of Inquiry Regarding the
Terms Under Which Land May
Be Acquired Answered
Many Applicants.
Butte Department.
ALL READY FOR THE RUSH

The following letter was received a
the Standard Office yesterday:
Editor Standard-Will you pleas
state as soon as possible under wha
conditions the Nez Perez Indian reser
walton is being thrown open to settle
ment. Will the land be sold at auction
does the government require the set
tier to improve the land. or can a citi
zen acquire title by an agent. BY
giving all particulars you will greatly
oblige many subs.
wv. d. Clark"
Butte, Nov. 10.
The opening to settlement of the Nez
Perces Indian reservation In Idaho next
Monday, Nov. IS, is OF interest to many
people in Butte and other parts OF
Montana, as is shown by numerous
letters of inquiry received by the Stan
dard, regarding the terms on which
the land can be secured. The lands
which will be given to settlement in
clude 542.074 acres. If every settler
should take 100 acres there would be
room for $3.50 families. The land will
be given to settlers in four ways. First
TO the homesteader who must pay SO. rs
per acre and live in actual residence
five years upon his farm. But first he
must pay an entry fee of $1,000 when he
files on the land. The first half of the
price of his land must be paid in three
years after the entry. That is, for
three years after settlement $1,000 is
all that must be paid. This gives the
settler ample time to improve his ranch
and gives him an opportunity to har-
vest three crops before he makes his
first payment.
To honorably discharged union SOL
diers and sailors who were in actual
service at least ninety days the same
terms apply except that the residence
on the land may be five years less the
length of their service provided each
lives upon the land at least one year
Soldiers and sailors may make entry
by an agent and then be allowed six
months in which to maks their decla-
ratory statements.
Wherever land can be proved to be
of more value for timber, stone or min
eral than for agriculture the price Is
$500 per acre and does not require
any residence.
The usual townsite law applies. II
is probable that at least two towns
Will be formed on the new reserve,
one on the Lapwai or Sweetwater and
one beyond the Craigs mountain in
what is known as the Cold Springs
country.
The area of the reservation is 1.17O
square miles. a little larger than the
state of Rhode Island II lies princi-
pally in Nez Perces county, though
some of the best land is in Idaho coun-
ty. Craigs mountain crosses 1t. which
is really nothing but table lands form
ing splendid farm and timber coun-
try. II is watered by many beautiful
streams. The Spokane Chronicle saws
that fully 200 people are on the Dor
ders Of the reserve ready for the rush.
Many consider this too small an esti-
mate and dispatch from Lewiston
says the number is at least 2.0O0 They
are encamped about Lewiston In wag-
ons, tents and on the ground, while
every room or shanty in town is crowd
ed. The dispatch further says: "A
good deal of uncertainty is felt con-
corning the manner of the opening.
and whether the settlers will be per-
mitted to cross the border before the
signal is given. The agent at Lapwai
says all those who have crossed the
border will be put off in order that
every man may be given a fair chance
Whether he will be able to do this re-
mains to be seen. At present there are
no soldiers this side of Walla waIla.
The Indian police are very efficient but
IL Is very doubtful II they will be able
fAeNNNt Aht lIODl INVASION
prior TO the date OF opening"
Whatever degree of intelligence the
American Indian is credited with no
one has accused him of not knowing
good land when he sees IT, The Nez
Perces when forbidden by the govern
ment to wander promiscuously over
the Northwest and compelled to go up-
on a reservation chose the beautiful
valley Of the Clearwater as the most
desirable spot In all the land. The soil
is a rich black loan and easily titled.
IL is well watered and needs no irri-
eating. The wheat lands are among
the richest in the world. No one who
saw at the Fruit fair the magnificent
grains and vegetables raised near
Moscow and on the Potlatch will doubt
the richness of the soil of the reserve
when they learn II is exactly the same
as the famous Potlatch district. The
valleys of the Clearwater. the Lapwai.
the Sweetwater and other streams will
produce all the varieties of fruit which
were seen in the beautiful Lewiston
exhibit. Grapes, peaches. pears. april
cots, plums, prunes, apples, crabs, ber-
ries and melons grow abundantly.
For this beautiful and productive
land there will be thousands of appll-
cants. They are already waiting, many
OF them, at Lewiston. where the land
Office is. at Genesee. one mile and
half from the reservation line. and at
Julietta, three or four miles from the
line.