The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-02-25
ISLAND 0UTlANDERS.
South Dakota People Who Live in
Mans Land

South Dakota has 2 mo Mans Land"
writes a t,adwuud correspond, NJ to the st.
Paul Glnhc. Down in the spUth'1-tern part
Of the state, In Clay County. on what Is
known locally as the Island" there are
ia or more people who really liz" nowhere.
Their part Of IN" world was made by tho
peculiar freak that the Missouri River
takrI occasionally. when II eats Up ON"
mans farm on one sid. Of the river ard
carries IT. across and deposits it To the
credit Of "a more fortunate ncighhpr on the
other side Of the stream.
In ~; the Missouri River valley was
visited by a very destructive noc-I. caused
by the sudden melting "f the heavy SHOWS
all over the state. Several millions dollars
worth Of property ana live stock were de-
strOyed and the ltti" town of Ncrmiliuu
WAS practically wiped out Of existence.
ON. of the many freaks uf In" big
Muddy WIS to cut through some Of tho
best farms i'm the northern part Of Ne
hraska for a distance Of about two miles.
thus shortening the old channel by scvar-
teen miles. The ISLAND Of land thus ieft
has been in the courts Of tho state over
since. i'.opl" living there ar" wondering
wh.re they 'aTe at" Their" j. nearly an
entire township and IL" land is very valU,-
bile for timi-.r and agricultural purposes.
Tn" last state Legislature annexed the
island TO South Dakota for JUDICIAL and
taxable purposes. which action was good
as far az the State and county were on
Ccrned.
There is n provision in tie ST." CON
S,itutior which says that land cannot ~
added To nor taken from = county with
out submitting the question t. Tie p,npIn
of the county Cor a majority yte. TIL.
constitutional amendment WIS ma L. to pro-
vent counties in the State from being III
vidcd up without the consent uf i majority
Of the people.
In order to get this leland INTO such
shape that the inhabitants can t. i, Is
necessary to have it ANNEXED 10 clay
County. II was hoped that this election
could lee held this month with tn iuIirirt
election. but the secretary Of state d"cifcd
that IL would take a general Il s"ti1l. whirS
will not be held until the fail uf 1917 At
that time the people al over The cuuItv
will vote on the question whether or not
the island shall hc annexed. II is extremely
doubtful IL such AN election will ever carry.
Tn people in tn. northern part oi she
county are for the most part farmers.
These farmers are most decidedly against
expansion in the southern part az the
domain. for the reason that il would give
the citizens al tn, litti" town Of N-.u!lou
control OF about tweRty-thrcr votes &" have
the island anneycd.
The inhabitants Of the island ar" IN"
"oatlandcrs' OF clay County. They were
very ETaciyusly given the privilege of pay
ing taxes into the county TREASURY, md
they can also be- brought before the County
Court to- have justice metrd ont to th.u.
but vat" thy ctnGut. The rich farmers in
the northern par; Of thu county H;!l keep
81 rolling up their wealth, and any g.I
every pet scheme that they want T.. become
q law they can vote through. the o~UJlauGc.s
of the island Notwithstanding. 1t VIII tine
uow i:oi4au islanders hut ntii. good To Pee
volt, for they are Uut-umbrr"d tea To- ou,.
Submit they must or else abandon their
Missouri claims ana move back across
the dead line
\ majority viii never be- secured. it *
said. on IN" question ot annexation. ana il
is highly probable that Gay County will
always have "A No Mans Land"