Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-25
WHO DRAW BLANKS|
Much Valuable Indian Land WA
be for Rent.
A CHANCE FOR THE UNLUCKY ONES
Oklahoma Alone Viii Have 1000
Farms and the Indians VIII Have
$500 More of the Best Tracts Which
May Be Leased.

Eel Reno, Ok, July 24.--The thous-
ands of homeseekers who will be dis
appointed in not drawing lucky num-
Der calling for 100 acres of land in
the new country can console them.
selves with the fact that as good, and,
in many instances, better lands will
be open to them subject to rental con-
ditions. In every township subject to
homestead entry are four sections OF
land reserved for the use and benefit
of the public schools, colleges and pub
| tic buildings of Oklahoma. Altogeth
err there are about 1876 townehips, o,
i2,176 farms of 100 acres each belong
| Ing to Oklahoma. Again, the terrific
ry of Oklahoma secured about 116,000
acres in indemnity lands. taken as In.
dian allotments, equivalent to 725
farms of 100 acres each. Oklahoma
accordingly, will have not less than
1900 farms for rent. To these far
mers can be added $500 Indian allot-
ments of 100 acres, embracing the
cream of the soil, nearly all of them
lying in the valleys of the streams, and
which can be leased. The total num-
Der of farms for rent OF lease will be
$500.
The school lands can be leased for a
period of three years, the lessee hav-
ling the privilege of releasing upon the
Expiration Of his first lease. Should he
not desire to renew his lease he will
receive payment from the next lessee
for all his improvements, such as
wells, orchards, houses, ETC., at fair
price to be fixed by a board of apprais.
ers. The lands are controlled by a
school land commissioner. James j
Houston, whose office is at Guthrie
and to whom application must be
made for leases. The school lands IL
the new country have not been ap
praised, but the work of appratsement
will begin in short time. The lease
rentals have never been exorbitant.
Indian allotments can be leased fol
period of three years The lessee il
required to make certain improve
ments. such as digging well, building
a house. barn. fences. etc, and at tn,
expiration of his lease all these i'm
). provements become the property o
the Indian owner of the allotment
The lessee, however, may succeed II
; renewing his lease, but If he fails h
loses his improvements. In Cheyenne
t and Arapahoe counties rental of an In
!. dian allotment of 100 acres has bee
!. from s35 to $50 a year for the frs
n three years, after which all cultivate
a land has been leased at about 81 a
7. acre. Applications for leases in tn
}, new country must be made to Majo
l. Randlett, United States Indian ager
Mt Anadarko,a Ok.sp, i 4-5
A number of western Oklahom
counties will take part of the overflo'
r from the new country. In the coul
II ties of Green. Roger Mills. WASN'T
and Custer are lands still subject t
ID free homestead entry, and as good g
a. many Of the homesteads that will b
a. settled upon in the new country
p j. A. Powers, OF Mangum, Gree
county. said:
There are l,S0G quarter sections
Greer county, every bit az good as II
v average homesteads in Kiowa count
N and there are many farms In profit
BILE cultivation that can be purchase
H. from SIS to $40 an acre. Greer count
t. has always raised good crops. We vi
a raise a fair corn crop this year, eve
though no, rain should fall Our &C
h. ton Is fine, and thousands upon tho
as sands of tons of hay are harvesting