Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-30
LAND LOTTERY FOR BIG
Stakes At OKLAHOMA.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
CONDUCTING GIGANTIC PRIZE
SCHEME.
ONE CHANCE IN THIRTEEN
FOR THE 100000 PERSONS WHO
HAVE ENTERED FOR A CHANCE
TO FILE CLANS.


begun here this morning. 1t was con-
Quoted by the federal government in
disposing of $4,000 quarter-section
claims thrown open to settsxment on
the Kiowa- Comanehe reservation.
The drawing began at 9:45 o'clock.
Twenty thousand excited, expectant
people jammed and crowded about the
platform. The approach of the COM
missioners guarding the precious bun
dies of envelopes containing the thous-
ands of applications, was the signal-for
great demonstration. that was re-
newed with fervor from time to time
during the progress of the arrange
ments.
When finally, after long delay, ten
boys, five for the Eel Reno and five for
the Lawton district. were lined up be-
fore the two wheels and awaited the
word to draw out the first envelopes
from the receptacles. mighty cheer
arose, was repeated again and again
and the multitude pushed closer to the
platform. Eager. drawn faces watched
every movement of those about the
wheels, and necks were craned to hear
The Name of the First winner.
moment later, when deputy marshal
called loudly for order, the crowd was
stilled instantly.
At 9:35 Colonel Dyer, one OF the
three commissioners, read the Presi-
dents proclamation relating to the
drawing. The envelopes were then
placed in the wheels, each was turned
repeatedly to insure a generous mixing
and then the drawing was on. The first
envelope taken from tie wheel contain
-. To-, N "a
therford, Okla, who had registered FOR
homestead In the Lawton district.
Matte II. Beals, Of Wichita Kan,
whose birthplace Is In Missouri. drew
No. 2, also In the Lawton district.
The multitude went frantic over the
announcement. Without doubt Wood
and Miss Leals, who have thus the right
to make the first two ---.ngs, will Sc
lect the two quarter sections adjoining
the Lawton town site district, and which
are believed to be worth $4,000 each.
When Colonel Dyer announced the
womans age as IS tn, that her height
is the same as that of Mr.. Wood, 90
600 persons shouted In chorus: They
must get married"
No. 1 IN the El Reno district was Ste
phen A. Holcomb, OF Pauls Valley, In
dian territory. and No. was Leonard
Lamb, of Augusta. Okla.
No public event in years In the
southwest has attracted so much atten-
ton as this one-the initiation of new
method of disposing of government
lands. About 1877 900 persons, each with
One Chnnc. In IL
of winning a homestead, watched the
event here or at a distance, for the APP
lplicants came from every State in the
Union.
The drawing took place on platform
built for the purpose in the open air
few blocks from the center of Ell Reno.
Situated at the foot of several small
hills which formed a perfect amphi-
theater, the platform was watched by
thousands of eyes. People occupied
every inch almost of the space, and
every movement of the government Of
fcials was viewed with the most in
tense interest.
Ell Reno yesterday cared for fully b.
900 people, and the trains that came in
during the night and morning doubled
the number. Hundreds of others are
still bound this way.
Sunday was spent quietly, but as
night came on and the hour for actual
drawing approached men and women.
many of whom had waited patiently for
months for the event, or had come
thousands of miles at the last moment
to participate in 1t, became anxious.
Worn out with days of hardship and
nights Of poor accommodations, they
were keyed to high tension, but all were
hopeful and each seemed confident that
his would prove lucky number.
-
walking the streets or vainly gazing at
the drawing platform, and discussing
again and again the merits of the par
ticular claim which they intended fling.
Many slept on the ground around the
platform to be certain of an advantage
Gus position when the first number
should be called out at 9 o'clock. or to
remain perhaps until o'clock in the
evening, when the last of the 1000 en-
velopes to be drawn to-day should have
been picked from the wheels.
The government clerks finished the
task OF placing the envelopes OF the
applicants in envelopes and OF tying
them in bundles to be placed in the
wheels, which had been tested for the
last time yesterday afternoon. The
only detail that remained was the Sc
form the actual drawing of the enve-
lopes. .nese we're chosen from a lot
of boys of good families and were
named at the last moment. They were
all under age, and. consequently not
registered for claims. The weather
was cloudy but pleasant
When congress reserved the lands of
Oklahoma for homesteaders the tacit
admission was made that Of all the
methods for acquiring the public do
main the homestead law was the only
one which carried out the purpose of
the government honestly and fully
Under the provisions of that law the
land grabber finds no opportunity and
speculation is reduced to a minimum.
The results have been significant and
marvellous, for in ten years an unin-
habitated country has gathered itself
nearly 100000 people, taxable property
and its annual production of the treas
ures of the earth now aproximating
S75,OOO, 900 In Value.
When Oklahoma was organized as a
territory here were about $4,000, 900
acres of land within the boundaries as
established. Over 100000 acres were
reserved from settlement for Indians
and other purposes. In ten years
homesteaders have f1ed upon 1900