The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-28
RAILROAD NEWS.
Attorney Evans of the Rock
Island in Washington.
Reports FavorabIy on the Re-
survey of Indian Lands.
TERRITORY TO OPEN.
Permission Asked For a New
Line of Railroad.
New Freight Depot to Be Built
at Lawrence.
TERRITORY TO OPEN.

Press dispatches from Washington, D.
c., say that W. F. Evans, assistant at
torney for the Rock Island. is comforting
with the interior department regarding
the opening OF the Kiowa- Comanche-
Apache reservation.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Evans repre-
senting the Rock Island road signed
contract with the government by which
the Rock Island people We're to make
the resurvey Of the Indian lands about
to be opened A large number of sur
veyors have been rushed into the terri
tory and the work has been going on
rapidly
From the progress made he feels war
ranted in saying that the surveying work
will be completed by the last of June,
but in any event viii be finished befOre
August g. the time when the reservation
is to be opened by proclamation In
spector Nessler, who Is following the
surveyors in the work of alloting the
lands to the Indians. is also making sat
isfactOry progress. Mr.. Evans believes
Mr. Nessler viii be through with that
part OF the work a soon as the survey
ing is done. Mr. Nessler is following
close be hind the surveyors with his corps
OF assistants, and the Indiars are given
the lands they desire as rapidly as they
can be satisfied and indicate their choice
While in Washington the department
win consult Informally with Mr. Evans
relative TO the work of surveying The
WlCElJa leSelN1LiDl- 1t IS It's dVStAr i3A
the government to open the Wichita
reservation to settlement at the same
time the a<iOwa and Comalche and
Apache reservation is opened. At the
last session of congress GOO was ap-
DrOpriated for the work Of allotment and
survey and this added to the $4,000
which remained OF the fund previously
Appropriated. made it possible for the
government to proceed with the work
as before. Some question has arisen as
to whether the department has authority
in law for letting a contract for the sur
veying work and the matter has been
referred to the department Of justice.
will do the work. If no other way can
be found ne ard his corps Of surveyors
will be employed by the day, with a
definite understanding as to the amount
to De done each day. and with view 10
the ultimate cost falling below the
amount appropriated
From the expressions of Mr.. Evans to-
day it is possible the total cost OF the
work viii not exceed $40. 600 The road
he represents is anxious ard admitted
ly from selfish standpoint to have the
country opened to settlement. and the
operation in the work, much tp the ad-
vantage Of the government and affecting
q material saving.
Mr. Esvars also fled with the depart
Tnent maps Of dshniJe location for twen-
tv-fiVe miles of new road in Indian Ter
hopes to have early approval Of the loca-
tion. so that the road may proceed with
construction as rapidly IS possible He
believes that the opening of the Kiowa.
Comanche and Apache and Wichita
reservations will mean great things for
the southwest, and that the development
Off the new country will be phenom-