The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-04-25
RICH NEW DOMAIN.
Twenty-four Townships OF South
Dakota Lands 10 Come Into Mar


ket.
Much interest is. manifested by in
tending settlers in the. prospective
opening of the Rosebud Indian reserva-
ton, provision for which was made in
bill passed by the last congress. The
Dill does not provide for the opening to
settlement OF the entire reservation, but
only that portion embraced within the
boundaries of Gregory county. Some
of these, along the Missouri river, are
fractional townships, but they contain
some of the finest agricultural lands in
the state. The secretary of the interi-
or was authorized by the law to APP
point commissioner to treat with the
Indians for the surrender of their
lands. This will be done at once. Con-
gressmen Martin and Burke and Sem
ator Gamble, anticipating the urgent
demands of their constituents. are en-
deavoring TO impress the secretary with
the Importance of Immediate action,
and they expect that the commissioner
will begin work soon. After a Settle
ment has been made with the Indians,
congress must ratify the treaty, which
cannot take place before the next ses-
sion of congress, in December, and, FOL
lowing this, the Indians must make
their selections of lands before white
settlers can take advantage of the
homestead laws. The opening, prob
ably. cannot take place within year.
The law under which settlement may
be made will be the same as the laws
governing other homestead entries in
the Northwest, no change having been
do q WITT q
of the reservations in Oklahoma.
The lands in this strip are generally
of good character. The bottom lands,
which will probably be selected by the
Indians, are as good as may be found
anywhere in the Missouri valley, While
the uplands are well watered and
adapted for grazing purposes The peo-
pie of Gregory county have long want
ell this strip opened to settlement, so
that they may be able 70 people 1t with
a tax-paying population. The opening
of the strip seems likely to be their
only chance for railroad within
reasonable length Of time. Represent
atiyes of the Grand Island road have
been through the territory this spring,
and have declared the country ripe for
line Of road. If this land can be
opened, 1t will obviate the necessity or
getting a special right of-way through
the reservation, and is the only place
that road can get through the reser-
walton without great difficulty.
There are several theories concerning
railroad building on this strip. One is
that the Chicago & Northwestern in
tends to build from Bloomfield, Neb,
through GREGORY county and north
west from there to a point on the Big
Cheyenne river, at the southwestern
corner of the Cheyenne reservation.
Such a road would take all the cattle
shipments which are now being divided
between the Northwestern and Milwau-
kee roads, at Chamberlain, Pierre and
Evarts. The route to Omaha and Sioux
City would be shorter than any other,
and would have a virtual monopoly OF
the reservation cattle shipments, leav-
ing the Black Hills trade TO the Elk
horn road.
The Milwaukee road has been red
hot competitor of the Northwestern for
this trade for the past four years. NO
stone has been left unturned by the
Milwaukee folks to divert cattle ship.
ments to their line, and they have sue
ceeded, by giving special favors and In
other ways, in getting large increase
In shipments at Chamberlain. The
building of their branch to Evarts, on
the Missouri river, and the opening OF
the sixty-mile cattle trail across the
Cheyenne reservation was for the pur-
pose of securing a share of the cattle
business from the Belle Fourche coun-
try. At the recent meeting of the cat
tlemen's association at Rapid City, the
Milwaukee road had several men on
ground, and succeeded in making ar
arrangements for shipping the stock OF
the several cattle companies in the Belle
Fourche county. The progress or this
fight between the two roads for the
western cattle trade has been watched
with interest in that part of the state
for some time, and II the Northwestern
should attempt to cut the Milwaukee
of by running line either form Verd-
igre or Bloomfield. Neb., to a strategic
point on the reservation, 1T would oc-
ca sion no surprise to those who have
been witnessing the contest.