The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-14
STORY OF
BEST CLAIM
AT LAYTON
Governor Richards Saved 1t
for HomeSteaderS.
WAS TAKEN BY Mr.. cox
But Government Paid $4,000
TO Have 1t Reserved.

woman VINO IS known as number one II
the drawing which is to take place OF
July % viii have a small fortune, il
his or her fling is made in the LawtoE
district. There is q good tract Of land
near the tOwnsite Of Lawton and only
one that can be taken at the present
time. Had it not been for the determined
efforts Of Governor W. A. Richards, who
has charge Of the registration. this prize
would rot be for the lucky homeseeker
A soninlaw OF big Chief Quanah Parker
of The Comanches, white man, had his
eyes on this tract Of land. When the
Indian allotments were made, nothing
was said about the townsite being it its
present location. Cox was the last man
to claim his allotment-on the last day
and the farm he took was one mile from
The townsite.
During all Of the days Of the allotting,
Cox wanted his allotment near the sub
agency, or where his Improvements were.
So hard did be insist on this that it was
finally agreed that the government would
pay him 5000 for his improvements and
take his allotment elsewhere.
After Cox had decided on the land near
the townsite. he learned that the townsite
had been located and that he was one
mile away. He then made a demand TO
have his allotment changed so that he
might get nearer to the townsite Cover
nor Richards refused to grant this re-
quest and the matter finally went up to
Secretary Hitchcock. It was then de-
cided that Cox would have TO keep his
allotment and let his white brother take
his chances for the prize in the drawing
which is to occur
The report came today that Emmett
Cox had taken up his residence on that
fne piece Of land so much desired by
homesekers. How true the rumor is. is
not known, but Governor Richards will
see to it that it does not become the
property Of Emmett Cox.
It was at the request Of Governor
richards that the territory did not take
this land in its indemnity selection. He
Wanted one prize for the homeseeker and
today there is a tract of land for some
Person that viii be worth thousands of
dollars to the individual who gets it. or
a chance TO say that he viii take this one
tract of land.
A very small per cent of the people
registering have any idea where the good
lands are located. They have a vague
idea, it is true. but when it comes to
locating a farm exactly and knowing
Just what is on it in the way Of timber
and water is difficult proposition
There viii be a number of excursions into
the reservation after the drawing in or
der 70 determine just where the good
land is located
One of the interesting characters con-
nected with the registration is Cover
nor Richards. He is a man Of splendid
executive ability. He has seen active ser
vice in the west and can give pointers
10 the best Of our men on the art con-
nected with COW punching. Governor
Richards is a tireless worker His Office
hours are long and he is determined to
see that the Tegistratio nand drawing
IS TO be done right. The talks of fraud
have greatly incensed him and if a man
can be found who viii swear that he has
oribed registering clerk. this clerk viii
be Immediately discharged and viii have
an opportunity Of getting back to Wash
ington the best way that he can. The
man who swears to bribery viii not es-
cape easily, though, for it is against the
law to bride a government Official and the
punishment for such an onense is severe. /
The FL Reno city council had a late and
strong session last night There was a
complaint on the part Of q number of
merchants that the police allowed the
streets TO be congested too easily and too
long. The police question was brought
up in the open session and the discussion
Resulting was a hot one. Mayor Tom
Aensley was Of the opinion that since El
Reno had prayed and worked for this
thing that the people should be allowed /
70 60 weherever they please and that El /
Reno should entertain them. Mayor Hen /
sley characterized the event as the
greatest bonanza that the city of Fl /
Reno ever had since it was Incorporated.
Very few arrests have been made and 4
only four special policemen have been
employed 70 assist in handling the crowd. +
Several more men VIII probably be p,,t
on the force 10 take care OF the rush
next week ii is very evident that the 4
crowds are orderly. or the police force !
Of the city could nos take care Of them =
so well The people OF Fl Reno are de-
lighted with The manner in which the
eopie throng the stress and Nsvcr
'5enslev said last night. eve only hope /
that larger crowds than ever viii come (
70 FL Reno"
The age record was broken today when
an old man S years OF age walked ND .
10 one Of the booths and registered for
p chance in the drawing FOR farms. He
was manipulating ano when asked what f
he wanted with a farm. he stated. Il /
reckon I can do as wen with farm as
any OF the boys" This illustrates how
much interest Is being taken in the open !.
Ing OF the Indian lands More than
enough people have registered sn three
days TO take every farm in The new coun-
try But the last man stands as good q
show as the first man registered
The Choctaw from the west last night
brought IN a large delegation. The mem
bers OF the portv came from au points
along the liae. They organized in a ca-a-
pany a. the Ch0ctaw statlon and marched
up street in double file They we're all
strong looking young men and more than
3 hundred OF them filed one company.
The night trains were crowded as u.s.
nal bat by afternoon tomorrow these
people VIII all De registered and ready
10 return to their homes in the east and
north
Governor Richards is OF the impression
hat "Wednesday and Thursday Nin be-