Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-08-08
THE Land LOTTERY.
To-Day Will End the Drawing tor
Homesteads at Fl Reno.
YANY DISAPPOINTED HOYESEEKERS.


Ell Reno, Ok, Aug. 1.-The Dig gov
eminent homestead lottery will be
over tonight. There will be l3,ooO
successful numbers. When the wheels
stopped turning last night $500 num-
bers had been drawn up to date.
This leaves 1900 still to be drawn
out. Commissioner Dale says they
will be drawn out to-day and the pub
lie drawing will then be ended. I'VE
will close the drawing on the public
platform tomorrow night, after the
10000 names have been taken out"
said he yesterday. 1.-THE boxes will be
removed to government headquarters,
where the rest Of the names will be
drawn out by the clerks under our
supervision and notices sent to the
unsuccessful applicants showing what
number they drew"
The commissioners on Friday will
certify the list of 10000 to the Off
GERS Of the two land districts, in
blocks of 1925.
Yesterday 1900 names were drawn
out, 2,1OO rom each district. Prac-
tically oil Ct the good claims have al
ready been drawn.
The federal and municipal authori-
ties are taking the greatest precau-
ton to protect the lottery wheels and
the lists drawn out up to date. The
lists are kept in a schoolhouse. A
couple Of thousand disappointed
homeseekers sent committee to
Gov. Richards last night to make in
quiries about other vacant lands.
The governor replied that probably
1,u0O people who drew claims would
not show up to make entry and that
after 80 days these claims could be
homesteaded under the old law. He
said that there are 1000 school land
quarters that could be purchased or
leased that 1900 claims could be en-
tered in Greer county, and that In
dian lands could be leased cheaply.
The homtseekers also asked him If
the town lots in Lawton, Hobart and
AnadarEo could not be appraised be-
fore sale, so that they, instead Of the
money rharks, could buy the lots at a
reasonable figure. He replied that,
under the proclamation, they could
not, but that the sharks could not
score, as the person could buy only
one business lot and one residence
lot.
Gov. Richards yesterday, with the
approval of the secretary of the in
terror, appointed townsite commits
sioners as follows: Lawton, j. II.
Hampton; Hobart, L. p. Holcomb;
Ahadarko, c. +. Nesler. The two first
named are in the general land office,
and Nesler is inspector of the Indian
Office. Hampton was in charge Of the
registration at Fort Sill. Ilolcomb
was in charge of registration booth
No. 9 at I'll Reno. Nesler had charge
of the allotment of the Indian lands
on all of the reservations about to be
opened. During their service as com
mlssioners they will be granted leave
Of absence without pay from the of
fee in Washington. Each of the CON-
m;ssioners will be required to give
a bond of 100000.
In response to numerous inquiries
received by mail, Gov. Richards is adj
sising soldiers who registered through
agents. and who will be entitled to
locate lands, that the soldier may re-
yoke the authority given to the agent
TO iocare the clam and personally
make his own fling by properly
Identifying himself as the person for
whom registration was made.