New-York tribune., 1901-01-27
RESERVATION TOBE OPENED
A GREAT RUSH FOR INDIAN LANDS IN
OKLAHOMA EXPECTED IN AUGUST.
LBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Washington. Jan. 25.-By an act of Congress
Gently passed about three million acres of land
which now belongs TO the Kiowa, Comanche
Apache and Wichita Indian tribes in Oklahoma
will be thrown open to settlement The title TO
this great tract of rich virgin soil already has
passed from the Indians the Government. and
on August there will be a rush of white settlers
on the land The rush will be a miniature repro
ducton of the of strife and excitement
which attended the settlement and homesteading
of Oklahoma twelve fifteen years ago. The only
difference will be that the crowds will not be so
large were those which made the famous rush
Oklahoma and that the Government authorf-
ties viii know better now to handle the wild mobS
and preserve better order than the in
the original Oklahoma rush. Though wide
publicity has been given to the announcement.
Delegate Flynn and other Oklahomans in Wash
ngton say that already there is a considerable
movement Of homeseekers toward the promised
land" and a consequent infringement of eager
emigrants upon the territory to be settled The ar
rangements being made by the Government indl-
cate that within few hours after the bars are let
down and the stream OF homeseekers floods the land
what now is a trackess prairie. occupied sparsely
by widely scattered bands OF Indians, will be di-
vided into counties, with county seats and the full
equipment of officers for the enforcement OF law
and the establishment Of social order and security
There are about three thousand Indians now on
the four reservations and the Government has
allotted each OF them in fee simple $50 acres OF
land for farming purposes and like amount Tor
grazing purposes. After the territory has been
divided into counties about equal in 800 acres
are TO he selected by the Secretary Interior
In each county for county seat purposes This
work of division. Of course. will precede the formal
opening of the lands to settlement. Any person
who is not the owner of $50 acres Of land and who
has had the benefit Of the Homestead law is
entitled TO enter l6o acres Of these lands. Every
entryman may obtain patent either by living on
the land five years and paying 81 25 acre, or he
may make final proof after living on the land
fourteen months ard paying 81 % acre. Any per-
son who is otherwise qualified. but who made
previous homestead entry and paid for 1t In addt-
less is entitYeS T 70 n'aEe homestead entry on this
reservation. The rights OF honorably discharged
them TO file a declaratory statement by agent, and
IN addition thereto they entitled to credit on
army or Navy in the Civil War. No advantage in
ufne OF nng or settenlent however IS accorqeo Jti
VIII only hold If filed on land prior to the actual
advantage to the soldier or sailor is that
compelled 10 be present and file or settle IN person.
but he can remain at home and await the result OF
ne ne ACTON OF ms agent II Is wen. though' L3 t9r
new bounty Of the Government to know that in
the opinion of those the it will be bet
that @ eyerybody has as the M light to enter nj this land
either 2y nIing at the and once or BY actGa IA oe
Is safe 10 predict that nearly every acre will be
An entirely new method is provided for dsposing
OF the town lots. Heretofore whenever town sites
ton by any one who o''G in the mad Scramble FOR pos
session was able to settle on them hrst. This old
method has always led to opportunities for VIOLA
ton OF Law, blackmail and threats, and in many
to equip themselves with six shooters and VIM
chesters. In fact, the settler who converted HIM
self into a walking arsenal usually obtained pos
session Of choice lots and not interfered with
The law provides that all the lots in the
county seat towns shall be sold at public auction
and the proceeds applied to erecting courthouse
costing not 10 exceed $4,000. and the remainder OF
the money is TO be used for making roads, con-
structing bridges and like purposes. 1t is expected
that in will the receipts from the sales OF
these county seat lots be less than 100000. This
fund viii all the expenses of the county and
equip its government with all the modern facilities
All the county officers at first to be appointed
by the Secretary of the Interior A trunk line rail-
road passes through the heart Of the reservation
10 be thrown open for settlement. The new coun-
ties formed Of course. Will be made a part OF
oklahoma Territory. which viii be raised TO State
hood the Indian Territory is thrown
Oklahoma