The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-21
OPENING OF INDIAN LANDS.
Congressman Curtis Replies to Many
Questions Regarding It


to the Glohe-DemOcrat says;
Hundreds of letters come TO mem berS OF
congress from the southwest ASKING m
Vulnerable questions as TO the opesil5lS OF
the Kiowa. Comanche. Apache and Wich-
tia reservations for settlement Inc con-
EreSsnen receive them from every sra.
in the union. and many came from sol
diers In the Philippines Some OF the
the eastern states indicate a woeful lack
Of knowledge Of conditions IN the lndian
country Most OF the letters nave peeh
referred to Congressman Curtis Of KAN
sas. who is admitted to be one of the
best posted members Of the mouse on IN
dian affairs. From all these letters Mr.
Curtis consented to make extracts. show
ing the questions which are asked most
frequently These were put TO him and
be willingly answered them His replies
nave more than ordinary Significance be-
cause he has been involved in al legis-
lation relative to the development Of the
new territory in the southwest He is
free homes to the people in the Oklahoma
Territory and what he says relative 10
the chances 81 free homes III the Kiovva
country may be taken as an indication
Of an intention on his part to see such
legislation enacted VIII provide them
The question most frequently asked IS
as to the time when the reservations viii
AT this time It is impossible . tell
rTnen the Kiowa. Comanche and Apache
tlefmenI. SAID MT curtis, but IL IS gen
orally believed that the opening viii be
sometime in June OF July of this year.
BY an act Of January 4. 1901. the score
rary Of the Interior was authorized to ex-
HliDrrNeTrE
opening the land 70 settlement for per-
Tod not exceeding eight months from the
me opening must be begun August G. 1901
] do not believe the act Will be amended %
other questions were answered by Mr..
What is being done about allotmentss''
Part of the allOtments have been made
and am advised that the remaining al
lotments VIII be made as soon as possible
The department is now considering a
proposition TO survey the lands or rather
to re-establish the old lines I think the
Wichita lands will be opened 10 settle
ment at the same time that the Eiova
Comanche and Apache lands are opened.
How much land viii be opened to set
tlement?"
In the Klova reservation" replied ar
Curtis; about $4,000 acres viii be allotted.
to members Of the tribes. about 10000
abo1st > 6S6 S6S -s,s ~ P'l l,45s' ana
are about 5000 acres of land in the
Wichita reservation"
what is the nature Of the land to be
THE governor Of Oklahoma Territory.
~ speAklng Of the two reservations. says.
In Oklahoma Territory. and would ~ ca
paole OF supporting large population
ElOIH tne showing made there Is no
doubt that nearly all the land is good
Tor farming and grazing mean the land
to be opened to settlement"
IN reply 10 the question as to who could
take aonssteads. MI Curtis said that any
of land and who has not had the benefit
Of the homestead law is entitled to enter
man may obtain patent BY residing on the
land nNe wears and paying SIPS per acre.
ANY person otherwise qualified, but who
made a previous homestead entry and
paid Tor the same in addition to residing
upon Il either five or seven years or less
is entitled to make a homestead entrI,
as modified by this bill
Under the law any officer soldier. sen
man OF marine who served for not less
thstn ninety days in the army or navy III
makes homestead entry of $50 acres or
less, Is entitled under section 23o5 to have
years. deducted from the period N So
years residence required under the A0rne-
section 2s39 soldiers claim NAV rs siie7
py an agent. and he has six months
entry and commence his settlement ana
ItnpIoNeIilenJs upon the land The an
ing and the soldier must make fha e,,fr,- ;,
can a settler pay cash2'
remain on the land for five wears he 49,
after a residence and cultivation az re
land Tor fourteen months from the date ~
entry commute his entry ~ n
,H59w Ions must the settler live on the
"a homestead settler must vr,ths, ~
Iiioiitns alter masking his entry establish
rs ms .,iai Lss.oellee IN house upon the
the land continuously. I'm accoria NO., --itS
law, for the term of i've years reniisI
the member from Kansas 80
How viii the lands be opened7-,
me law provides that the lands shall
pe opened r. settlement by proclamation
OF the president / think this means fJ,@-t
the lands viii be opened the same sane
pubic lands are opened in the states ana
that tnere VIII be no given time fxaf IN
running. but every person must taIxa NJ
chances the same as now, when he sat-
Ties on public lands in the states or te~-
How about free homesg,
The provisions of the free homestead
law do not apply to the Kiowa and WEI
tia lands The free homes law nasse5
May II. 1900, only applies To lands which
mao Deen opened to settlement prior to the
passage Of that act I think IL is generaIl,-
believed that within a few Years the free
homes law viii be extended 50 as to take
In the kloVa and Wichita reservatfons-',
Kansas City and Return, $500, Via
the Santa Fe Route.
Tickets on sale January Fl and p. Re