The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-09
,EYERYBODY
IS BOOMING
Proclamation Is the Theme
Of Many Discussions.
WHO CAN TAKE CLAlMS2
Several Are Barred Who Do
Not Know It.
BIG WICHITA CROWD
VIII Probably Try Their Luck
10 the New Country
BIG WICHITA CROWD

Those disqualified from entering lands
in the new country are as follows: Are
you among them2
ANY person who has an existing home
stead entry after June {. 1900. abandoned
or relineuished such entry. a married wo-
man. unless deserted or ab&ndoned by
her husband; those not eitizenss or who
have not declared such intention; anyone
under Z years Of age. not the head Of q
family. unless he has served in the ar
ray or navy Il or more days II actual war;
propretors Of over 100 acres Of land any
where; anyone who has perfected a title
10 a homestead Of I50 acres ~ proof OF
residence and cultivet ion for five years
or under section 2. act Of June Is $3.50;
anyone whose title acquired and now be-
ing acquired by him under the public
lands, ia pursuance Of entries made since
August 80. 1890, with the tract now sought
to be entered, Wa make an aggregate Of
over 30 acres of ion-mineraI and"
Every body in Wichita is going 20 the
new country. That Is, everybody IS talk
ing that way. il was the sole theme Of
conversation yesterday. Everybody had
the opening e6Ttion" Of the Eagle in
his poc-et and there was a discussion IN
every place where men met concerning
the proclamation. Mr.. AIcKinleys docu-
ment was as plain IS the nose on mans
face, and yet the passion for argument
is so strong IN Wichita that men dis
cussed the merits and meaning of the
proclamation al day. Those who knew al
about in the morning were not quite
sure they knew anything about It at sun
set
one reading Of the proclamation was not
quite enough. The second reading made
IL clear. If man had been satisfied with
that he would ave been ali right, but
the moment he had a clear understand
ing Of It he would go around to tell an
other fellow how plain the whole thing
was TO him. This would invariably start
g discussion that would end in confu-
sion.
The storm center Of the discussion was
at George BIcNeaIs barber shop Every
body who came there had an idea OF his
own and he had 10 defend It. He had 10
explain and re-explain things. lie had 70
give reasons for this thing and that
thing And everything set forth in the
proclamation. The Eagle office was called
up about 500 times 10 arguments that had
been started. Many came up 10 the edi-
torial rooms in person to have points in
the proclamation explained to them. They
went away with a clear understanding
OF the matter and were safe If they didn't
re-engage in the discussion.
The entire controversy was brought
about by Victor Murdoch. II was he that
suggested the opening OF the lands by the
drawing OF. so-caHed lottery scheme last
year. At first the interior department
retected e. but Oklahoma people caught
or and began pounding suggestions along
that line into the interior department
They also began pouring letters into tie
Eagle cf1ce and Il would be SAFE 10 say
that there are now 80 communications
slowed away in drawers tn the editorial
rooms approving the drawing sugges-
ton. They were written on wrapping pa
per. pasteboard. note paper and foolscap;
With pencils. with Ink. with chalk. and
everything Imaginable. Some Of the cor
RESPONDENTS didn't know how 10 spell.
capitaIize or punctuate but all OF them
had practically the same idea-that the
drawing plan was a good one. After
awhile Secretary Hitchcock became a
convert 20 the idea and ne. In turn, con-
verted Presiaen- Mckinley who. at first
was strongly opposed 70 the innovation
Three months ago the Eagle announced
practically everything found in the pres
fdent's proclamation yesterday, including
the time and manner Of the opening
To tell who is going from Wichita would
almost he equivalent ro repundnE the
pou books o. the city. They understand
that IL costs practically nothing 70 take 4
chance and they are going to speculate
Some old timers are going. JudEe Tucker
Who came here on the heels OF The Wich-
tia Indians over thirty years aso is going
down 20 thar country again wlth raA-
btrs foot whitney Tucker and his boys
are also going 20 try their luck. Nearly
even BODY = the Eagle o1ice has hun H.
The veIs-Fargo express Office IS ful of
boomers. as IS the Western Union te,e-
g-aph ofice. Dold's packing house, an
the railroad freight houses and, In fac1.