New-York tribune., 1901-03-18
OKL4HONA LANDS TO BE OPENED
A GREAT RUSH EXPECTED FOR HOMIE
sTEADs ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS

Washington. March II CspsciaD.-some pic,,--
esque particulars are set forth in a ra,o-t -
Delegate Flynn. from the House COMMITTEE -
Public Lands. on bill 'to supplement- exist,r;
laws relating TO the disposition of lands etc r2
these particulars, being concealed in the verbfapa
OF long document. need not be referred to ms,
he measure itself is explained The Presidan.
signed the act TO effect the purposes Of tba hr,
the committee having made few verbal cbanpas
only. on March g. The in question declares
the manner In which the lands acquired from,
various Indian tribes in Oklahoma shall be as
posed OF. Congress years ago ratified an aerso
ment with the Wichita and Caddo Indians s.
which about eight hundred thousand acres Of ART
cultural lands were released to the United state.
arter giving these Indians. numbering one thou
sand an allotment Of $50 acres each. After deduct
ing 10000 acres for the Indian alIotments thara
Will be about $4,000 open to homestead sat+,a
ment, less certain sections in each township re
served for public school, public building and otba-
purposes for the future State Of Oklahoma Tbt
Wichita and Caddo reservation adioins that a,
the kiowas. Comanches and Apaches. The latter
embraces. according to Mr. FIynn's report 3O00oo
acres out OF which 4SO0OO acres must first he or-
lotted to the Indians. 5000 in number 100 acres n
each; then 10000 acres must be reserved for graz
ing purposes for the Indians Besides. there ara
to be reserved sections FOR school purposes. etc
In each township, in the Wichita and Caddo
reservation. In addition there are small reserva
tions Fort Sill COO0G acres) Anadarko and
various sub-agepcies aggregating 5000 acres When
the President signs the proclamation all these
lands will be opened to settlement not later than
August 6. after all the aotments and reservations
are made.
Now, to the persons who may take ADVANTAGE
of these settlements They must not be owners az
Se acres of land. nor persons having the benefit OF
the homestead law, Every entry man nav obtain
patent either by living on the land five years
ard paying 81 25 an acre. he may make final
paying 81 % ap acre. Any person who is otherwise
qualified. but who made a previous homestead
entry and paid for the in addition to living
on il either hve years less. is entitled
10 make homestead entry this reservation
under existing law modified by the new act
The act seems TO give hOnorably discharged Union
soldiers and sailors privileges and advantages
by abIEg them to file a declaratory statement by
agents, in other words they not. like Others
compelled to be present and file settle in per-
But the report presented by Mr.. Flynn ad-
vfses the old soldiers to be there in person. and
to forget 1t. because there will be great rush
and the lands will be taken by actual settlement
Before this rush the President will subdivde the
lands by counties reserving go acres in each for
county seat purposes which Will De duly sur
veyed and plated into lots. streets, etc.
The new act provides for an entirely new method
Of disposing OF the lots. 1t is graveIy stated
by the writer OF the House report, and doubtless
that the old haphazard. mad rush for possession
lied to opportunities for violations Of law; black
mail, threats. and in many cases compelled in
tending settlers in the towns to equip themselves
with six shooters ana Winchesters; in fact. in
many cases the settler who could equip himself as
a walking arsenal usually obtained possession OF
choice lots and was not interfered with
Under this act Indebtedness can be contracted
unless IL is approved by the Secretary OF the m
terror in any county before the election by the
people OF their own officials at the next general
election. The President may establish TWO land
districts, one OF these being fixed at Fl Reno. The
last paragraph permits persons who made home
stead entry Of lands in Oklahoma and paid in cash
for them. IN addition to complying with the home
stead law as TO residence. TO make entry on the
lands Described.