The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-04-14
NO RACE FOR LANDS.
Practically Settled That lniian Lands
VIII BE Opened by Lottery.

" w
Washington, April 13.-The method
OF disposing OF the lands in the
Kiova and Wichita reservations In
Oklahoma, soon to be opened
10 homestead entry, is re-
ceiving most careful attention from
the officials OF the interior depart
ment. Desirable lands subject to
disposition under the homestead law
can no longer be found in large
quantities except when an Indian
reservation is opened, and then they
are eagerly sought. SO many in
quiries are being made about the
Kiowa and Wichita lands that 1t is
manifest there will be several times
as many applicants as there are
tracts,
The Wichita reservation will be
embraced in a separate land district,
with land office at El Reno. De-
Quoting the lands allotted to Indians
and reserved for school purposes,
there will be 3, l22 tracts Of 100 acres
each to be disposed of to homestead
claimants. The greater portion of
this is fine land, but some of it is
not OF sufficient value to Justify com
plying with the homestead law to
obtain title to 1t.
The Kiowa reservation will be an
other land district, with land office
near Fort Sill. Deducting the lands
allotted to Indians and reserved for
schools and other purposes, there
will be 10, ,3jl tracts of 100 acres each
TO be disposed of to homesteaders.
These are generally good land, but
this reservation contains greater
percentage of lands Of no value.
The highest number of homestead
claims which could be taken on the
two reservations, even IL all Of the
lands were irable, ia 3,473. The
indications are that there will be
easily 40, 900 applicants.
No plan has been definitely deter
mined upon by the interior depart
ment, but of the plans considered
that which stand the best chance of
adoption runs along these lines;
There will be period OF registra-
ton, lasting thirty or forty days,
prior to the opening, during which
each applicant for these lands will
be required to show by written
proofs that he is qualified to make
homestead entry and actually de-
sires to do 30 as a means of securing
a home. II his proof is satisfactory
he will be registered as qualified
applicant and given a certificate &c
that effect, and he will draw mum,
ber, which will determine the order
in which he will he permitted, at the
opening, to make selection Of
land. The work OF registration will
applicants and the order in which
they will be permitted to select Ian,
have been determined.
The registration certificates vii
not be transferable, and to max,
the identification of applicants com
plete, so that there Will be no trans
fers. the applicant will be photo
graphed by a rapid process whicl
can now be utilized at slight cost {,
the government The registration
will be under the supervision Of thr
register and receiver, and a corps 0
experienced clerks, familiar witt
public land transactions and abl
to make the registration in an or
derly manner. Every applicant vii
be required to register In person, ex
cept honorably discharged soldiers
may be permitted to register, sub
ject TO the restriction that no persol
shall act as agent for more than on
soldier, and no soldier will he per
mite TO register through an agen
unless upon clear proof that he ac
tually desires to obtain a home iron
these lands by compliance with tn
homestead law, There will b
ample provision to prevent old sol
diers from being imposed upo
through the Misrepresentation o
neglect of an agent.