The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-22
RAILROAD NEWS.
Opening of New Reservations
Exciting Much Interest.
Scores of Inquiries Pouring
Into the White House.
NO RUSH FOR CLAIMS.
Secretary Hitchcock VIII Pro-
vide Another Way.
Other Railroad News Of Local
and General Interest.
NO RUSH FOR CLAIMS.

The opening of the Kiowa, Comanche.
Apache, Wichita and Cadda reserva-
tons is a matter of m UGH interest just
now Every day scores of letters are
received at the White house from all
over the Union, inquiring concerning
the new lands to be thrown open to set
tlement some time this year, and indeed
before that, people have been quietly
gathering on the borders and in every
way possible making ready for the
opening of this promised land Peo-
pie have been travelling through that
country in wagons all year. said rail-
road man the other day. THE sole OBJ
ject of these people is to view the new
lands and to be ready to make some
choice If possible when the opening
comes.
Nobody knows just what the coun-
try is in these reservations" said a man
who probably has a better knowledge
than any other person in this part of the
state. But it is safe to say that the
new lands are as good as that part OF
Oklahoma already opened to settlement
Greer county, on the west of the reser-
vations, has a great record as an agri-
cultural country. An old Louisiana
cotton buyer told me that the finest cot
ton he ever saw was that grown in
Greer county, Oklahoma. The white
people who have settled there don't re-
alize what grand cotton country it is
There are few old cOlored persons who
derstand, though. The Oklahoma farm
ers think they have a beat on the pota
to growers of the KaW valley in Kan
SaS. They claim to be able to produce
as good a potato as the Kansas one and
the season is so much earlier there than
in Kansas that they claim they are able
to discount this state on the prOduc-
ton of potatoes. There are a good
many more people in the country now
than can be supplied with land The
law allows them to remain within the
limits of the towns, and in every one
of those places are tented cities made
up of those who are expecting the res
ervations to be opened with a rush =
These may, however, be deceived In
their plans for obtaining claims in the
usual way. President Mckinley is not
favorable to such a practice. and pur-
Suant to the provisions of the FLYNN
bill, will probably provide a system of
rotary based upon the lottery plan. No
official statement can be obtained con-
corning the mode of opening, though
Secretary Hitchcock of the interior de-
partment is at work on a plan which it
is thought will do away with the rush
and at the same time be fair to all.
The treaty with the Indians by which
congress acquired these lands provides
that the reservations are to be thrown
open to white settlers before August L,
1901. 1t is given out on good authority
that the proclamation will not be issued
until after President Mckinley returns
from his western trip.
The railroads are especially interested
in this opening, and are watching deve1-
opments more closely than is generally
known. They will reap a rich harvest
from the thousands OF people who will
go to Oklahoma within the next three
months.
Before the proclamation is issued
opening this section the secretary Of the
interior will have completed the subdi-
vision of the land into sections Of 800
acres each for county seat purposes and
for equitable distribution. A map will
be prepared showing each quarter sec
ton, town lots and location. If the lot
terry system is adopted, applications
will have to be filed with the land reg
lister