The age-herald., 1901-07-08
Persons Desiring to Make h. try Under Homestead
 Law Register
NO SETTLEMENT IN ADVANCE
HonorabIy Discharged Soldiers and Sailors Can Make Application Through an Agent, But All
 Others in Person.

Washington, July 1.-The proclamation of President Mckinley opening to settle ment the lands ceded by Indians in Okla homa was made public today. The proclamation covers the sessions made by the Wichita and affiliated bands of In- dians in accordance with the act of March 2, 1895, and those made by the Commanche, Kiowa and Apache tribes in pursuance of the act of June 6, 1900.
 The proclamation provides for the open ing of the lands in those reservations which are reserved, at o'clock a. m. on August 6, next, the lands to be open to settlement under the homestead and townsite laws of the United States.
 Beginning on the 10th instant and end- ing on the 26th, those who wish to make entry of land under the homstead law shall be registered. The registration will take place at the land offices at Reno and Lawton The registration at each office will be for both land districts.
 To obtain registration the applicant will be required to show himself duly qualified to make homestead entry of these lands under existing laws and to give the registering officer such appropri- ate matters of description and identity as will protect the applicant and the govern ment against any attempted imposition. Registration cannot be effected through the use of the mails or the employment of an agent, excepting that honorably discharged soldiers and sailors may pre- sent their applications through an agent, no agent being allowed to represent more than one soldier. No person will be al- lowed to register more than once. After being registered applicants will be given certificates allowing them to go upon the ceded lands and examine them in order to aid them in making an intelligent selec- ton. It is explicitly stated that mo one will be permitted to make settlement upon any of the lands in advance of the open ing provided for" and the statement Is added that "during the first sixty days following said opening no one but regis tered applicants will be permitted to make homestead settlement upon any of said lands and then only in pursuance of a homestead entry duly allowed by the local land officers or of soldiers declaratory statement duly accepted by such officers"
 Plan Drawn. The order of the applications Is to be determined by drawing. the plan for which is described as follows:
 "The order in which, during the first sixty days following the opening, the reg istered applicants will be permitted to make homestead entry of the lands opened hereunder will be determined by drawings for both the Fl Reno and Law ton districts, publicly held at the United States land office at Fl Reno Okla, com- mencing at g o'clock Monday, July 29. 1901, and continuing for such period as may be necessary to complete the same. The drawings will be held under the su- pervision and immediate observance of a committee of three persons, whose integ- rity is such as to make their control of tho drawing a guaranty of its fairness. The members of this committee will be appointed by the Secretary of the Inte- rior, who will prescribe suitable compen- sation for their services. Preparatory to these drawings the registration officers will at the time of registering each ap- plicant who shows himself duly qualified, make out a card, which must be signed by the applicant stating the land district in which he desires to make homestead entry and giving such a description of the applicants as will enable the local land officers thereafter to identify him. This card will be at once sealed in sep arate envelope. which will bear no other distinguishing label or mark than such as may be necessary to show that it is to 90 into the drawing for the land district in which the applicant desires to make entry. These envelopes will be separated according to land districts, and will be carefully preserved and remain sealed until opened in the course of the drawing, as herein provided. When the registration is completed all of these sealed envelopes will be brought together at the place of drawing and turned over to the commit tee in charge of the drawing who in such manner as in their judgment will be attended with entire fairness and equality of opportunity, shall proceed to draw out and open the separate envelopes and to give to each enclosed card a number in the order in which the envelope contain ing the same is drawn.
 While the drawings for the two dis tricts will be separately conducted. they will occur as nearly at the same time as is practicable. The result of the drawing for each district will be certified by the committee to the officers of the district. and will determine the order in which the applicants may make homestead entry of said lands and settlement thereon"
 subsequeni Proceedings.
 Subsequent proceedings are provided for as follows:
 Applications for homestead entry of said lands during the first sixty days fol- lowing the opening can be made only by registered applicants and in the order es- tablished by the drawing. At each land office, commencing Tuesday. August 6, 1901, at o'clock, inclusive. for that dis trict must be presented the applications os those drawing Nos. to 125 inclusive.