Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-11
Rosebud Indian Lands in South
Dakota Will Soon Be Open
to Homesteaders.
Bill Introduced Which Will Be-
come a Law-Lottery Plan
Likely to Be Used.
Landseekers Already Driving
the Country to Learn the
Choice Sites.
Special to Times-Republican.

Sioux City, June 11.-Iowans will
soon have q chance to make another
lush for free homes in South Dakota,
when the Rosebud Indian reservation
lands are thrown open to settlement "A
bill is now before the lower house OF
congress and information comes from
Major Lacey the chairman of the COM
Inittee on public lands, that it Will soon
become u law. Hundreds of settlers
and spectators are already driving
over the country in Gregory county,
where these lands are situated, select
ing farms and town sites, where they
will attempt to secure free lands.
When the bill is passed the exact
time for opening up this great land
grab is left to the president, who Will
issue his proclamation soon after he
signs the bill, and prescribes the man
ner in which the lands shall be disposed
Of Just what his decision will be is not
known, but 1t is reasonably certain,
Judging from reliable information, that
he will issue his proclamation very
soon after the adjournment of this con-
gress and that the manner of opening
will be the same as employed in the re-
cent opening of the Kiowa Indian lands
in central Oklahoma territory last sum-
mer, viz: by what is known as the
drawing or lottery plan, by which each
applicant for a quarter section OF lana,
after being duly registered by proper
registering officers appointed by the
interior department to be there on the
ground, will file a card with his name
and address, which card Will be num-
bered in the order in which filed. Then
the drawing takes place before the
public eye in a very fair and impartial
manner on the last day before the
opening, and of course the successful
persons whose names are drawn Will
| have the right to select their land. the
first name drawn having the first right
to choose location, and so on down in
the exact order of the drawing till all
the quarter sections are exhausted.
! This plan proved quite satisfactory
last year, altho there are some who
prefer the old style system of the
rush" with all it's attendant tricks and
| hardships. There is no doubt, however
but that the government will adopt the
newer and better plan of drawing. Any
person. the head of the family, whether
man or woman, has perfect right To
register and take a chance at the draw
ing, soldiers and soldiers widows being
allowed to do this thru any agent they
may duly authorize for that purpose
but others will have to appear IN per
son at the registering places. which VII
be duly located near the land to b
opened. and register themselves, ant
also be there on hand to select thei
Hand in case they are successful at TIT
drawing. Honorably discharged unio1
soldiers and sailors of both the civil AM
Spanish wars have special privilege:
given them.
The proposed law provides for thu
ceding to the United States by the In
dams of all the land In their reserva
ton not now allotted to them IN scV
crafty, amounting in all to about 416
600. acres, for which the governmen
pays s1.O40,0OO. OF this sum there viii
he expended for the Indians S25O,000 70
4 stock cattle, and 100000 in cash vii
be paid in five installments. Sections
16 and SO of each township are reserve'
for school lands, and all other lands no
allotted to the Indians are to be throw
open to settlement under the homestea'
and town site laws of the United States
This land comprises some of the nos
productive farming districts in Soutl
Dakota Land in Charles Mix county
lust across the river from Gregor,
county, is selling rapidly at from 81
to $50 per acre. There will undoubtcd
ly be a repetition of the Oklahoma lot
terry rush when these lands are offere
to the public.