The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-09
Special to The journal.

DpoCidl 10 Inc Voukheh
Crookston, Mimi, Nov. 9.-On the
eve of the second opening or lands on
the Red Lake reservation there are
many "sooners" in the city prepared
to file on claims that would not
ordinarily be considered worth claim
ing as homesteads The rapid ad-
vance of land values has, however,
made it worth their while not only to
take homesteads on every foot of land
that Is out of the swamps, but they
will surrender the privilege of commu-
tation that applies to homesteads out
side of the reservation, and Will main
tain a continuous residence on the
land and pay for 1t at the rate OF $1.25
an acre.
Line Formed Early.
On Saturday night at IL o'clock the
nucleus of a line was formed leading
from the door of the land office out
to the stairway, and men lined up pre-
paratory to a 60-hour wait for the
doors to swing.
At the head of the line with his hand
on the knob of the door was a man
who had come all the way from the
north border Of the state, travelling
from the Rainy river by the way Of
Minnipeda, a distance Of 500 miles, to
be promptly on the ground. He had
procured chair. and wrapped in
fur coat with a basket Of lunch, was
prepared to sit out the long hours.
Others joined him, and within half
an hour twenty-five men had begun
what they expected to be vigil that
would assure them prompt entrance to
the office on the morning when the
lands will be opened.
Driven Away by Police.
The upper portion of the building is
er objected to their presence during
the three days. The police were
notified and Chief Cramer took a
squad Of patrolmen and visited the
scene. The men In line were told that
they would not be allowed to remain,
and tho they protested loudly, the po-
lice were memorable, and the line was
broken up, the men finally going away
peaceably.
The greater portion Of the intending
settlers will pay no attention to the
matter of fling, but will go upon the
land and be able to swear when the
contest days come, as come they will,
that they were living upon it the day
of the opening. This matter of prior
settlement has held good in the past
as against the man who made the
filing of even date, and Is being relied
upon largely In the present instance.
Women as Well as Men.
Men and women are sitting on the
stairways and in the lobby Of the
building, where they will remain dur
ing the day and night in order to be
early at the door when the hour of 8
arrives Tomorrow.
The greatest interest has developed
among contestants for land on the
precincts that were withheld when the
reservation was diminished eight
years ago. The land on these sections
IS all close to railroads and much of it
contains pine. There are as high as
dozen applicants for some Of the
pieces on these sections.
Endurance Race Planned.
In one instance, in the town Of
Eden, sixty miles east Of Crookston, a
hot contest is on. The land had been
squatted upon by seven men, who will
remain thereon, making improvements
until after the hour Of a. m. to-mor-
row, when they will bestride bicycles
In an endurance race with the
Crookston land office as goal. The
roads are in excellent condition and
bets are being made that the distance
will be covered in five hours.
In another instance eight families
are living on one section which they
have agreed to divide into eighty-acre
tracts and hold against all corners.
Fight for Rainy River Tracts.
There will be a fierce struggle over
the right to file on lands along the
Rainy river and a dozen men are do
on each Of the townsites there.
Beaudette, Roosevelt and Clement
son are the towns where the greatest
interest centers. People have squatted
there Dor years, one applicant from
Beaudette having lived on the land
twelve years.
Mayor Hitchcock has detailed g
force Of several police to keep the
crowd in order and two officers will
: be present in the office rooms to see
that the disdputants do not carry
their difficulties too far.
The work Of receiving the filings
will be systematized, and the appli.
cants Will be handled with dispatch
Four men from the head Of the line
will be admitted to the office at one
time by a special officer, and these
will be waited upon and dismissed by
a side entrance before another squa(
is admitted. Every man will have hi
filing papers in hand and the worl
will be greatly simplif1ed for thi:
reason.
Special Agent M. D. McIntire, O
the interior department, who Is To-
Gated here, will be present also al
Inspector to represent the Washington
end of the deal.
The land attorneys have been reap
Ing harvest the past month in max
Ing out filing papers and pocketin,
retainers from those who know tina
contests are inevitable.
ON ITP-TOE TO SETTLE.
Farm-Seekers Camping on Borders o