The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-26
MINNESOTA
MANY GOOD TRACTS
Inquiries Pouring In Concerning
Lands on Red Lake Reserve to
Be Opened Nov. 10.
Not All Classified as Swamp Is Bad
Drainage Feasible over
Large Extent.
Special to The Journal,

6peclal TO Inc journal.
Cass Lake, Mimi, Oct. 26.--As the time
draws near for the opening to settlement
OF certain lands in the Red Lake and
White Earth Indian reservations, much
interest is being shown in the land to
be thrown on the market the character
of the soil, relative worth and whether
any scheme can be provided whereby q
portion of the land, which is character
lied swamp, can be changed to -
valuable possession.
According to the circulars issued by
the general land office at Washington,
the land to be opened embraces the fol-
lowing acreage: In the Cass Lake dis
trict, Red Lake reservation, Isl, 259.C5
acres; in certain sections l6 and IS, H.
56S.3S; ton. 2,S2S.03. In Crookston dis
trict, Red Lake reservation. 3S5, 1859
acres; certain sections IL and SO, Co.
529.74; total, 447 65G.63 In Duluth dis.
trict Red Lake reservation, llS,237.Sl
acres; in certain sections 16 and sc, TO-
164.55; total, 12S,402.36; making grand
total of 76S,SS702 acres.
Much of 1t Is Good.
The general land office has. thru cir
culars and newspaper interviews. given
the impression that most of the land Of
fered is practically worthless, because of
the fact that on the government plats
much of it is classed swamp. While
to a great extent this is true, yet there
Is much of the land that is desirable, for
several reasons.
In the Crookston district there is much
that is classed as ''agriculturaf land,
being high and dry and consequently it
Lake district nearly every foot of the
land to be offered is marked on the gov
eminent plats as swamp and may be
considered by many as being without any
value. Some of this land is ON COM
paratively high ground, while a portion
Of the in6er conl1 "a aaSi1S 6roi cd
and made valuable. The same can also
be truthfully said of much that is offered
in the Duluth district.
Big Drainage Scheme.
1t Is fact not generally known that the
levels taken of he country in and about
Red Lake show that the entire country
adjacent to the lake can be Trained so that
the present low land will be easily ac-
cessible The trend of the streams, and.
In fact the flowage of Red lake itself, is
in northerly direction North of Red
lake is the Rapid river, which empties
into the Rainy river, which in turn flows
on into Lake of the Woods. The smaller
streams north of Red lake empty into
Rapid river, thus providing natural out
let for the water, which if Widened and
deepened would drain the entire country
adjacent.
Rapid river is but fourteen miles north
of Red lake, and if a ditch or canal
Coulu We Jug llOlll Tie ldhe " Inc fLiplu
river the whole of Red lake could be
drained. The scheme Of draining this
tract Of land would involve Il large eX-
penditure, and it is doubtful if the state
drainage law is wide enough in scope tc
handle it, but if the land could be drained
there is no doubt but that it would be
the most fertile and productive agricul-
tural land in the state. ss.@ ~...
Congress is appropriating large sums OF
money each year for the arid and semi.
arid states. and the suggestion is made
that the national government be appealed
to in order to secure the means Of re.
claiming a valuable tract of land. AL
ready there is talk here of getting the
assistance of congressman Bede, Steener
son and Buchanan toward securing al
appropriation for the purpose of draining
the land.
Rush Indicated
That there will be rush to make fill
ings Is evident, as not a day passes blu
what the officials receive many letter
seeking information concerning the land
the requirements relative to filing AM
how the land may be ultima tely secured
The circular Of the general land offic
says '1hese lands will be subject t
disposal to actual settlers only, unde
the provisions of the homestead law, ex
cept that the provisions of section 23O
of the Devised statutes are not applicable
as proof of occupancy for five years
required before title can be perfected.
Each settler must pay $1.25 an acre i
five equal annual payments.
The local land office is fully prepare
to handle the rush of business that wi
undoubtedly commence at o'clock a. n
on Nov. 10.