The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-10-31
FORT TOTEM LANDS.

Congressman Marshall Will Take q
Hand in the Movement to Open
Them.
The movement for the opening of
the Devils Lake Indian reservation
seems to promise tangible results.
Hitherto, either through the lukewarm
support of officials " through the COW
ert antagonism of those interested in
maintaining the reservation intact, all
efforts have failed. Congressman
Marshall has now taken up the mat
ter, and processes faith that he may be
able to succeed where his colleagues
have failed.
A meeting has been arranged be-
tween Mr.. Marshall and a joint COM
mittee from towns hereabouts, organ
lied at Minnewaukan for consultation,
and will be held at Minnewaukan
shortly.
Agent Getchell Of Fort Totten as
serts that the amount of land available
to homestead entry when the reser-
walton is opened to settlement is some
thing like 5000 acres. Much the larger
part Of this is excellent land and
varies in distance from railroad sta
lions from a few rods to fifteen miles.
Fine stretches of this and are trib-
utary to Minnewaukan, Lalle, Oberon,
Sheyenne, Crary and Devils Lake City,
and the greater part of it lies in Ben
son county, which already has a popu-
valuation of about $4,000, 900.
All the Indians on the reserve have
long since taken their allotnents I'M
der the Dawes bill and are not only
we'll along in civilized methods Of liv-
ing, but are all practically ~self-support-
ing, so that the reasons for longer Jar
ring out the whites arc not apparent to
the unprejudiced mind. Furthermore,
the Indians have entered into a
treaty, negotiated by Major -McI-augh-
lin, for the cession Of all the unallot-
ted lands at the price Of $3.50 an acre,
and it would seem that under all the
circumstances it should not be difficult
for the North Dakota members OF con-
gress to procure the passage OF a bill
at the coming session providing for
the sale of this land to homestead set
tiers at the stipulated price, the same
to be paid in, say, five annual Install
ments at a low rate of interest. Even
at this price the lands would be really
much cheaper, everything considered,
than the free homesteads now being
taken in the dryer, ro@af!er regions in
the extreme northwestern part of the
state, where distances TO market are
much greater, school facilities meager
and frontier conditions still prevail.
When these Indian lands are opened
the incoming settlers will already find
a company Of white neighbors, for the
allotments of deceased Indians now
oeing put upon the market for sale are
being rapidly picked up, and in all
cases by white purchasers.
These allotted lands, being in almost
every instance the careful choice of
the allottee, are naturally the pick OF
the whole reservation. Some are es-
pecially valuable for the timber upon
them; others for their a%daptability to
grain growing or for the heavy growth
Of natural grass for hay. These lands
have been bringing from IS to 81 an
acre, while lands no better in any way,
but just outside the reservation, IAN
not be bought less than $40 to $40.
The method Of buying these lands is
simple. When the heirs of a deceased
Indian wish to dispose of the land in
herited by them they list te same for
sale with the Indian agent, Mr.. Getch-
ell, and from time to time a day is set
by him for receiving bids on each of
these listed lands. The bidder files
with the agent a sealed bid for the
piece or pieces desired, accompanied
by a certified check for the entire
amount, and if the highest bid is sat-
is factory to the heir or heirs interest
ed, an acceptance of the bid is filed
with the agent and the money is paid
over to the heirs by the Indian depart
ment when a deed is made by the heirs
to the successful bidder. At the same
time the government issues a patent
for the land to the heirc, SO that the
purchasers title is thus sa%feguarded.
One hundred and seven pieces of
these inherited Indian lands are now
listed for sale on Oct. 81, and bids are
being received by Agent Getchell at
Fort Totten. This list. was recently
published in the Reporter, published at
Oberon, N. D., and any one interested
can obtain a copy by application to
the proprietor.