The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-19
NORTH DAKOTA
FORT TOTEM LANDS
Congressman Marshall Will Take a
Hand in the Movement to
Open Them.
Meeting for Consultation at Mime
waukan-More Allotments on
the Market.
Special to The Journal.

special to The journal. s.. ~
Minnewaukan, N. D., Oct. 19.-The
movement for the opening of the Devils
Lake Indian reservation seems to promise
tangible results. Hitherto, either thru the
lukewarm support Of officials or thru the
covert antagonism of those interested IN
maintaining the reservation intact, all
efforts have failed. Congressman Marshall
has now taken up the matter and processes
faith that. he may be able to succeed
where his colleagues have failed. -:... p, y.
"A meeting has been arranged between
Mr.. Marshall and a joint committee from
towns hereabouts, organized at Mime
waukan for, consultation, and will be held
here shortly. Mr.. Marshall will have an
opportunity to demonstrate both his good
faith and his devotion to the interests
of the communities adjacent to the reser-
walton. -
. Agent Getchell Of Fort Totten asserts
that the amount Of land available to home
stead entry when the reservation is
opened to settlement is something like
$4,000 acres. Much the larger part OF,
this is excellent land and varies in dis
lance. from railroad stations from a few
rods, to fifteen miles. Fine stretches o.
this land are tributary to Minnewaukan,
Lallie,. Oberon, Sheyenne, Crary and Devils
Lake City, and the greater part Of It lies
in Benson county, which already has a
population of about 10000 and an as:
sessed valuation of about $2,5o0,000. -:":
All the Indians on the reserve have
long since taken their allotments under
the Dawes bill and are not only well along
in civilized methods of living, but are all
practically self-supporting, so that the
reasons for longer barring out the whites
are not apparent to the unprecedented
mind Furthermore, the Indians have en-
tered into treaty, negotiated by Major
McLaughlin, for the cession Of all the
unalotted lands at the price Of $3.50 an
acre. and it would seem that under all
the circumstances it should not be diff
cult for the North Dakota members OF
congress to procure the passage OF blll
at the coming session providing for the
sale of this land to homestead, settlers
at the stipulated price, the same to be
paid in, say, five annual installrnents at
la. low rate or interest. Even at this
price the lands would be really much
! cheaper, everything considered than the
| free homesteads now being taken In the
dryer, rougher regions in the extreme
northwestern part of the state, where dis
| tances 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 com
pany of white neighbours, for. the allot-
ments of deceased Indians now being put
upon the market for sale are being rapidly
picked up, and in all cases by white pur-
chasers.r - 49,. g..
These allotted lands, being in almost
Ievery instance the careful choice of the
| allottee, are naturally the pick of the
whole reservation. Some are especially
! valuable for the timber upon them; others
for their adaptabflity. to grain growing OF
for the heavy growth Of natural grass fo1
hay; These. lands have been bringing
from IS to: 81 an acre, while lands M
better in any way, but Just outside the
reservation, cannot be bought less thar
$40 to $40. ~.
/ The method Of buying these lands Il
simple. When the heirs of deceased
Indian wish to dispose Of the land in
herited by them they list the same for SALE
with the Indian agent, Mr.. Getchell an<
from time to time a day is set by hin
for receiving bids on each Of these listet
lands. The bidder files with the agen
a. sealed bid for the piece or pieces de
sired. accompanied by a certified checl
for the entire amount and If the highes
H bid Is satisfactory to the heir or heir
interested, an acceptance Of the bid !
filed with the2agent and the money Is pal.
over to the heirs by the Indian depart
ment when, o; deed is made by the heir
-:t''I -" +--c,: > -