Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1904-05-27
A North Dakota
Opportunity

Fargo, N. D., May IS. The effect
of President Roosevelt's action in
affixing his signature to the bill
authorizing the opening in July, of
the unallot' ed lands of the Fort Tot
ten reservation was immediate. AL
ready the excitement in the northwest
states is running high and the land
departments of the various railroads
report that the task of answering the
inquiries concerning the details of
the opening is by no means Light.
The possibilities of the situation fur
nish the one subject of paramount in
terest for thousands of eager settlers
in Minnesota, tue Dakotas and more
distant states and even at this early
date families are making their ar
engagements to be Represented on the
occasion of he opening.
No one acquainted with the char
acte1 of the opportunity which will
be offered the homeseekers in July
will deny that the excitement is
justified. Conservative real estate
men familisr with the situation are
unanimous in the opinion that no
previous opportunity Of the kind offer
ed by the government has possessed
che attractions which the present one
contains.
The territory to be opened for
settlement comprises district 1O4. 416
acres in extent situated on the south
ern shore Of Devils Lake. North Da-
kota. In addition to this land.
which is thus at the disposal of the
homeseeker, there are various tracts
of land aggregating in the vicinity
of 100, 600 acres, formerly the property
Of Indians now deceased, which also
may be acquired by purchase. The
entire country surrounding the reser-
walton is settled with prosperous
farmers so that those who secure
claims in the opened territory will
find themselves in the center of an
established community. Another
particular in which the coming open
ing possesses attractive features lack
ing in former lard distri buttons is
the accessibility of the territory.
The Great Northern and the North.
ern Pacific railroads form an acute
angle with the reservation lying we'll
within the point and the settler may
step from his train and in an hour be
upon mis- claim. Once there, he is
convenient to arkets, postofices and
all tbs other attributes Of civilization
which the ordinary settler is without
until after many years of waiting.
All tie advantages Of the homesteader
are secured without the attendant
unpleasant features of the life of the
pioneer.
The soil is excellent in quality,
much of it being considered equsl to
any in the Northwest and is suitable
for carrying on any of the divisions
of the farming or live stock industries
for which North Dakota is famous.
Within the boundaries of the reser-
Walton are number of improvements
of public and sectarian character.
A-Gatholic mission, a school for
Indian children under government
supervision and a mission of the
Episcopal church are maintained
there. Devils LAKE has been bridged
at two points, permitting ready
communication with the city of
Devils Lake, while other prosperous
towns are distant only few miles to
the west and southwest.
The government, profting by past
experiences in conducting affairs of
this character, has determined tossob-
viate on this occasion the disorder,
confusion and frequently loss Of life
which have been features of previous
distributions of land. Luck,
reinforced BY a little money, will
suplant dashand daring as requisite
for securing land. The reservation
lands to be disposed Of at this time
are to DO sold at a fixed tate Of $3.50
an acre and the order of choice is to
be determined BY lottery. Il will be
necessary for applicants for lands to
Z register their names with the govern