The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-07-29
Registration Will Close at Six
O'clock This Evening.
Not More Than One in Forty
Will Draw a Claim.
Times Have Been Lively at
Yankton aud BonesieeI.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Yankton, S. D., July 23.-The total
number of registrations at the Yankton
offices reached more than $1,000 last
night. These figures were given out by
Captain Whaley, clerk in charge. The
registration for yesterday was 1856. If
the pace holds, and there is at present
every indication that it will, the total
will reach the 10000 mark.
The force of clerks was increased yes
terday by number of young ladies from
Yankton. A chaperone is with the
young ladies at their table. They find
the work pleasant and the hours favor
able. A majority of the new clerks are
engaged on the work of classification. A
slip of paper is prepared with the name
of the person registering, and these slips
are compared with the original entry
made by the clerks. These are the slips
that go into the great wheel of fortune
from which the names of the winners
will be drawn. Now that the registra-
ton is closing the interest in the draw
ing is growing. Who will be the lucky
ones?
Not more than one in forty will draw
a claim. Not two-thirds of those who
draw will file. Yet there will be some
who draw fortunes. The first claim will
probable be chosen along a TOWNSHIP.
Perhaps the st. Elmo townsite will be
the one. There is room for several small
towns on the opened territory and more
than one person will have chance to
take land adjoining.
The railroads will make the towns
But how can an ordinary person get
next to the intentions of great rail-
road?
The registration offices are not the
only places where lines are formed. In
the early morning at the meat markets
the restaurantkeepers line up for their
days supply of steak and sausage, while
at the postoffice there is almost con-
tinual line, sometimes reaching out into
the street, of people waiting to inquire
at the general delivery window for their
mail.
All the morning trains were late yes
terday and as result the lines standing
in front of the three registration booths
were all taken up before noon, but the
rush began again on the arrival of the
first section of the Milwaukee, closely
followed by the Great Northern. This
was the first time in the past two weeks
that there was no line of people waiting
to register.
Among the new clerks, all of whom
were taken from Yankton, are two
ministers of the gospel. Rev. B. G.
Matson of the First Congregational
church, and Rev. G. w. Rosenberg of
the Methodist Episcopal church, are
hard at work and are found by the gov
eminent officials to make excellent
clerks. Mr.. Matson confessed to work
ing harder yesterday than he had done
before in years. Both gentlemen have
the reputation of being workers in their
chosen field. Mr.. Matson has a new
church under construction and Mr.. Ros
enberry has splendid improvements un-
der way on the edifce he now holds
sway in.
The agricultural exhibit is attract
ing great attention. This morning a
new feature was introduced. A wagon
load of canes cut from corn stalks was
brought to the building. These will be
distributed as souvenirs The canes are
three feet, six inches in length, and are
two inches in diameter, and were taken
from corn that was over eight feet in
height. They show the condition of Da-
kota corn A number of young men
from the Dixon, Ill.,, business college
are in the city. The boys all wear bright
blue shirts and are easily distinguish
able. They have good voices and do a
good deal of singing of popular songs on
the streets.
The registration period closes this eve-
ming at six o'clock. Prompt at that
hour the doors will be closed, even if
people are waiting to register. This is in
accordance with the proclamation of
President Roosevelt. The force of clerks
now employed is sufficient to care for
any number, however. The hour of
closing cannot. be changed, but the num-
Der of clerks will be increased if neces-
cary. The total registration up to to-
night will be 10000.
~ "a 10 nrnnNr MINI