Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-05-26

eminent has possessed the attractions
which the, present one contains.
The territory to be opened for settle
ment comprises district 1O4,4 16 acres
in extent situated ON the southern
shore Of Devils Lake, North Dakota.
In addition to this land, which is thus
at the disposal OF the homesteader.
there are various tracts Of land aggre-
eating 100000 acres, formerly the
property Of Indians now deceased,
which may also be acquired by pur-
chase. The entire country surround
ing the reservation is settled by pros
porous farmers, so that those who Sc
cure claims in the open territory will
find themselves in the center of an
established community. Another par
ticular in which the coming opening
possesses attractive features lacking
In former land distribution is the &C.
feasibility of the territory. The Great
Northern and Northern Pacific rail-
roads form an acute angle, with the
reservation lying well within the point
and the settler may step from his train
and in an hour be upon his claim.
Once there he is convenient to mark
cts, postof1ces and all the other at
tributes of civilization which the ordi-
nary settler is without until after
many weary years of waiting. All the
advantages Of the homesteader are
secured without the attendant I'M
pleasant features Of the life Of the
pioneer.
The soil is excellent in quality, much
of it being considered equal to any In
the northwest and is suitable for car
rying on any of the divisions Of the
farming or live stock industries for
which North Dakota is famous.
Within the Boundaries Of the res
ervation there are q number Of improv-
ments of a public and sectarian char
acter. A Catholic mission, school
for Indian children under government
supervision and a .mission of the
Episcopal church are maintained
there. Devils Lake has been bridged
in two points, permitting ready COM
munication with the city of Devils
Lake, while other prosperous towns
are distant only few miles to the
west and southwest.
The government, prodting by past
experiences in conducting affairs of
this character has determined to OBJ
viate on this occasion the disorder,
confusion and frequent loss of life
which have been features Of previous
distributions of land. Luck, rein
forced by 9 little money, will supplant
dash and daring as requisite for secur-
ing land. The reservation lands to be
disposed of at this time are to be sold
at fixed rate Of $3.50 an acre and
the order of choice is to be determined
by lottery. It will be necessary for
applicants for lands to register their
names with the government officials
appointed to conduct the drawings.
In sixty days after the opening of the
reservation, the lucky seekers for
homes, determined by lot will have an
opportunity to select the land they
desire. This plan will make impossi-
BILE the picturesque features of earlier
entries into newly opened tracts but
it will enable the government to OBJ
tain what is eminently more valuable,
a record of the people who have en-
tered the lands and the amount of
their Indebtedness for the property.
The fact that any price whatever is
asked for the land is doubtless a
source Of disappointment to many
settlers but when it is considered that
land of exactly the same character
in the state is bringing from SIS to $40
an acre the comparative insignifcance
! Of the $3.50 demanded by the govern
ment is apparent. The method OF
payment has been so arranged as 70
render the burden still lighter. OF
the total price of each acre but $50
need be paid at the time Of filing, the
remainder being payable yearly at the
rate of SO cents a year.
Postoff7ce Changes.
The pOstOffice at Willard has been