The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-03
PUBLIC LANDS TO
CO BY GAMBLE
Lottery Scheme Adopted for
Opening Reservations.
DRAWINGS TO FIX CHOICE
Prices Arranged in Advance of Sale.
Advantages of the
Method.

Uncle Sam viii go into the lottery
business for a little while. as the out
come of legislation enacted by Congress
at the session just ended. for opening
to settlement lands in several Indian
reservations in the West.
Drawings for the choice OF land VIII
be conducted on the lottery plan. Ac-
cor0ing to reports from the West, ex-
citement is already high. although the
drawings will not be held for several
months TO come
Applicants for lands in these reserva-
lions will have to register their names
with Government officials appointed 10
conduct the drawings. In the sixty
/ days after the opening OF the reserva-
ton the lucky seekers for homes, de-
termined by lot. viii have the chance
TO select the land they want. In this
wild scramble, with the usual attendant
bloodshed, which has characterized the
free home entry plan in the past
Advantages of the Plan
There are notable advantages in the
lottery plan. 1t not only determines
the order of choice. but keeps \ record
OF the people who have entered the new
lands and how much they owe the Gov
orEment for the land they have taken
w
The reservation lands to be disposed
OF this tire are not to be opened u
tie public free of all charge, as was
done in the Oklahoma and other open
ings several years ago, hut Will be sold
al a fixed charge. The following facts
snow, In brief, the opportunity for tn:
nomeseekers and how they must have
money TO get started this time, instead
OF only dash and daring, as before:
Lands 20 be opened in Montana. l. 10o,-
coo acres, to be sold at 81 - an acre:
limit for eny one entry, $40 acres; OPEN
ing in August.
Rosebud reservation, South Dakota.
$1,000 acres, at 50 an acre; opening in
July
Red Lake reservation. Minnesota. 40O.-
OOO acres; practically same conditions
Devils Lake reservation, North Da-
kota, 104, 4l6 acres, most fertile lands
in that section OF the West: $3.50 an
acre, opening in July.
Directed From Washington.
\ Government officials in washington
who will have general direction Of the
lottery plans execution are confident
that the coming drawings VIII prove
more successful and satisfactory 10
everyone concerned than have any OF
the past attempts or the Government to
help along the homeseekers OF the
West
Previous attempts TO distribute free
land have been attended by the great
est disorder, and sometimes by loss or
life. The Oklahoma opening was the
focal point for 100000 anxious and ad-
venturous people. most of them trying
to get something for nothing. with the
idea of disposing Of il as soon as they
could realize anything on IT,
The real home seekers were put at .
disadvantage by these land butchers.
and 1900 quarter sections Of land in
tended for homes went through Q
roundabout ownership without any adj
vantage to the Government. and great
DISADVANTAGE TO the homeseekers.
By the new plan II is hoped TO OoYi2te
all these difficulties. Every applicant
must be registered before ne draws.
When he draws a number and goes ouf
TO select his land, he must pay nxed
price an acre for all he wants TO taxa
up. Having done that, he viii be pro-
tected in HIS rights by the Govern
nent by civil law in all cases, ana %
the military arm OF the Governments
wherever and whenever necessary
The re-,I homeseekers Will take up tns
land in larger proportion than betoTet
while the priZe-seeking desperate VIII
find his former advantage over the quleI
peace-loving citizen no longer eXlsIs