The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-09-03
HOW TT. TOTEM RESERVATION
LOOKS TO A WASHBURNITE.

IL 81 ClltllCCU ulldI SOulc OuolIlcon
affairs brought me into the vicinity
of Devils Lake during the past few
days, and 1 determined to drive out
onto the Fort Totten Reservation
and learn from personal inspection
what advantages are afforded by
these lands to the h~omeseeker.
met people there from nearly
every state of the union. Many
were there from far off Maine on
the Northeast as we'll as from Texas
on the Southwest. The North, the
South, the East, the West of our
own country were represented, and
Canada, too, sent its quota to the
lottery. After mingling with these
people, one begins to realize more
strongly than ever that great land
hunger has taken hold of the peo-
pie; that the nation has awakened
to the fact that the last of the pub
lie domain is disappearing.
A large part Of the Reservation
land is level and much of it has a
good fertile soil. with a tendency in
many parts to too much sand. It
is a just estimate to state that the
land is a fair estimate of North
Dakota soil. Were the reservation
as a whole thrown open to settle
ment, it would present many desir-
able farms for homeseekers, but
when one learns the facts and looks
over the land, disappointment and
disgust succeeds hope. It seems
that some nine-tenths of the reser-
walton lands were doled out to the
Indians and that of the remainder,
the state and the local eleemosy-
nary institutions were given a gen.
erous slice. This left only $50
claims all told to satisfy the hun
ger of the thousands who came to
register for land.
OF the $50 claims, there are, per-
haps fifty, which, owing to location
are desirable; the balance are. in
the main rough, and are scattered
among the Indian allotments. The
Indians cannot dispose of their
lands for some twenty-three years
to come, hence the settler who
draws such a claim and locates
thereon, largely isolates himself
from his kind and voluntary adopts
the society of the Noble Red Man
for himself and his children.
The homeseekers are not unmind.
full of these things. 1 met many
who didn't wen register when they
found what kind of a proposition
they were up against. These peo-
pie expressed themselves as de-
lighted with whatthey had seen of
North Dakota, and in most cases
they seem determined to get home
somewhere in this state. Many
will wait around Devils Lake till
the drawing takes place, andif they
get one of the first fifty chances,
they will probably file on the land;
if not, they will scatter about the
state, looking for a desirable place
TO make a home.
The crops in general were good
although in some parts the rust had
destroyed the peoples hope Of 6
bountiful harvest.
A hasty comparison of the adj
vantages afforded by that country
and those enjoyed by the citizens
of Mclean county may be inter
esting. What 1 could learn of the
climate, soil and water, led me tx
believe that Mclean county Ger
tainly has the best of the compari
SON.. The crops here are altogethe:
better than the crops in those parts
The land there is flat and colde:
than it is here, hence rust Is prev
alent, but aside from that our crol
is more bountiful and of a bette:
quality than theirs. There the.
have to ship in their posts, thei:
lumber, their coal, and even thei
kindling wood or burn straw, while
Mclean county can furnish posts
enough to fence North Dakota
cottonwood lumber to supply eacl