The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-12-14
ROSEBUD SETTLERS
MUST LIVE ON CLAIMS
Sweeping Order Issued by Gen.
eral Land Office Mt Wash.
ington So Declares.
PRAIRIE WAS DESERTED
Nearly Every Maiden Holding Homo
stead Rights and Her Young Men
Neiahbors Had Left West
for Homes in East.

Bones,cei. s. D.. Dec. S-Rosebud res
ervation settlers. scattered over many
states on what they supposed would be
leaves OF absence, lave been recalled
TO their prairie homes by an order re-
fusing to consider leaves OF absence
that has just been issued In the general
land Office at Washington and which
Is sweeping In It's effect.
Presenting that Uncle Sam would al
low his tenants on the reservation
claims, who drew their homes by
chance In the big lottery. 10 30 to thei
real or former homes and spend n
winter. because OF the lack OF prepare
ton for the severity OF Dakota storms.
hundreds OF the settlers had packed
their suit eases and departed for their
homes In the territory from which they
anne In the middle ~wcst-South Da-
kotn, Minnesota, Iowa. Nebraska, Kan
Sas. Missouri and Illinois.
They had left the matter OF securing
their leaves OF absence with local land
agents who received s. each for sccur-
ing the leaves. And 50 sure were the
local agents that they could secure
these privileges for their clients. that
they advised the settlers TO 30 ahead.
n they chose. and not wait until the re-
plies came from Washington.
The Rosebud Was Deserted.
As n result. the Rosebud had become
almost deserted and all OF the Rosebud
maidens. together with the Young men
OF the claims. had turned the keys I'm
their doors and left their little sod
huts Co withstand the blizzards until
next spring. No ooncr however. had
the emigrants taken leave OF their
homes until tho general land Office or
der from Washington was received. Civ
ing notice that the leaves of absence
could not be granted.
Ana row H. t;rl"r to hold titles To
their lands. the settlers who a antici-
Tatca ? plcssa.t winter visiting with
friends. must return To the plains and
prepare to agi the srowdrifts.
Merchants Fi"srso.
Merchants N the rgw towns or tho
reservation. wi . hal about given up
hope pf selling ovcrc,ats this winter.
are doli'ntcd at the CIocr from Wash
ington Nhics, tdcy sal. Is but uphold
Ing tive I riSh;s n tIo law. Many
persons are now lingo. ing around the,
towns. to. ready 10 'Jump" he claimsl
OF the settlers Who hive gone away. In
case Il ~ do net return, on the minutei
allowed oy Isw Ma ~ others. too. are,
now making low offers To hose who
have gone. n oidCr - buy tho lands at
barguinE. believing that those who have
gone VIII prefer scilii & at n loss TO
coming back 10: the lard winter.
Plans fer NeV, Railroad.
With he activity CauscG by this. and
the sti. created by ;nc recent announce
mcnt Of Gc.cial NJ mayer Bidwell. or
;hc Ncrtnwcstrgn ra.lrJsd. there is un-
usual business "ush ABOUT the Rosebud
Just NOW. and ~ promises TO continue
for seV. raj months. There ~ much cx-
Citcment hcic over tie promises or n
railroa'. ext, nSion OF nstN miles from
Goncstesl. n,d each town ~ ~anxiously
Clamoring a. obtain The line.
The yincprc confidSnLe of the set
-Icrs 10: th-T chances foT receiving
grants IT leaVCs OF gbSCncc was based
upon Previous "cuu"s;s anl grants. and
the fact tUat q hac always been no
trick at all % obtain tho leaves with
any ulLuS:-lc cNCur". Illness or n
necessity u Z AVA OF account or
financial need. was. always considered
suiiCicr set the wholesale lot of
requests ar! ~ cxclrv excepting that
the settlers vi! red =, g't away for the
winter. were not enough for the United
States give niucnL