Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-10
HOMESFOR HUNDREDS
NEBRASKA LAND TO BE OPENED
FOR SETTLEMENT.
Uncle Sans Prosecution OF Lahu
Frauds VIII Rescue Millions OF
Acres From CattIemen for Uses OF
PeopIe-MiIIfon Acres Recovered

PeOpIe-MilIion Acres hecoN eh
Within the next few months, ana
probably not later than Auguss<1, there
will be restored TO homestead entry
and occupation not less than round
million of acres of land in central Ne
braska. This restoration Will come as
a direct result of the government III
vestfgation and prosecution Of the pub
lie land frauds.
For many years this land has been
held to the exclusive use of the Dig
cattIemen. Some of it has been With
held from settlement by the people be-
cause of the fact that it lay within the
great pastures enclosed by illegal
fences. although the title remained in
the government Nominally this acre
age has always been subject to entry
in point of fact it has been as effect
ually withdrawn as though there had
been a transfer title. Another part is
that which has been stolen by means of
fraudulent filings.
The lands thus pre-empted do not
represent the total area of the public
domain in the State Altogether, there
will be from 100000 to 100000
acres subject to entry when the gov
eminent has concluded its work over
the frauds. Three-fourths or more of
this lies on the high divides and
,.iJro- What ire fnaI and host uSp
may be is still problem. At the pres
ent time it is made of service chiefly
for grazing. Probably 100000 or b
100000 acres will prove suitable for
"high plains farming as this is now
understood, and the available acreage
will be continually increased as meth
DDS become better known and are i'm
proved upon by experience. The re-
mainder-the so-called ''arid' portions
must now be used. if at all, in con-
junction with the valley lands.
knowledge of this fact has given the
cattlemen their control of the whole !;
for by making CONSUMPTION of the val
leys and water courses. they have pre-
vented any but themselves from using
the higher areas. Thus control of one
acre carried with it the exclusive
use of four or five more
In the course of their defense and
justification, the holders of these great
tracts have declared, both in court and
through the newspapers, that they
have always welcomed" invited
and encouraged" settlement within
their enclosures. The history of the
cattle country records the untruth of
this statement-iust as in everyday I'M
Outstanding of motives would indicate.
First and last, by every means-by
persuasion, by intimidation, by VIC
nce-homesteaders have been induced
to keep outside the boundaries of these
reserves. The owners of the herds
have wanted the lands for themselves
settlers have been regarded merely as
trespassers, 'squatters' with no rights
entitled to respect. Almost invariably
bona fide hOmesteaderS who have had
the temerity to enter the big enclosures
have 1Oullu llLc Gu cACtCUI1l-iy uIIllCuil
proposition.
Five or six of the larger enclosures
have now been thoroughly Investigated
the unlawful fences have been ordered
removed, and hundreds of procured and
fraudulent filings have been recon-
mended to the Interior Department for
cancellation. Before the summer is
over these lands will be returned to
the use of the people.
Even now there are many indica-
tons that the year will see tide of
immigration exceeding any similar
movement of the last two decades
Government agents, railroad officials
newspaper offices and real estate deal
ers are now being deluged with in
quiries coming from all parts of the
United States, but chiefly from the
east and south. From what is now
known it seems we'll within the truth
to say that approximately 5000 fam
lilies will ultimately find profitable
homesteads within this reopened area
in Nebraska. Furthermore. these cul-
tivable tracts are we'll distributed
so that those homesteaders keeping
small herds of live stock-a wise and
economical adjunct to farming-can be
assured Of ample pasturage and mead
0w. These lands all lie within the ter
ritory covered by the so-called Kinkafd
law, which permits an entryman to file
upon $40 acres, or one squqare mile
This law has been responsible for many
grave frauds during the two wears
since it became operative: but hon
estly administered, it may still be
made to serve the purpose for which
! it was ostensibly passed-the creation
! of the grazing homestead"