Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1908-09-04
Big LAND
OPENING SET
Over 100000 Acres Available
for Entry
ON SOUTHERN SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER

ON SOUTHERN SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER
This Land is Very Desirable
for Farming
A drawing of lands opened for
entry under the homestead laws by
proclamation just issued by Presi-
dent Roosevelt has been set down
for October 10, at Dallas, S. D. +
The lands in question amount to
about 100000 acres. Under the
proclamation of the president Judge
James W. Witten, chief law officer
of the United States general land
office, is designated to superintend
and conduct the drawing The lands
are in Trip county and are des-
cribed has agricultural and graz
ing lands. According to statement
issued by Judge Witten, covering
the information which will be
sought by those who desire to enter
these lands these facts are brought.
Persons who desired to be regis
tered for the drawing must go to
the towns of Chamberlain, Dallas,
Gregory or Presho in South Dakota
or to O'Neill or Valentine in Neb-
raska, between October 5th and 18th,
and there sign and swear to an APP
plication for registration which
will be furnished by the officer ad-
ministering the oath. All appli-
cations for registration must be de-
livered by the applicant by mail, in
person or otherise, to Judge Witten
either at Dallas or Gregory, SD,
not later than 4 p. M, Saturday,
October II. Drawing will take
place on the following Monday, Oc-
ober 9 at Dallas.
These lands embrace 1888, 900
acres, portion of which have been
allotted to Indians, and are located
on the south line of the State of
South Dakota and adjoin the lands
in Gregory county which were op-
ened in 1904. They are said to be
very desirable for farming and
stock raising purposes, and similar
lands in adjoining counties are SELL
ing for good prices. The opening
of the Gregory county lands four
years ago, was one of the largest
and most important land openings
ever held by the government, and
attracted a great deal of attention,
LOG, 900 people having been regis
tered.
From present indications the
Trip county opening will be even
larger than the Gregory registra-
ton since a much larger area of
lands is to be opened The. plan
adopted for this registration and
drawing is similar to that used in
the Gregory opening, but certain
objectionable features which caused
hardships on applicants for regis
tration have been eliminated. At
the Gregory and former openings
applicants were required to appear
in person and stand in line often
for considerable length of time,
until officers of the government
examined into and determined their
qualifications and registered them,
while at the approaching Trip
county opening no line will, be
formed, and the people will be.
permitted to send in their applica-
lions by mail, or otherwise, to the.
the superintendent. after they have.
been sworn to in one Of the towns
above mentioned.
Soldiers who served for three
months during the civil war, the
Spanish American war or the Phil
lipine insurrection will not be re-
quired to visit the towns mention
ed for the purpose Of registering,
but may register thru an agent.
Information as to the manner Of
registering and drawing, and blank
applications which enable soldiers
to register by agent, can be obtain
ed by writing to Judge Witten, at
Washington, D. O., prior to Sep
TENDER 25, but after that date ap-.
plications should be made to him
at Dallas, Sd, or to that person.
who is placed in charge Of the
blank at the towns named. After
October 4, all blanks needed by
persons who are not soldiers will
|be furnished by the officers in the.
4 towns named, who are authorized
Ito administer oaths, and persons
who are not soldiers will not be re-
lquired to procure the blanks in ad-
4 vance.
i Persons who are successful in this
drawing will be permitted to make
entry Of one quarter section, or
LESS, under the homestead laws.
at some date after March l 1909,
and may obtain title by making
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