The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-07-17
ALLOIMENTS IN SEPT. IS
SCHEDULES IN THEN SAYS AL.
LoTTlNG AGENT scRlVEN.
scRlvgN TALKS IN SIOUX FALLS

Provided the Unforeseen Does Not
Arise Agent Says That Last Seized.
ule viii Be Filled by September is.
Then Proclamation.
Sioux Falls, S. d., July 11.-SpeciaI
to The News: John II. Scriven,
special agent in charge OF the work
of allotting lands to Sioux Indians in
Gregory, Trip and Meyer counties,
while in Sioux Falls on business be-
fore the United States court, gave
some interesting information in con
nection with the progress being made
in the work OF allotting lands to In.
dams in Trip county.
The surplus lands of the Rosebud
have been ceded to the United States
and will be opened for settlement as
soon as the work of allotting Indians
in that county is completed Thous-
ands of persons throughout the north.
west are keenly interested in the pro
gress being made in this work, as they
intend securing homesteads in the
tract of 100000 or 100000 acres which
is to he opened.
Special Agent Scriven states that
/ If nothing unforeseen arises himself
and the men working under his direc.
ton will have completed the work of
allotment in Trip county, and he will
have filed his chedule with the author
tiles at Washington, by September Is
next. Therefore if nothing else inter.
feres the surplus lands will be ready
to be opened to settlement by procla
nation of President Roosevelt.
The excessive rainfall this spring
has greatly interfered with the allot
ment work, and for days at a time
it was absolutely impossible for the
allotting crews to make their way
about the country Some weeks ago
Agent Scriven was authorized to put
on an additional crew in order to
push the work of allotment, but owing
to the excessive rainfall he has not yet
been able to put the additional crew
at work However, he expects to
have the additional crew in the field
early IN the coming week.
Allotting Agent Scriven is well
aware of the Impotence OF the thous-
ands of intending homesteaders to
have the work completed so the land
can be opened, and in the effort to
push the work to completion at the
earliest possible date he has person
ally worked day and night and Sun
days in order not to lose any time.
Mr.. Scriven has received total OF
500 applications from lndianas who
wish to take allotments in Meyer
county. The only thing that can inter
fere with the opening in the fall Of the
surplus lands in Trip county is
whether or not some of these appli-
cants will change their minds at the
last moment and strive to secure
allotments in Trip instead OF in
Never county. 1t is thought that
should any Of them do so their appli
cations for a change from Meyer to
Tripp county, if filed at the last
moment, will be rejected by the
authorities of the Indian bureau al
|
take allotments in the county where
they originally intended to locate
their lands.
The work of allotting lands to In
dams necessarily is slow and tedious
as the Indians cannot be made tt
understand the necessity for prompt
ness on their part and will consume
all the time possible in making thei
selections of land and in finally ex
pressing themselves as being satisfied
, When the surplus lands in Trip
county are finally opened to settlement
, it is generally expected that one of thu
r greatest landrushes in the history o
. the northwest will take place. II
anticipation of this the towns border
| ing the immense tract which will b.
t opened are making preparations TO
:, caring for the great swarm of cage
q landseekers who will pour into tn
region.