The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-10-05
THOUSANDS join In
MAD-CAP RUSH TODAY
Rosebud Indian Reservation in South
Dakota, Containing Eight Hundred
Thousand Acres of Land, Thrown
Open to Settlement
Hearst News Service.

Dallas, S. D., October 5.-What is
expected to be one of the greatest pub
lie land lotteries ever conducted by
Uncle Sam had it's inaugural today,
when the land offices here and at
other towns in the vicinity were
opened for the registration of the
thousands of home-seekers eager to
take a chance on securing a home in
the Rosebud Indian reservation Eight
hundred thousand acres, divided into
quarter-section farms, will be disposed
of by this lottery. 1t is expected that
not less than 100000 persons, and
probably more, will register between
today and October II, in the hope that
their names will be drawn from the
wheel of fortune at the drawing begin
ming on October 10. Judge James w.
Witten, chief law officer of the United
States general land office. is in charge
of the opening. Thousands of people
are pouring into this and the other
registration towns daily and almost
super-human efforts will be required
to prevent suffering and lawlessness.
Persons who desire to be registered
for this drawing must go to the towns
of Chamberlain, Dallas, Gregory or
Presho, in South Dakota, or to
O'Neill or Valentine, in Nebraska, be-
tween today and October II, and there
sign and swear to an application for
registration which will be furnished
by the officer administering the oath.
An application for registration must
be delivered by the applicant by mail
in person or otherwise, to Judge Wit
ten either at Dallas or Gregory, S. D.,
not later than 4 p m, Saturday, Octo-
Der II. Drawing will take place on the
following Monday, October 10, at Dali
las.
These lands embrace $4,000 acres,
portion of which have been allotted
to Indians. and are located on the
south line of the state of South Da-
kota and adioin the lands in Gregory
County, which were opened in 1904,
They are very desirable for farming
and stock raising purposes, and SINH
lar lands in adjoining counties are
selling 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, 100000 peo-
pie having been registered.
From present indications the Trip
County opening will be even larger
than the Gregory registration, since
much larger area of lands are 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
imposed hardships on applicants fol-
registration have been eliminated. A
the Gregory and former openings ap
plicants we're required to appear il
person and stand in line. often for {
considerable length of time, until Off
GERS Of the government examined int
and determined their qualification
end registered them. while at tn
.fr-eent Tripp County opening no lin
Twill 1e formed, and the people will
Do permitted to send in their applica
lions by mail, or otherwise, to tn
superintendent, after they have beel
e sworn 10 in one of the towns abov
d mentioned.
+ Soldiers who served for tire
e months during the Civil War, tn
u suanish-American war or the Philip
pine insurrection will not be required
S to visit the towns mentioned for thu
u purpose Of registering, but may regis
% tier through an agent.
u The drawing to determine who o
the persons registered will have thu
right to make entry to the Rosebut
lands will begin at Dallas, October 10
! It will continue daily at the rate o
l. from 1900 to 1000 names until 6,00t
have been drawn.
If an applicant draws numbe
smaller than 4,001 he will be notified
70 appear at some date, probably il