The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-16
RUSH FOR HOMES
IN THE NORTHWEST
Approaching Opening of Three
Fine Reservations Attract
ing Big Crowds
ONLY SMALL PERCENTAGE
CAN SECURE GOOD HOMES
Spokane, Occur d'Alene and
Flathead Reserves Held
Land Sought.

SPOKANE, July 15.-From 10000 10
10000 red, white and blue envelopes
are being dropped in the postoffices at
Spokane, Coeur 'Alcnc, Missoula and
Kalispell today, addressed to 'FJames
W Wittcn, Occur d'Alene, Idaho
Each blue envelope holds the appica
tion of some man who wants farm IN
the Spokane Indian reservation-the
red and white envelopes call for land
in the Occur d 'Aicne or FIathead re-
serve. Every week day until August
this rush will continue; bat the man
who takes the oath on Sunday forfeIts
his chance.
AT midnight about thirty early en-,
thuslasts, hoping TO coax luck by being
the very first. hurried 10 take the oath
before the notaries and started the APP
phcatIons on their way. But the real
rush began early this morning: and all
day crowds have been coming. Tonight
it is estimated 1000 will have registered
in Spokane alone, There Is no strife.
no disorder and with tho $50 notaries
and their assistants the work is mov-
ing forward rapidly and smoothly. The
total cost for each application is %
cents potaTy's fee and two cent
stamp.
Crush at Occur d 'Alene.
Coeur d d'Alene reports that 600 apph
cants registered there up to ] clock
this morning. The rush of homeseekers
threatens 10 more than double the pop
ula:ion Of that Idaho town. In spite
of 1000 extra cots pleaced in store.
rooms yesterday, finding place to eat
or sleep may be a hard problem by Sat
urday when the first crowds from rhe
east come IN from Missoula and kalis-
poll.
In Superintendent Witten's office.
twelve assistants are receiving and
asserting the red, white and blue en-
velopes. each class being put in a. big
metal box bY itself. These boxes viii
he constantly under guard until the
drawing takes place next mouth; and
j. from August 3 TO August 9 they are
to be under seal.
Realizing that If 100000 people ap-
Ply for lands in three reserves more
than 10000 must fail TO draw winning
numbers, the business men of Spokane
and other towns are shaping pleus TO
direct those who are left out to vacant
homestead lands in other directions,
both eastern and western Washington
where hundreds may find homes.
Results of First Day.
\ the close of the first day Of regis.
tration for the Spokane, Couer d 'Alepe
and F'lathead reservation lands. it is
estimated that 2S,000 applications have
been fled.
Of these 10000 arc nj Spokane, TO-
600 al Couer 'Alene. 1000 at Missoula
and 1000 at KulispelI. No accurate
account is possible. rs some notaTies do
not keep any record of the applications
sworn to before them,
It is possible that the first days
registration is heavier than il VIII be
on any one of the succeeding nineteen
days, as many persons seemed possessed
of an idea that there was some advan"
iage In being first,
In all tho cities where filings are
taken, the hotels are crowded TO over
flowing, and many temporary sleeping
places have been fitted up,
The ma lority OF the applicants from
the east look like well-todo farmers
or sons Of farmers. There has been
10 disorder aud the police are Keeping
close watch for crooks. Thousands OF
the land filcrs are from eastern points
and the railroads report many thou
sands vet coming.
From all parts Of the inland empire
there arc applicants and the coast ter
ritory is sending a large quota.
DR., Charles i. Koch Of Chicago
claims the distinction Of being the first
TO file at Missonla. a noticeable fea-
turc is the optimism of the visitors, all
expecting 10 draw prizes. Yet the
chances of success may be seen when II
IN estimated that there will he not
less than 100000 applications, while the
aggregate of hornesteads III the three
reservations is less than 5000,