Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-09-22

| meeting held on Tuesday evening at
the Commercial Club hall for the pur.
| pose Of listening to the remarks OF
Judge Witten, who Is the officer in
charge of the opening Of the Chey-
enne River and Standing Rock Indian
| reservations, registrations for the
drawing for which, are to be made at
Bismarck commencing October 4, and
lasting up to and including the 23rd.
Judge Witten was introduced by
President Cochrape of the Notarial
association, and opened his remarks
by assuring those present that he
had the success OF the opening at
heart and would do all in his power
to have everything pass off as smooth
ly as possible. He stated that it was
matter Of great Importance to the
two states as the distribution of ap-
proximately 10000 farms would mean
an increase of between 1000 and 50,-
900 people in North and South Da-
kota. !, Judge Witten called attention
to the large number of people who
are living on rented farms in the
east who were giving up from one
third to one-half Of their time to
working for the landlords, and stated
that the fact was gradually growing
upon them that it would be better
for them to be their own boss and
that as this would be one Of the last
OF the big openings, there would be
many OF them that would turn their
attention to North Dakota during the
next monh:
Mr.. Witten said that he desired to
impress. upon the notarias the fact
tina! they were in serious business
and that the distribution OF so large
q Number of farms meant a great
deal to the people of the country.
Speaking Of the number of people
who would be in Bismarck to regis
ter he said that from former openings
and judging from the number Of in
quiries that had been received up to
date, that there would be at least
5000 applicants here. and he would
not be: surprised to see the total run
between 49, 900 and $4,000. He said
that the people who will come to reg.
lister will he Of the better class
those who are really. desiring to I'M
prove their condition and are taking
advantage of this Opportunity to do
SO. They are people who e<e herne.
hungry, who are seeking for place
Of their OWN and are class of people
Who will be credit to any part of the
country they decide to settle in. In
this connection he stated that it would
probably be the greatest chance for
the tpeople OF this part of the country
to exploit the possibilities of the
state that ever has or ever will be
offered to. them. Most of the appt-
cants. are making the trip to investi-
gate the conditions and the fact that
there is chance to register is mere
ly incidental to the trip. It will be
made, by the great majority. merely
business trip and the chance for
here will be better than a fair or other
exposition AT Gregory, S.. D., four
years ago the real estate men did a
thriving business as result of the
large number of visitors. and Mr.
Witten suggested that an exhibit of
the resources Of the country be made
here during the time Of the registra-
ton, so that the people may carry
away a good Impression of the city
and county they have visited. The
notaries are a great factor In the
creating of a. good impression, and it
is UP to them to do all in their power |
in this direction.
. In speaking of the plan for the al
ioting Of claims, he gave a brief his
tory of the openings that have been
held in the United States in the last
twenty years. Before the opening OF !
the Oklahoma strip there had been
no great demand for lands and it had
been the rule to simply announce the
opening and In the course of time the
people would move onto the claims
and prove up, and there was little or
no trouble. but twenty years ago the
demand for the, cheap land became
greater. and in order to avoid con-
fusion the land department decided
the one first settled had a right to
parcels Of land. It was decided to
have an opening day ANA hour and
then all could make grand rush and
and the first settled had right to-
the land. Mr.. Witten said that for
four years after that opening he was
in. the land Office and was supposed
to be deciding points Of, law but was
really acting as q Judge in a horse
race, as the man with fastest horse