The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-05-20

Washington, May Senators Gam
BILE and Crawford yesterday united in
recommending the appointment of
Loomis S. Call, of Hot Springs, S, d.,
as register of the United States land
office at Rapid City. John L. Burke
resigned this position about two weeks
ago, but the fact had not been made
public Judge Gull left Washington
for home tonight.
The above information came as a
complete surprise, not only to Mr..
Burke's intimates, but also to all who
learned of the resignation. When
shown the above dispatch Mr.. Burke
ratified it and said that he had sent
in his resignation to Commissioner
bennett of the land Office in Wash
ton April IS. Then he called to his
associate in the Office, Myron Willsie,
receiver, and said: "Myron, you might
as well be in this. The fact that
resigned several weeks ago is out. l
did it quietly and have kept it to my
self to avoid any talk and an un-
necessary scramble for the place.
Receiver Willsie looked and looked
volumes, then he smiled just one Of
his knowing smiles but said nothing.
Mr.. Burke, as soon as Mr.. Cull's ap-
pointment is approved by President
Taft, and he reports for duty will en-
ter into partnership with E. Il.
Roberts for the transaction of gen
eral land business, having purchased
half interest in Mr.. Roberts bust
ness.
Mr.. Burke came to the land office
here from Hot Springs in 1903 as re-
ceiver, while George P. Bennett was
the register of the office. When Mr.
Bennett resigned in 1908 Mr.. Burke
stepped into his place and Mr.. Will
sic was appointed receiver. During
his term Mr.. Burke has seen the bus
mess of the office double and treble
until about year ago the interior
department subdivided the district,
trict, and organizing the Belle
Fourche land district. Even this
has not made any apparent dim
unition of the work in the office here.
So anxious are people to secure land
in South Dakota that the filings are
fully on a par with the number cared
for last year, which was not only a
record year for the office here but
made it the top line office of the land
department. The number of appli,
cations and entries were 1870; num-
Der of acres entered, 92S. 1906: re-
ceipts from sales of lands, 1923, 3l7.39
During his conduct of the office
both as receiver and register, Mr.
Burke has made a host Of friends by
his unvarying courtesy and willing
hess to assist all who have come tt
the office to transact business. at the
same time he has maintained higl
standard of efficiency in the office
and has done it oft-times with mad
CludCt llclp. HNCiy oiAC wiz ho'' iie'>
occasion to do business in the Rapit
City land office will regret that JOIN
L. Burke finds it incumbent upol
him to leave. His friends have know
for some time that the work wa
wearing upon him and undermining
his health and others have also know
that lie contemplated resigning ano
putting to practical use storehous'
of practical information which III
has gained during his long service il
the employ Of the government, but i
was thought that his resignation
would be deferred until January l
1911.
Loomis S. Gull, Of Hot Springs, wh'
will succeed Mr.. Burke as register. i
an attorney who has been favorabl.
known in western South Dakota sine
1882. He came here from Wisconsin
and first engaged in the peactice o
his profession at Plankington, late
on removing to Fall River county
where he located at Hot Springs. II
was elected judge of probate an
county judge for two terms. Attorne
Gull is said to de thoroughly equip
ped for the duties Of the appoin,
ment and is popular with all classe
of people.-Daily Journal.