The sun., 1910-06-12
The Land I.ottery.

.
six tracts. in all 2SS. .s0S acres, Of Indian
lands IN Minnesota renews the discus
sion Of the question Of allotment. that
has been growing in interest as the pub
llc domain has been decreasing. The
present method by lottery has not
proved entirely satisfactory: the objec-
tons urged against It at first seem
stronger to-day than ever. Il obvi-
ously discriminates against all others
than those living in the immediate yicin-
ity Of the land Office.
The most historic as we'll as the most
picturesque land opening was that Of
Oklahoma. Atagiven signal at noon on
April -. 1850. thousands Of land seekers
who had been lined up along the
border made a nlsh for coveted quarter
sections In theory the swiftest won
the prizes, but actually many Of those
who had made the race found on
arrival at their goal that thev had been
anticipated by some sooner who had
been in hiding. Many Of the town lots
Of Guthrie and Oklahoma CITY. u was
found. had been captured by people
who had come into the Territory the
night before Litigation followed, and
for long time after the first grand rush
there was scarcely a valuable plot Of
ground IN the Territory that had not two
or more claimants. The questions Of
ownership we're after a number Of wears
finally settled by the courts.
Il was evident that at the next great
opening. that Of the Cherokee Strip.
another method mus, be- adopted. The
lot'ery plan was accordingly put into
effect. Il has since been used in every
allotment Of public lands, and bv means
Of Il much valuable property has been
distributed
No long As the tracts 10 be opened were
large enough TO give every one who
registered az least an even chance Of
securing a piece Of land the Injustice
II the system was Dot especially appar-
ent. But when the tracts we're small |
and the number registering was large
the hardship wrought on those who /
lived a. distance was evident. A
striking instance " this was the dis
trbutlon last March of ~ farms near
Yuma. tal The land Office where anv
one wishing TO share in the allotment was
required 20 register Was al Los Angeles.
30 many of the residents of that city and
ITS immediate neighborhOod registered
that the chances for persons who came /
from elsewhere hoping 70 profit bv the |
drawing were small.
This same difficulty nov arises in
the allotment of the Minnesota lands.
The CAS- Lake land Office. which is I
IN the largest II the tracts. is not far
from a number n good sized towns.
while the Fond du Lac Office il in Duluth.
and the reservation itself is but an
hours ride distant. II is a pleasant
days excursion for Duluth people to
go TO Cas- Lake 10 register. or il time
- lacking they can participate in the
Fond du Lac distribution, whether by
lottery or not, by stopping az the
registration Office on their way to busi-
ness. The ambitious home seeker who
Is drawn from distant States by the pros
pect of the free lands must paw railroad
and hotel expenses 10 have an equal
chance.
IL has been suggested that the unfair
ness Of this system could be- overcome {
by permitting registration under proper
regulations at different points through !
lut the United States. The disadvan- Z
ages II this plar are apparent when one
considers the number Of people who /
would be- attracted by the 'ure of some o
hing for nothing Il tnv element of dis /.
ance T".e thus eliminated. On the 1
Ehole the giving away Of land is not such a
simple matter as il might seem, and !,
hus far no one has been able % find a !
ystem that will accomplish Il with alb
olute fairness and Impartiality.