The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-08-24
MANY SOUTHERNERS FILE
SPECIAL TRAINS CARRY HUN.
DREDS OF HOMESEEkERS.
Registration Affidavits Will Be Drawn
From Huge High-Fenced
Platform.

Mlnot.-That the Fort BerthOld land
opening is attracting attention in the
South is exempliied by the fact that
almost daily chartered cars filled with
anxious land seekers are arriving in
Minot, the chief point of registration.
Special cars have arrived from Mis-
souri,. Iowa and Nebraska during the
past few days with homeseekers.
Among these delegations have been
many representative men of the com.
munities from which they anne Some
of them have been extensive farmers
and others have represented the labor
ing element.
A notable feature of the registration
is the large number of former Ameri-
cans from Alberta and Saskatchewan
who are declaring their intentions to
again become citizens of the United
States and are registering for a chance
in the land lottery. Many of these
went to Canada several years ago and
have been unsuccessful and are now
returning to make this their perma-
nent home. Thirty-seven came in on
one train from the north.
Judge James w. Witten announces
that any person yer the age of six.
e years who possesses good intelli-
gence may act as an agent for an old
soldier. The belief has been prevail
ent that it was necessary for a party
to be eligible to make homestead en-.
try or Of age, but this was an CHROME
GUS idea. 1t is a p~erceptible fact that
practically every land seeker from
Kansas has had an affidavit for an old
soldier. Several hundred old soldiers
have written to the post Office and also
to the Commercial club to know
whether or not they could secure an
agent for them, and as a result, prac-
tlcally all Of the men and women of
the city of Minot have been solicited
to register for a veteran. The soldier
must make affidavit to the effect that
the name of his agent was written in
the blank before he swore to the aft.
davit and that makes it necessary to
secure the agent before the apers are
mailed from Minot.
1t is an absolute fact that the ma.
jority of the land seekers who come
here are not satisfied to return home
until they have an opportunity to view
the promised land, as the reservation
is being styled About twenty auto.
mobiles are kept busy daily conveying
the lane seekers to and from the res.
ervation. The post card dealers have
done a thriving business since the
registration began, and Postmistress
Mrs, }. NJ. Murphy has added three
extra clerks to the stamp department
to facilitate matters at the postofice
Regular D%ostofice hours have beer
kept since the registration began, but
all night service will be inaugurate6
the last week while the big rush is on
AS the time approaches interest is
naturally attracted to the manner ir
which the drawing will be conducted
AT previous drawings a huge cylinder
has been used. in which all registra
ton afidnvits have been placed ant
the morning Ct The 7rawing thoroughly
mlXed by revolving the large cylinder
for 80 minutes. Judge Witten has de
rided however. to construct a spacious
platform which V il lie screened in by
a fence 10 feet h:"h end Upon this plat
form viii be !iroHn all of the en-
ve!oDce containing the affidavits of the
entire registration. ord for 80 minute,
they will he mixed with wooden pitch
forks At this inncture the S-year-olt
son Of TcngrecsIran Hanna will b.
hoodwinked Ind walk into the mids
Oh the DIES and PIC. out an envelope
returning ID !rdoe Witten, and he will
announce TIE maze as drawing No. 1.