The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-18
Open LAND
TO SETTLEMENT
HUGE LOTTERY TO BE CONDUCT
ED BY UNCLE SAM IN SOUTH
DAKOTA LATE THIS
SUMMER.

Sioux Falls. S. d., July 1S-The next
big land upening I'm South Dakota will
take pIaceine October, when another
large section of the Rosebud Indian
reservation, lying along the South Da-
kota- Nebraska boundary line. will be
opened to- white settlement Prepara-
tiuns for the opening are being COM
pleted as rapidly as possible.
The land TO be opened lies I'm Mel
lette county, which few years ago
held it's organization election under
the direction Of the state authorities,
the supervisors of election having been
appointed by Governor Ves2ey. The
distinguishes feature of the organiza-
tion election was the fight for tenn
porary county scat OF the new county
between several new towns which al
ready have sprung Into existence in
the region which is to be opened. the
town of white River, which Is only al
few weeks old having been the sue
cessful asplrant for temporary county
seat honors.
When Mellette county is opened to-
white settlement one of the greatest
land rushes i'm the history Of the state
Is expected. The fac that numerous
rains have visited that territory this
season. when other sections have had
shortage of moisture. will aid mater
ially i'm increasing the number of land
seekers who will strive to secure|
homes there.
Open Under Lottery Plan.
The land will be opened under the
lottery plan, and several towns in the
Vicinity of Mellette county viii be
designated as registration points,
where those who desire TO secure
homesteads there will have an oppor-
tunitv to register for a chance to draw
homestead of 100 acres. II Is be-
lieved that between $4,000 and 100000
landseekers will register for chances
to secure homes.
The territory 10 be opened consists
of about 100000 acres, this being the
amount OF surplus land after the Sioux
Indians living within the boundaries
of the new county had been assigned
allotments. Last year an appraise-
ment c6minission was appointed un-I
der an act of congress to visit and in
spect every acre of land 70 be opened
and fix valuation upon it, the valua'
ton fixed by the commission being the
price which homesteaders will have
To nav for the land before they can Sc
cure title after residing by the home
The appraisers commenced work
last fall and continued in the field un-
til winter set in, resuming the work
early i'm the spring of this year ana
completing it only recently
Valued Up to Sc an Acre.
or the 100000 acres available for
homestead entry, 10000 acres or 125|
homesteads of 100 acres each, have
been appraised at from S4.75 to So per
acre; about 10000 acres, 500 quarter
sections, have been appraised at from
80 to S4 per acre. The remaining 2OO,'
900 acres, which have been classified
as grazing lands. have been appraised
at from 25 cents to So per acre.
To make 1t easier for the home
steaders who secure the land, only a.
small portion of the purchase price
will have to be paid at the time the
landseekers make entry, the balance
being divided into annual payments
extending over a period of several
years, so the payments will be no par
ticular burden upon the homesteaders
who will transform the land from .
wild state TO n high degree of cultiVa-
tion.
Those who have Travelled over every
acre of the large tract to be opened
report that land I'm Melette county
is as good as that i'm other portions OF
the Rosebud reservation which nave
been opened TO white settlement dur
ing the last few years, and which now
are among the most productive lands
i'm the entire state
Some say that Mellette county Is
better watered than any other Indian
lands which have been ceded by the
indians and opened TO white settle
ment, and that IL has more timber and
is as fertile as land that can be found
anywhere.
Railroad Line Near at Hand.
Homesteaders who enter Mellette
county Will have much better trans
portation facilities than those who
during recent years have occupied
other public land i'm the northwest. "A
railroad line already has been extend
ed almost to the eastern border of the
tract to be opened, and Immediately
after the opening II doubtless Will be
extended To the interior of Mellette
county, thus giving the homesteadors
the best facilities for shipping i'm their
household effects and other goods and
furnishing means by which they can
ship their products to market when
their land has been made to produce
crops.