The evening times., 1911-08-12
ALREADY ARRIVE
F0R THE OPENING
Minot Begins to See Advance
Guard of Those Who Want
to Register For Land

Minot. N. D., Aug. l2.-Minot today
is the scene Of big crowd of land
seekers who have arrived to register
at the opening of the Fort Berthold
Indian reservation, which will begin
at midnight tomorrow. Every incom-
ing train during the last twenty-four
hours has been filled with the land
hungry. The hills skirting the city
are lined with covered wagons of those
who have come across the country to
save the railroad fare, and the hotels
and boarding houses are filled to over
flowing.
Judge Witten gave his instructions
as to the manner in which the
crowds are to be cared for
at meeting of the Ward county no.
taries last night. The government Of
ficials are taking every possible pre-
caution to prevent repetition of the
troubles that occurred at several land
openings in the middle west. Accord
ing to the instructions OF Judge Wit
ten, all persons will be required to
register at one place, where adequate
police protection will be furnished.
About fifty notaries, who will assist
the applicants to make out the appli-
cation blanks and will take the ac-
knowledgements, will be at the regis
tration building and night and day
from August IA until September the
registration will continue.
The government officials have asked
the assistance of the police department
of Minot in handling the crowds. Chief
of Police Elmer j. Smith has appointed
score of special deputies who will
be on duty night and day during the
registration period. Sheriff Ed Kelley
has also enlarged his force. Similar
arrangements have been made at the
other registration points. At Place,
the nearest point to the reservation,
Deputy Sam Stafford has been placed
in charge of the crowds, and Sheriff
James Dolan of Mountrail county has
detailed several assistants to assist
Mr.. Stafford. Several Ward county
deputies have been sent to Ryder, the
second registration point in this coun-
ty, and word from Bismarck states
that the police officials Of the city and
the sheriff of Burleigh county are CO.
operating to preserve order.
United States Commissioner George
J. Smith of Plaza was in Minot today
comforting with Judge Witten regard
ing the opening. I'VE expect about
10000 people to register at Plaza
said Mr.. Smith. 1.-TWO coaches of i'm
migrants came In today, and every
train is bringing in large numbers
Many prospective homeseekers are al
ready camping on the reservation
which is only mile and a half from
the city. We expect about 1000 peo-
pie to register Monday, and are max
ing arrangements to take care of as
high as 5000 visitors in Plaza day
States Attorney A. L. Miller of Noun
trail county will make his headquar-
tefs at Plaza during the registration
and several deputies have been as-
signed to our city by Sheriff Dolan."
Although the first man to register
has no advantage over the last man
who files his application, there prom
1ses to be considerable rivalry among
the applicants for the honor of being
the first to register. The appearance
Of Lucky Bob st. Henry. who will
make flights In his Curtiss bi-plane al
the Minot fair grounds on the first
and second registration days, In the
opinion Of the government officials
will make the first two days the bust.
est at the Minot headquarters. Al
Bismarck the attendance at the regis.
tratlon will be increased by the fact
that the state Industrial exposition
will be held during the registration
period under the auspices Of State
Agricultural Commissioner w. G. Gil.
breath.
The plan decided upon by Judge
Witten in his conference with the no.
taries last night provides for cen.
tral place Of registration. When the
applicant enters the building, he will
confront cashier to whom he must
pay twenty-five cents, the notarial fee
The cashier will give him an appli.
cation blank and an envelope, ad.
dres1ed to the superintendent at Minot
N. D. The applicant will be asked t.
state on the blank whether he Is @
qualified entryman, citizen Of the
United States or has declared his in.
tention to become one, that he does