Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-01
will not be found on any but the nev

IN a rev months the railroad VIII
pass near by and by the time she
has proved up IN her claim, which
means that she has lived Of it for at
least fourteen months and has made
the improvements required by the
government, her farm will be worth
a good sum, even if she desires to
sell it as soon as the title Is hers.
In opening these two counties the
government first surveyed the land
and divided it into sections and quar-
ter sections. To every Indian at the
head OF a family there was allotted
a half section Of land and to every
Indian child a quarter section. The
indians were given the first choice
and have the best land, but a great
deal Of the land which was left Is
first-class. Values were placed on
each tract and maps were distributed
showing this survey, with the lands
taken out for school purposes.
The best of the land is in Mellette
county, the Bennett county land be-
ing mostly grazing land. at a distance
from any town. White River, the
county seat of Mellette county, is sit.
uated on a beautiful level plateau ov-
erlooking the Little White River, and
surrounded by wonderfully rich ter.
ritory. OF farm land. 1t is the trading
point for nearly all the Indians in the
central and western parts Of Todd
and ..Mellette counties and it is also
the point to which the railroad will
doubtless come within the year. AT
present it is reached by stage or auto.
mobile, thirty-two miles from Murdo
Mackenzie on the north and sixty
miles from Winner on the southeast.
During the choosing of the land
this little town, SO new that the paint
was scarcely dry On it's first buildings,
accommodated a thousand people in a
space hardly adequate for 200. Peo'
pie came and went each day. Some
of them located as soon az they had
chosen their land, started ont with
their goods and building materials,
which they had brought with them.
built their sod or wooden houses and
began life as homesteaders.
Others went back home to come out
again later, for Uncle Sam gives each
homesteader six months before he
must be on his land. But during all
this coming and going, in spite of the
lack of accommodations everywhere,
there never was a better natured nor
a happier crowd than the one on
White River. Everyone knew every
one else with the true pioneer spirit,
and such i~ntroductions these were
heard on every side dozens. of times
a day.
Got a number?'
when do you file?"
We'll, | hope youll have good
luck" 4,
perhaps we'll be n%eighbors. Let
me see now, where are you from?"
ooh, yes: well, my name u.s." etc.
The town was surveyed about two
years ago and the first few houses
built in July, 1911, but it grew to its
present size within a few months. TO
those of us who came out from the
east, where towns L nothing If not
a hundred to a hundred and fifty
Wears old, this building of a town
over night fairly took OH breath
away.
When the filing began White River
boosted a dozen locatOrs' O;ces, nall
a dozen hotels and boarding houses.
three stores selling general merchan-
disc, a school house, a drug store. a
livery barn and a moving picture
show, and it had grown to this extent
in one short month. Before the filing
was half over the number of stores
had been doubled. Houses were pop
ping up on every side. ...
AS one woman said, ut it nothing
to go to my door at supper time and
find that two new %neighbors have set,
tied in my vicinity since noon,' SO
fast did things progress. Soon a te!e-
phone line was through and telegraph
day by stage from three directions,
White River found itself a real town
with the hustle and hustle and livali-
ness characteristic of every new west
ern settlement.
OF course when n comes to a new
country one expects to put up with
many disadvantages. Modern conven-
fences are few and pioneer life does
not include opera, the theater and
public. libraries. But one is sure of
good h2a tn, ever if there is no bath
tub for fifty miles. And for fun-good,
wholesome, genuine fun-the
town on the prairie will furnish more
than any city at home or abroad can
boast Of. r..
Like it," repeated a girl from
Omaha, who filed on a claim in Trip
county in the southern part of the
state, three years ago.. Like it? Why,
nothing could make me go back to
Omaha to live. | love it. have my
little shack fixed up with my own
things and last year l raised twelve
different kinds of vegetables and the
best hay in the country. l have my
own soddle horse and sOon | am going
to have an automobile. Like it?
Well. you just come out and try it.
l have yet to see anyone who doesn't,
like it after he's been here for six
weeks
Any number of young women are
living alone on their claims during
the fourteen months necessary 20
prove up. Some Of them are v talk
ing five years for their demonstrating,
and in this way they have a longe.'
time to make their payments to the
government. The five years have lust
been shortened to three years, and
doubtless many OF those who have
filed will take advantage of this and