News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-06-23
Homestead Possibilities of So.
Dakota
(By L. T. Cole)
Editor News and Citizen:-

| EuttW NoOo Uuu CtttNGU -
Will you kind ly lend us your edtoria
"we"? eve" desire to cover our exces
of egotism just enough to let the I STAN
prominently forth, through thin shee
of unfelt mot heartfelt modesty!
While handreds of persons, both mel
and woman, have been rushing to thu
newly opened homesteads of the Stand
ing Rock Reservation, we bethought our
selves to try our hand in the older region
of the Rosebud and Cheyenne grounds
for we had scent of big game. We hat
discovered that several earlier governor
officials had covered up some good home
steads in the old rush days. That is
they had pretended that certain goot
quarters Q6O acres) were "Indian re-
served lands", or Estate school lands
Also when 'slack" persons took quarters
and finally dropped them, these officials
and their friends kept quiet about the
drops, but referred to the old "filing'
statement as originally published when
ever newcomers came to inquire about
the lands.
When their "official' days were over,
the would-be officials said, SIT is my
business to locate homesteaders. l know
a few choice filings which are still
open. I will show them to you for 500
on the best quarters, $50 on the second
best, and $25 on the third class. IT you
do not take quarter, you will be out
only my expenses and nay reasonable
wages per diem.'' These "locating
agents" remind us of the unjust stew
ard' of Scripture.
Another fact has been helpful to us.
Homestead regulations are SO based on
treaties with the Indians that the cost of
the homestead lands, when first opened,
are not less than S. an acre, to the set
tiers, and the most desirable ones scale
up to much higher prices. But, by the
same treaties, after certain dates, the
cost per acre begins to scale down, until,
at length, it reaches zero.
SO while many years were recently
turned on new Standing Rock, we looked
to old Rosebud, and found that the acre
prices had gone down to %, 80 and Is
cents for lower grades, and to 81, $1.25,
etc., and to $3.50 for the better.
Then we reasoned that in the still
older Cheyenne tract the prices must
have dropped close to zero, and we
it no sin to profit by the sins of
the '1ocating agents" who, uninten ion
ally, had saved some "choice quarters"
for us until we should secure two of them
free of cost!
So when the smiling "agent" seated
himself unasked in our hired auto, we
let him smile and ride too. His laffy
sweetened his gall until we enjoyed it's
taste! He was glad ito see such a smart,
learned man of high character, coming
into the country! No doubt we would
'be elected to high county Office, once
we should gain residence there! They
we're in need of such mem!
But our Rosebud filing we made con-
litional and no money did we pay to any
me, not even to the government. SO on
,ur way home Ito Vermont we took a
stop off,, and visited Old Cheyenne
lust as we expected! There, long COW
red up, lay two quarter, (by exact ex-
ess survey 1926 $40 acres. BY the new
enlarged homestead law" we are allowed |
o take all this land instead, as formerly, |
icing restricted to one quarter of 100 |
ores. But our tramping over the land |
lad attracted attention. Telegraph and |
telephone wires "got busy" A rush for
he land Office! Our hired Ford auto |
Won the race. Just as we had finished
'ur filling papers,, taken the required
ath and paid the fee (uo conditional
work this time( two other parties came
Up, sat on the porch but did not "file"
or on us smile!
Thus for total money cost of $780, so in
filing fees" and the value of the six and !
ight-tenths acres of ''excess measure
nents'', we secure about Is acres of tim
er, a mile of river shore along the
,heyenne where cattle, horses, sheep
nd swine may have unfailing supplies
{ drink at all seasons of the year, 90 |
ores of rich, smooth river fats where al
alta flourishes, 10 acres of smooth table
md for grain corn, potatoes, ETC., and
he remaining half section is rolling land
lst right for pasture. A few deep,
rassy ravines afford shelter for stock
lille at pasture on the hills, when winds
low cold.
This free homestead" will be decided
} us by the Unitsd States government
hen we can prove that we, or our wife,
r both, have resided thereon seven
'onths year for three years, 81 mouths
all.
Already We have bought three old
ouses and bargained for new lumber for
he construction of a dwelling on our
claim.
Our blood was up, red and hot. So,
yo hours after completing our "home-
cad filings, we entered into contract to
ny IN tba FOL mani Milan QDn oar.s of |