AMERICAN SETTLEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3118, 9 July 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

AMERICAN SETTLEMENT.

Tiik Ol'Kju Duiiif Tiiuia.' American corres- | pondent describes briefly a ru«h for lots in j a new American settlement :—' Mora territory hd.s been thrown open to American citizens within tho past three days. Cneycnne and Arapahoe counties, i:i the State of Wyoming, were tho scene of the. wild rush and turmoil. For days thousands of men, women, and children had come from all par's of the country to form in line, and await the signal that should proclaim the land open for selection, i'jvery care was taken to guard the line of boundary, A file of soldicis a short distance Stuart extended along; its entile length. Not a 8"ill nas permitted to cross that " rubicuii." On the one h.ind,)o,ooo people were camped—tents,hut.-', shanty erection? carts, wheelbarrows, and every conceivable kind of shelter or conveyance. On the other side of the thin living line lay the Land of Promise. The people were lawabiding and orderly. The main work of the soldiery was to prevent, the " sooners" from obtaining ait unfair start. The land boomer was there with all his " rustle " and activity. Tho Indian looked on half wondeiingly, half sadly, to see this wild rush for the home of his fathers, but bis home no more. Young girl graduates were there—active, daring, coel, and determined to make a homo in a new country. All nationalities were represented, and all were animated with one common aim. Tho night before the eventful day tho scone was wild and weird. From a thousand bivouacs leaped the red flames, and everywhere around, and in every posture, sat, stood, or lay the men and women, and from tent to tent and group to group, icross canon and ravine, came laughter or shouting or song. Not a drop of liquor was permitted to be carried or sold. At 12 o' clock, to the moment, the next day tho cannon bell lowed forth the signal, carbines repeated it, and the mighty host, on foot, horseback, in cart or waggon, using whip and spur, started for the land. Th<j greatest rush was for quarter sections and town lots but throughout the wholo campaign not a death by violouco has boon recorded. This is how cities spring up in a day in tho States, but I must add, the system has many strong opponents, and the criticisms upon this method of disposing of tho State lauds are many and serious.