The true Democrat., 1854-05-09
Right of Pre-emption within the
 Railroad Reservation.

In another column will be found a very in- teresting letter from RoBT. w. JOHNSON upon this subject and also the PUBLIC NOTICE of the commissioner of the general land office, to the various land officers in this State.
 The land office in this city, and, we presume, all the land offices in the State, are now open for settler to come forward and prove up their pre-emption rights and to enter their lands Under the present circumstances, when so much of the public lands are reserved from sale in this State, this law is one of the most i'm portant and useful ever passed for the benefit of our citizens Thousands of them have been by the grants of land for railroad purposes. robbed of their rights of pre-emption This law restores their rights and gives them the power of securing their homes
 By reference to the letter of Robt. w. John son and the notice of the commissioner, it will be seen what steps are necessary to be taken by the settler The register of the land office at this place has informed us that he has received the notice of the commissioner and that his office IS now open to the pre-emptor within the reservations of railroad land.
 How long these reservations will be continu- ed, and therefore, how long this law will be in force, none can say. At the next meeting o1 our Legislature action will be taken upon the surveys now being made, and so soon as the land granted to the State for railroad purpose. 1 lDo .4 l. of reservation will expire. With the expira. ton of the order of reservation also expires this law and all the rights of the settler to entel his land.
 Promptness then in proving up his pre-emp tion and payiny for his land is absolutely de. manded by the provisions and conditions of the law. "1He settler must prove up his rights, ono pay tor tue land betore t is released from reserva ton, and unless sopaad for, the right to any pre- eption is lost to the settler, and his oct ceases hove ony .torce or eject.
 The only hardship that resulted from the grant of land to this State for railroad purpo ses, and its reservation from sale, this law, sug gested by Gov E. N Conway and passed by R. W. Johnson, in great measure removes
 Those actual settlers who are dependent upor the soil they cultivate and yetwho had neglect ed to secure title to 1t from the government can now do so by promptly proving their pre- emption rights and paying for the land at the ordinary minimum price.
 When the lands along the contemplated line, of railroad were withdrawn from sale great out cry was raised that it effected inuriouslv the rights of many honest but poor settlers and consequently the rights and interests of the State In this cry and in the bitterness witf which it was made against the Governor fo having procured the reservation, the great ad vantages of railroads were entirely lost sight of Even the originator of the grant was made t( suffer for his sharei in the matter. A call of tn, Legislature was loudly demanded that tn, lands for the State might be selected and tn, remainder exposed to sale
 But the sequel has shown that, for the actu al settler, the reservation has been blessing and for the State, the grant has been of tn.
  greatest benefit The lands of the settler have been preserved from sale, and after giving hin a years time to raise the means to enter them his pre-emption rights have been restored, while for the State, the most liberal means have beer supplied to enable her to construct railroad, from her northern to her southern, and from her eastern to her western boundaries.
 In calling attention to the letter of Senate, Johnson and the notice of the commissioner we add the wish that every paper in the State will give them circulation and direct the attention of the people to the importance of the matter Ignorance of the passage of this law and of the necessity of early steps to secure their lands would result very fatally to many of our citi- zens.