The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-06-03
From the st. Louis Democrat.
Graduated Lands,

There are incur city at this time, hun.
dreds of emigrunts in search of homes for
themselves and their friends; hardy, earnest,
iuboring men, whose honest and upright
conduct is an honor to any county or State.
These people have arrived amongst US with
small means, usually just sufficient to pur.
chase q small tract of some of the cheap
lands in the State. There are others, how.
ever. who wish to make iarge investments
of their means. Both classes are at once
surrounded BY persons who insist upon To-
eating for them large quantities of fine ag-
ricultural, pine and mineral lands, all for
l21 cents per acre. Some operators even
60 so far Us to state that lands can be en-.
tered under the graduation act, without the
necessity of making Improvements upon the
lands SO entered, within any specified time.
For the benefit Of all, we pronounce this Ii
be untrue. We will state The real c6ndi.
tion Of this business in order that every
one can act unders,andingly: The act of
Congress graduating and reducing the pri-
ces of public lands to actual settlers, was
passed on the ath of August, 1854. The
act was intended to provide for the poor man
a good homestead at q low price; and in or
der to make an entry under it, it was and is
necessary for the party to make oath that
they desire the land for their own use, for
actual settlement and cultivation. Many
fraudulent entries having been made OF the
graduated lands. the department Of the Uni.
ted States determined that no titles should
be confirmed until proof was made that the
lands so entered were cultivated or improv.
ed as contemplated by the act, and that il
such proof was not produced within one
year from the date Of the entry, that all
proceedings had in the case should be can.
ceIled, and the laad restored to the public
domain. This decision created great deal
of futtering end agitation amongst the land
speculators who feed upon the vitsIs OF the
people, and by some legerdemOin proceed:
| "6S u"oNhSA oSb VI SVuktCoo WeS poSeeu
confirming all entries of graduated lands
made prior to the date Of the oct, (sd March,
1859 We presume, that it is under this
last act that many claim to be able to make
locations without the necessity Of cultivation
and improvement. Here; however, are the
instructions issued to the land officers BIZ
the commissioner Of the general land office,
under this very act.
Annexed 10 . copy Of the "Act Of Con.
gress, approved Match 8. 1857, to confirm
certain entries Of land therein named, be.
ing, in fact, q Supplement 10 the act of 1864
fst. "The effect OF this act of 1857
is to confirm all entries under the gtadud:
tion act Of 1854, made prior to the act U
March 3, 1857, In which the affidavit has
been made in the form or substance contem
|, plated by the instructions to the register
and where the purchase money has been
paid, excepting where 'fraudulently or eva,
siyely madej' or which, on that ground, hat
been anhalled ai1d vacated.
, We afe enabled by this enactment 10 re.
lease all entries from the beginning of sales
under the graduation sct to the Sd March
1857 not falling under the exceptions men
toned, and if there are any impeached ca
: ses, not yet transmitted to this Office, yov
will forthwith report them.
I'd. This act Of March ., 1867, however
! has no application whatever to sny entrieI
mace sab'e9ssna 10 itS passage.