The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-20
GOOD NEWS FOR KANSAS.

By private letter from Washington
we learn that the surveyed portion of
the Usage Reservation known as the
mtwenty mile strip" is now open to set
Element, under Instructions from the In
terror Department, to the local Land
Offices, dated June 3, 1863, the material
portions of which we quote below:
/" 1st. That the said resolution is de-
signed to protect and secure the rights
of bona fide actual settlers-citiZens of
the United States. or who have declared
their intentions, where such settlement
claims may be duly proved and paid for
at any time prior to the 10th of April,
1871, the period of Limitation fixed in
the aforesaid resolution, except where
a valid adverse right exists. la
"2d. The late Secretary of the Into
rior, under date November 8, 1867, ruled
that in virtue of the acts of Congress
approved March Sd, 1868, and July DC.
1865, the Leavenworth, Lawrence and
Galveston, and Union Pacific Southern
Branch railroads were entitled to the
odd numbered sections along the line of
their routes which fall within the tract
of country coded by the first article of
the treaty with the Usage Indians of
place restricted to ten miles additional.
'sThe Department decides that the
aforesaid ruling of Sth November, 1861,
is of controlling authority, and conse-
Quently that the rights of said compa-
NAMES are protected by the last proviso
of the aforesaid joint resolution.
"The withdrawal for the above named
roads, viz: Leavenworth, Lawrence Il
Galveston, and Union Pacific Southern
Branch, was made by letter of January
2lst, 1868, and became effective from
February 4th, 1868, the date of its re-
ceipt at your office.
"Therefore the lands thus withdrawn
and awarded by the Secretary's decis-
ion, are to be regarded as set apart for
said companies, with the exception of
any such tracts on which actual settle
ment may have been made prior to said
withdrawal. Such prior settlements of
this class being protected by the act of
9th March, 1854, for the relief of set
tiers on lands reserved for railroad pur-
poses .-sta
"The 10Th and 36th sections are re-
served by said resolution for school pur-
poses, aud are to be respected accord
ingly, having due regard, however, for
the rights of settlers coming within the
terms of the resolution of March Sd
1857, (stat. vol. 2, page 254,) wherein it
is provided that where settlements are
made upon any portion of such 18th and
36th sections p1ior to survey, the settler
shall have the right to purchase the
tracts settled upon or occupied, AS if
such sections had not been previously
reserved for school purposes"
1t will be seen that anyone, no matter
if he has exercised the right of pre-
emption, who settles upon this land can
obtain the same, by proving settlement
and cultivation, and paying $l.25 per
acre cash, prior to April 10th, 1871.
The only excepted portions are sections
16 and SO which are reserved for COM
mon schools, and the odd numbered
sections along the line of L. L. 81 g.
and Z. p. s.. b. railroads. The reserva-
ton for railroads only affects Neosho
and Iabette counties, while all the land
except school land, in the southern part
Sedgwick, Butler and Greenwood, and
the northern part of Howard, and nearly
all of Wilson counties is open for settle
ment.
This will be good news for the hun
dreds of settlers now on the land, and
for thousands of others who are await
ing this opportunity. We are person
ally acquainted with large portion of
this land. and we unhesitating1y state
that there is no better In the country.
1t is well watered by such streams as
the Neosho, Verdigris, Fall River, Wal
nut, Whitewater, Little and Big Arkan-
sas. These all have numerous branches,
nearly ali of which are well timbered,
and whose. valleys, varying IN width
with the size Of the streams, are as rich
as any in the State.
Tie great bulk of these lands lie west
of line running south from this place
and this is the direct route for the vasl
tide of immigration which will soon
settle mp this magnificent domain
Witsin three gears, the seat of empire
sI this State qciU be an the Ne0sh0 Q1l0
Cottonsoood rGlleys. Mark the predie.
tom Bancroft d Co.'S Real Estat.
Register. ls - ses so