The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-06-08


In general answer to many special in
quIries, We state the following facts:
l. The larger portion of the unilaprovcd
uncultivated soil in the United States
including nearly all that of the states o.
Kansas Minnesota, Mishigan, Missouri
Nevada, Oregon, Nebraska, and Califor
hia, as also ct all the territories, is still
the property of the Federal Union, and
known as the public domain.
2. While much of the domain is sterile,
rocky, mountainous, and thus unfit for
cultivation, large proportion is facile
ana excellent, including thousands OF
square miles which, being treeless and
and very thinly grassed, have been ac-
counted desert, but which prove quite
productive when reclaimed by irrigation.
3. AS a general rule, any part of this
domain not already granted to or Occu-
PIED by private owners, is open to settle
ment by any one. He who 4" squats on
tract to whici h has no title is regard
ed AS holding it by pre-emption. He
as ct course liable to be, but seldom is,
disposed by a bona file purchaser.
1. The government profers quarter
section Csc acres to any one who settles
upon {; tract to which no adverse title ex-
lists, erect> a habiiaticn, and lives on it
for five years. He has to pay for papers
and legal formalitics required, about $50
IN all. This is called making a home
stead.
D. Congress has, from time to time,
made extensive grants of land to states
and companies in and Of the construction
of railroads through the public domain.
These crsnts are usually of alternate sec
tons ("r square miles) for a certain dis
fance on either side of the projected rail
road.
6. The alternate sections reserved BY
the government are double in price; and
he who settles on these and proceeds to
mcguire home under the homestead act
is allowed bat eighty instead of the usu-
al one hundread and sixty acres.
Z. The genera! price OF the public lands.
Is Sl.23 per acre, or 500 for $50 acres
The alternate sections rcserved by the
government along the lines of the rail
road are held at double price, or $3.50
pe.' acre.
Z. The railroad companies generally
cha &c more for their alternate sections :;
but Is the government land IS held at
s2.'g per acre, and eighty acres may be
acquired by settlement for less than 20,
the governments sections are likely to
have the preference.
y. II is decidedly advisable that those
who have means should buy their lands,
either of the government or of the rail
roads. II precludes all controversy as
TO the due performance o. the homestead
requirements, gives an instant and per
feet title, and enables the owner to sell
convey,go and come, lease or rent, with
out peril Of creating an adverse title or
inva!idating his own
III. College scrip Is extensively u .ed in
purchasing by those who wish 10 econo-
mize. In 1863, congress granted to each
state quantum of public lands proper
toned to its representation in that body,
IN aid OF education in agriculture and the
useful arts. College scrip represents
these grants, and is generally procurable
by settlers at 81 per acre. In large guam
titles, it is sold somewhat lower. A war
rant or scrip calling for quarter section
will buy 100 acres but it will not buy
30 acres of the reserved alternate section
along the line 9th railroads. OF these
reserved sections, $50 acrec.can be bought
n one tract with $500 in cash and $50
..cres warrant or scip. With this excep-
ton, pre-emptors can always use college
scrip in paying for government mot
railroad company's) lands. By act of
congress Of July LIST, 1870, the scrip is
made receivable from pre-emptors in all
the states and territories, without any
limit, the same military or soldiers land
warrants, thus saving to pre-emtors about
$40 on each quarter section But spec
ulators who buy or hold SCRIP in large
quantities are not allowed to locate more
than three sections Tor square miIes) of
that scrip in any one township. This is
10 prevent the monopolizing of large
tracts by means Of scrip. With cash. or
soldiers warrants any quantity may be
purchased Of the government at the fore
going rates without pre-emp,ins OK set
Ting them.
II. No one can legally locate, whether
with cash or scrip, Il quarter ection ac-
tually in possession, by legal soccupancy
and residence Of a settler. though he has
NV l''siN ssuu ooSS uot W IdN IOT
II. But this principle does not apply to
the alternate sections granted to railroad,
which do not recognize pre-emptions.
y. quarter-section of public lands is
not necessarily regular quarter of some
designated section, but may be made up
of twoeighties or four forties forming one
compact body, through these were parts
OF different manifestations technically
considered.
Such is the substance of the laws and
regulations governing the acquisition of
public lands by individuals, as we under.
stand them. We trust thiscompilation an
swers most of the questions addressed
to us whereto we are unable to give spe-
cial replied.
A WHALING INCIDENT ArMoSrEREY.-I
The Monterey Democrat gives the fol-
lowing description of the narrow escape !
IF the crow nf n W ha IL. boos . shn., go,