The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-03-14
Settling On Public Lands.
In general answer to many special i


ouiries, we state the following facts:
l. The larger portion of the unimprov-
ed. uncultivated soil Of the United States
including nearly all that of the States Of
Nebraska, Nevada and Oregon, as also
of all the Territories, is still the property
of the Federal Union, and is known as
the Public Domain.
.. While much of bis domain is sterile,
rocky. mountainous, and thus unfit for I
cultivation, a large proportion is faclle !
and excellent, including thousands Of
square miles which, being tree)ess and
very thinly erased, have been accounted |
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 occupied
by private ownerS.is opened to settlement
by any one. He who ''squats'' On
tract to which he has no title is regarded
as holding it by Presumption. He is of
course liable to be, but seldom is, dispos-
sessed by bona fide purchaser.
4. The Government profers quarter
section (l60 acres) to any one who settles
upon tract to which no adverse title or
claim exists. crects habitation, and lives
On it for FIVE years. He has to pay for
the papers and legal formalities requir-
ing about $50 in all. This is called max
ing homestead.
5. Congress has from time to time made
extensive grants of land to states and
companies in aid of the construction of
railroads through the public domain
These grants are usually OF alternate
sections Ter square miles, for certain
distance en- either side Of the projected
railroad.
6. The alternate sections reserved by
the government are doubled in price; and
he who settles on these and proceeds
to acquire home under the Homestead
act is allowed but eighty instead of the
usual 160 acres
7. The general price of the public lands
is $l.25 per acre, or 5000 for l6O acres.
The alternate sections reserved by the
government along the line of railroads
are held at double price, or $3.50 per
acre.
s. The Railroad Companies generally
| charge more for their alternate sections :.
| but. as the Government land is held at
| So. so per acre, and eighty acres of it
may be acquired by settlement for less
than $50, the governments sections are
likely to have the preference.
| 9. 1t is decidedly advisable that those
| who have means should buy their lands,
either Of the Government or the Rail-
roads. 1t precludes all controversy as to
! due performance Of the Homestead re-
! quirements, gives an instant and perfect
title, ard enables the owner to sell and
convey, go and come. lease or rent, with
out peril Of creating an adverse title or
invalidating his own.
TO- College Scrip is extensively used
In purchasing by those who wish to econ
| omlze. Congress. ten years or more ago,
granted to each State ouantum of Pub
lie Lands proportional TO its representa-
ton in that body, in aid of Education in
| Agriculture ard the Useful Arts. Col
lege Strip represents those grants, and is
generally procurable by settlers at 81 per
acre. In large quantities it is sold some
what lower. A warrant or scrip calling
/ Tor quaTter-section will buy 100 acres !;
but it vii not buy so acres of the reserved
alternate sections along line of railroad.
| OF these sections 160 acres can be bought
in one tract with 5000 in cash and one
| 100 acre warrant or scrip. With this
exception, pre- emptors can always use
College Scrip In paying for Government,
| mot Railroad Company's) lands; but
who buy or hold scrip in large quantities
| are Tot allowed to locate more than three
sections, or square miles, Of that scrin in
| any one township. This is to prevent
the monopolizing Of large tracts by means
of scrip. With cash, any quantity may
be purchased Of the Government at the
foregoing rates.
II. No one can legally locate, whether
with cash or scrip, quarter-section ac-
tualy in the possession, by legal occupancy
and residence, of settler, though he has
not paid and does not mean to pay for it.
Bat this principle does not apply to the
alternate sections granted to railroads,
which do not recognize pre- emptions.
-. A quarter section of public lands is
not necessarily regular quarter of some
designated section, but may be made up
of two eighties or four forties forming
one compact body, though these were
parts Of different quarter sections techu.-
cally considered.
Such is the substance Of the laws and
regulations governing the acquisition of
public lands by individuals, as they under
stand them. We trust this COMPLICATION
answers most of the questions addressed
to US whereto We are unable to give spec
Ial replies.
SILENT INFLUENCE Eve are touching
our fellow beings on all sides They are
affected for good or evil by what we are,