, 1873-07-12
A Talk With Mr.. Davis, of the
Union Pacific Railroad.
Immense Sales of Land in Ma
braska,
Information for Homesteaders and
Pre-emptors.
Soldiers Lands--.How They Are Taken
1.-The Fees, Etc.
Nebraska, and Cost of Living.

NSUAA ASlAses atAN NosG u1 LIVING.
Spfcfa1 Correspondence NJ Tie Chicago Tribune.
GRAND 1sLANp, Neb., July q, 1872
TIE FLOW OF IMMIGRATION
to tho Wost this spring is stoady and strong.
Tho tide rolls through Lincoln to tho Ropubli-
can Valley through Nobraska City and PlattH-
mouth to the Platte; through Grand Island to
the beautiful valleys Of tho Loup River md
through Omaha up the EIkhorn and Missouri.
Train after train, londed with people not only
from eyory State in tho Union, but every nation
in Europe, goes over tho Union Pacifo Railroad
each day in the week. These drop Off ut overy
station west Of Omaha, but thousands and tons
Of thousands 60 through to Utah and tho pacilo
Coast, there to make homes for themselves and
children In O land OF sunshine and flowers.
NEDRAsKA RECEIVES A 11oA's Bl1AnE
Of tho throng Of roople crowGing westward, md
hor great valleys Bwnllow thom up as easily as
an OK would take down fly, What her 1ncroaHo
Of population will bo this year, 1t is impossible to
say but, Judging By other years, it will not fal
fur short Of 100000 souls. In 1871, Nebraska
added 40, 600 people to her population aud In
1872, ovor $4,000. Tho bost index to the increase
and value Of population in q State is the amount
Of public and private lands taken each year and
reduced to a state Of cultivation. To provo this
fact call
LII. o. F. DAVIS,
the great Union Pacific Laud-Agent, and place
him On the public witness-staud
Correspondence hIr. Davis, will you please
tell me- something about tile operations Of tho
Land-Ollee OF which yon aro tho heal?"
A1r. Davis" AL tho information you DESIRE
or call give, is at your soryice.'
Correspondent" How many acres Of the
public lands under various grants did tho United
States Government really give to tho Union Pa-
ciflc Railroad to aid in its construction 2"
Davis Divided into acres, the grants
amount to about
TWELVE MILLION ACRES.
Tint is $1,000 square milos,-a don1ain equal in
area to the States Of Massachusetts, nhodo
Island, aud Vermont, iu tho United States to
Denmark, or the combined territories Of saxony
and Hanover, in Europe"
Correspondence An enormous grant but
WHERE ARE TIEBE LANDS LocATEp?'
Davis-"Ihoy arc contained, in alten,ate Sec
tious Of Quo square mile ouch, within a breadth
Of 20 miles Oh either side Of tilo railroad. and
extend along the entire line. They are located
on and near the A1st degree Of north latitude.
and extend through Central Nebraska, Southern
include within their limits the Platte Valley,
Laramie Plains, Sout1, Loup Valley, Black Hills,
and Wahsatc, Mountains. The sections belong
ing to tho railroad are designated by tho otld
numbers, the evon-numberod SECTIONS belonging
to the Government"
Correspondent" For whnt arc the lands
valuable z"
Mr.. Davis" They are divided into
AGRICULTURAL PASTURE, MINERAL, AND TIMER
lands. Those along the platte, ,Elklorn, md
Loup Ryors arc our best farming lands: those
on tho Laramie Plains arc natural pasturo-lelds /;
those in the Black Hills of Wyoming arc ricl, in
coal aud iron deposits; and thoso in the Wal-
satch Range are heavily timbercd."
Correspondent" Where aro your best agri-
Davis" Ia Nebraska extending along on
either Bide OF tho railroad for $50 miles west Of
Omalu."
Correspondent" Since you have opened your
office, what proportion of the L. 0uu UuD acres OF
lan1 belonging. to your Company have boon sold,
aud at whlt prices I"
Mr.. Davis" Up to Nov. l. 1872, our sales
reached G5o, 900 acres,. amounting to s2,757,-
asd al odd SECTIONS. The sales Of tho Land
Department Of the Union Pacific Railroad since
the Let of November, 1872. have been very large;
but hayo not the igureB.'
CorreBpondont-'Do the eTen sections Of
THE GOVERNMENT LANps |
remain unsettled2"
Mr.. Davis" No; thousands of farmers find
homes on them eyoEy yoar, along the lino of onr
road; We do al NO can to aid in their settle
meut, and offer oyery nducemont to attract
both colonists md individuals to tho Govern
ment III VOL rs our own lai,ts."
NoMEsTEADs AND PnE-EMpT1oEs,
Correspondence Are tho Govornmant lands
taken for homcsteads under tho five years. resi-
donce law, or pre-onptcl aud paid at S1.25 aud
G2,5 per ncro1"
Slr. Davis" They are taken in both ways, bnt
mostly as houlcsteads. Sometimes u Aono-
steadcr, aftor living OIL the land n yoar or two,
aud gets his title. Being within railroad limit,
he has. If ho pre-empts, to pay $3.50 per acre."
Correspondence pIoase explain to INC tic true
moaning of tho word
'uoMEsrEAp,' THE MANNER or ENTERING, AND !
COST or OBTAINING ONE
hlr. DAYls-"I Tho word homestead means a |
farm given AWAY by tho United States Goyorn-
mont on condition tlat Tho settler will iyu upon
md cultivate the la'!d ior i've years. t con-
70 miles OH either side Of the track, or 10 acrch
IT Without railroad-lmit. ANY citizen OF tic |
United States who III tho lleul Of family, or
any unmarried person over the ago Of q. il en-
birth may avail themselves Of tho bonoAts |
Of tho Homestead law by declaring their |
Intentions to become citizens. aud tlH |
they Gun do Immediately after t1oir arrival in |
IT, ts county: poso1 wialling to eltor home.
of tho district in which Tho land he wants to en-
ter IL located, and file his application and ailla-
vit. in accordance with logul forms which will be
furnished him BY tho Land- Oflcor III Charge. A |
veying aud entoring 1and. Within a reasonable
time after making His application ut tho Lunl-
Oaloe, the Hottlcr must commence living mon
the land aud improving it, ind for 1--WE years lo
tiou Of llyo yoars, within two yaars thereafter
OF, uliing l,roof ut tho I4u,lt.- Office by two com.