The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-04-17
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Changes in the Laws
Some Matters of Interest to
Western Settlers.

Auiec OtilS ulOTc Important to IL
tiers on puolic lands Of the United
States than any that have before pass
Ell since the homrsteai act, became
laws during the last hours of the ses-
sion Of Congress just closed. The
first IL an act to encourage the growth
Of timber on the western prriries, and
ie the fret measure of thu kind thai
has ever been adopted by Congress -
The following is its full text:
SEC. l. BE it catcted, That any per-
son who shall pian,, protect and keep
IN healthy growing condition for Ave
years, 40 acres Of timber, the trees
thereon being not more thar eight
feet apart each way, on any quarter
section Of any Of the public lands Of
the United States, shalt be entitled to
.patent for the whole OF said quarter
section ut the expiration of said five
years, on making proof Of such fact by
not less than two creditable witnesses;
Provided, that only one-quarter in
SEC. 2. That the person applying
for the benefit Of this act shall, upon
application to the register Of the land
Office in which he or she is about to
make such entry, make affidavit be-
fore such register or receiver that said
entry il made for the cultivation OF
timber. and upon filing said affidavit,
with said register and receiver. and on
payment of SO. he or she shall there
upon be permitted to enter the quanti-
" of land specified; Propided houeuer,
That no certificate shall be given or
pateut issued therefor until the expir-
alton Of at least five years thereafter
the person making such entry, or If he
or she be dead, his or her heirs or le-
gal representatives. shall prove by two
creditabIe witnesses that he, she, or
they have planted, and for not less
than five years have cultivated and
protected such quantity and character
Of timber "a aforesaid, they shall re
ceive the patent for such quarter Sec
tion OF land.
SEC. 3. That il, at any time after
tho filing Of said affidavit, aud prior to
the issuing Of the patent for said land.
It shall be proven, after due notice to
The party making such entry and
to cultivate such timber, to
the satisfaction of the register Of the |
lard office that such person has aban-
doned or failed to cultivate, protect |
and keep In good condition such tim
ber, then, and in that event, such land |
shall revert to the United States.
SEC. 4. That each and every per-
son, who, under the provisions of au
act entitled IAN act to secure home
.teads to actual settlers on the public |
iomain," approved May 20. 1862. or
any amendment thereto, having a
homestead on said public domain, y no
At the end Of the third year of his or
her residence thereon, shall have had
under cultivation for two years one
acre Of timber, the trees thereon being
not more than eight feet apart each
way, and in good, thrifty condition
for each and every IS acres Of said
shall, upon due proof Of
said fact by two creditable witnesses.
eceive his or her patent for said home
.tead.
SEC. 5. That no land acquired under
he provisions Of this act shall, in any
went, become liable t. the satisfaction
# any debt or debts contracted prior
10 the issue Of the patent therefor.
Sec 8. That the commissioner Of
The general land Office is hereby re-
luired to prepare aud issue such rules
and regulations, consistent with this
sct, - shall be necessary aud proper
o carry its provisions into effect; and
hat the registers and receivers Of the
general land office shall be entitled to
receive the same compensation for
any lands entered under the provis-
ions Of this act that they are now en-
titled to receive when the same guam
ity Of land is entered with money.
Sec. 7. That the fifth section of the
sct entitled IAN act In addition to al
vet to punish crimes against the Uni
led States, and for other purposes "
March 3. 1857, shalt extend
to al, osths, afirmations, affidavits re-
luired or authorized by this act.
The second Of these bills relates to
homesteads. and its object is
fully explained in the preamble:
Whereas, BY act Of Congress enti-
tied IAN act to enable honorably dis
charged soldiers and sailors, and Wild
pws and orphan children, to acquire
homesteads on public lands Of the Uni
ted States" approved April 4, 1872,
and by the amendment thereto, ap-
proved June 8, 1877. it is provided that