New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-28
CHANGES IN THE PUBLIC LAND LAWS.

TtFIts on THE PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TO GROW TIMBER on THE WESTERN PllARiiS-
AMENDMENT TO THE HOMESTEAD ACr-IHE
RIGHT TO TRANSFER PRE-EMPTIoSS OR HOME
STEADS.
frpou THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
WAsHINGToN, March 11.-Three bills more
important to settlers the public lands OF the United
saes than that have before passed since the Home
stead act became laws during the last hours Of the SEES
sion of Congress Just closed The first is an act 10 en-
courage the growth timber Western praires, and
ia the first measure OF the kind that has ever been
adopted by Congress The following is It's full text:
BE enacted That any person who shall plant, protect,
40 acres OF timber the trees thereon not being
than eight feet apart each on any auarterseG0n
OF any the public lands OF the United states snail De
ened 10 a patent the whole of said quartersecon
the expiration OF said i've years on m1S proof Oh
rd that only onequarer in any section shall De thus
granted. - a.. ,.o q. -. ,,,.
act shall upon application TO the Register VI the Land
Office in which he or she Is about 10 lnaks sueh ehuy
make affidavit before said register Or receiver t9' saa
entry made for the cultivation OF tlmDer ana upon
fling said affidavit with said register aud receiver ana
ON payment OF $40, he or she shall thereupOn be per-
united to enter the quantity OF land specned: Pr0raed
hocsrer I9at no eGESatg 5 of fe e I five Years
from date ~ such entry; and II az me eNpIa-
ton OF such tme or at any time within three years
thereafter the person making such entry, or II he
or She be dead. mis- her heirs legal representa-
she they have planted and for not less than five years
have cultivated and protected such quantity ana char
for such quarter-sect0n OF land. . -
g. That II, at any time after the ming OF sad ann
dayt and prior the issuing Of the patent for said
land shall be proven, after due notice To the party
making slch entry and claiming 10 cultivate such TIM
her 90 satisfaction Of the Register of the Land
Office that such person has abandoned or failed TO cu
tvste protect and keep in good condition such timber.
them and IN that event, sad iand shah revert 10 the
SEC T. That each and every person who under the pro-
visions OF an entitled IAN act 10 secure homeseads to
actual settlers on the public domain" approved May 20,
is62 or any amendment thereto having homestead
| On said
OF residence thereon, shall have had under
cultivation. for years, acre of timber the trees
thereon being more than eight feet apart each way
and in good thrifty condition for each and every 10
acres OF said homestead SHALL upon due proof OF SAID
by credbe Witnesses receive MS or her patent
for said homestead
SIC s. That no land acquired under the provisions OF
tins act SHALL any event, become liable 10 the salts
faction any debt debts contracted prior ~ the 49,
SEC 6. That the Commissioner OF the General Land
Office is hereby required TO prepare and issue such rules
and regulations, consistent with TINS act, as sha De
and proper to carry Its PROVISIONS INTO eject
Land Offices shall be entitled TO receive the same com.
peusaton any lands entered under the provisions OF
this act that they are now entitled 10 receive wheh the
same quantity OF land is entered with money.
SEC That the nth section of the act entitled An
United States iOr other purposes" approved March
D. 1857, shall extend to all oaths alrmatlons and am
dayits required or authorized DF this act
The second of these bills relates to soldiers home
steads and its object is fully explained its preamble
Whereas BY act Of Congress entitled IAN act to enable
honoraby discharged soldiers and sailors their widows
and orphan children acquire homesteads on the pub
Inc lands of the United States approved April 1872,
and by the amendment thereto approved June 1874 t
ia provided that said soldiers ana sailors their widows
and orphan children shall have the right to enter home
seads OF leo acres each upon what called and known
as double minimum" lands or lands within the limits
OF railroad land grants and
Whereds Many soldiers aud sailors had prior the
said and the amendments thereto entered
homesteads within said limits, not exceeding so
each and unable, under the terms OF said act aud
amendment, and the rulings of the General Land Office.
10 avail themselves of the advantages Of entering 100
acres OF said double minimum" land aud,
Whereas, Sufh dSdlnsI tho pioneer
soldiers and sailors is unjust therefore,
Re "a enacted de-, That section OF the act entitled
"An act 10 amend relating to soldiers and sailors
10 read as fOlows That any person entitled under the
provisions OF the foregoing sections TO enter home
stead laws quantity OF land less than loo acres shall
be permitted TO enter much land when added 10
the quantity previously entered shall not exceed 100
acres.
The last of these measures of especial Importance
colonies which settled about to settle upon
the public lands Under the present law preSWptor is
not allowed to sell ALLEVIATE in any portion OF
his homestead until he has secured full title to it after
a residence five years. In several of the Western
States and Territories colonies have been formed and
towns built up before any OF the inhabitants have re-
sided on their preGmpons than two three years
but they have not been allowed to set apart any OF their
hands, for public purposes The law referred TO
gives them this privilege Its text is as follows:
BE IL enacted, de-, That any person who has already
settled hereafter settle on the public lands oil the
United States either by preempOn or by virtue OF the
homestead law any amendments thereto, shall have
right transfer by warranty against his or her own
acts any portion OF his her said presumption home
end Tor chnrch cemetery or school or for the
right OF OF railroads across such preemptlOn or
homestead aud the transfer for such public purposes
shall way yltiate the right TO complete aud perfect
the title TO their preemptiOns or homesteads.
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