The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-25
HOMESTEAD RELIEF.


Gr0sshopper District. E-3 :
DR.. Leonard, Register of the Land
Office, furnishes us with the following
copy Of the instructions received from
the General Land Office under the re-
cent act Of Congress, allowing home
steaders and pre-empters whose crops
have been seriously injured by grass
hoppers to be absent from their claims
until May next. The following are the
principal points: l. The law applies
only to those whose crops have been
destroyed or seriously injured. 2. The
time Of absence is not lost, that is, it
will be regarded as part of the period
required to perfect title. 3. No con-
test can be instituted against the claim
ant prior to May l, 1875. We append
also a copy Of the law:
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR
GENERAL LAND OFFICE
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 9, 1874
Registers and Receivers:
GENTLEMEN l transmit herewith
an act, entitled "An Act for the relief
of certain settlers Oh the public lands
in certain portions OF tile States of
Minnesota and Iowa.
1t is the intention Of Section | of
said act to grant to presumption and
homestead settlers q leave of absence
where their crops were DESTROYED or Sc
rlously injured by grasshOppers III 1873,
and the ravages of these insects are
again commenced in 1874.
Section legaliZes an enforced ab-
sence from Il like destruction or injury
to crops to such as may have settled in
1874.
Section 2 provides that during such
period of absence no adverse right can
attach, and that the term of absence
Shall he regarded us a part of the peri
Cd required to perfect title under the
Homestead Law and Il part of the time
pre-emptors IRE allowed for proof and
pnyment-tllat is to say, they are du-
ring such absence cOlstructiyely pres
cnt Oh their claims.
The act is not retroactive, and legal
ICES absence only between June, Is, 1874,
and May !. 1875.
This right Of absence is not available
to any whose crops are not either de-
stroyed or seriously injured. Hence,
when settler Il not actually entitled to
the benefit Of the act absents himself
from his claim, it will be construed as
in abandonment. and adverse claims
will be recognized.
Written notice Of intended absence,
signed by the party, should be filed
with the Register and Receiver when
he leaves his claim.
This is IL means Of protection to the
claimant, and is due those who might
otherwise initiate invalid adverse
claims.
At date of final proof by any party
who has awaited himself of the act, proof
must be submitted, showing the period
Of absence and its necessity. This
proof should consist of such details as
will enable you and this Office to Judge
whether the absence is justified by the
| law.
After party shall have filed notice
with you Of intended absence under
this act, no contest involving his right
to the land can be instituted prior to
May l. 1875.
II the party has made fraudulent alb
sence it will he Il matter for invest ga-
lion in the regular manner after said
last mentioned date.
All contests touching such claimants
commenced prior to June Is, 1871, may
DO proceeded with.
You will govern Your action accord
ingly. Please acknowledge receipt.
Respectfully, ;. :. BrRDETT,
Commissioner.
AN ACT for Tie relief Of certain settlers on the
| public lands in certain portions Of Minnesota
| and Iowa.
&c It c1Hct!d By tie Stnote and House
Of Representatives OF the United States
Of 4intrlru, IL CnnNrees assembled, That
it shall lie lawful for homestead and
presumption settlers on the public lands
! in the counties of Cottonwood, Mobiles,
| Martin. Jackson, Natonwan, Murray,
Rock, Lyon, Redwood, Brown, Chipe-
wa, and Rcnyille, in the States Of Min
neSota, and the count les OF Iowa which
compose the Sioux City Land District.
and counties contiguous to either Of the
above exempted sections, where the
crops OF such settlers were destroyed or
seriously injured by grasshoppers i'll the
year eighteen hundred and seventy
three, and where such grasslloppers
shall rcappear in eighteen hundred and
seventy four, to the like destruction OF
the crops Of such settlers. to leave and
be absent from said lands until May
first, eighteen hundred and seventy
five. under sucl, regulations as to proof
Of the same as the Commissioner Of the
General Land Office may prescribe.
SEC. .. That during such absence no
adverse right Shall attach to said land,
such settlers being allowed to resume
and perfect their settlements us though
no SI,ch absence Lad been enjoyed or al
j lowed.
SEC. 5. That the same exemption from
continued residence shall be extended
to those making settlements in eighteen
hundred and Seventy-four, and suffer-
ing the same destruction Of crops rs
those making settlements in eighteen
hundred and seventy-three, or any pre-
: vious year.
Approved, June IS, 1874.
INNIGRA11OS TO :0INNEsoTt.
The st. Paul Press. in all article on
immigration to this State, says:
Thus the population in the immediate
vicinity Of tie two lines Of the First
! division of the st. Paul and Pacific has
been increased from the list of January
to- June 80, 1874. by an aggregate i'm
migration of S,S07 souls. II the flow Of
emigration shall continue at the same
rate during the remaining six months
Of the year, the addition to the popu-
lation Of Minnesota within tie outside
limits of the Land Grant OF the st.
Paul and Pacific, First Division alone,
will be nearly $4,000 souls. 1t is safe
to estimate twice this number for the
Wiiona & St. Peter and the Sioux City
i st. Paul, and st. Paul & Sioux City,