The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-10
UNCLE SANS FARM.

A RIGHT SMART LOTT" OF KAND-FoUR HUN
DRRD MILLION AcRBs-rHB Nh HOMESTEAD
LAW.
A Washington dispatch to the New York
Sun Says: The Committee on Public Lands
Of the House of Representatives, in a recent
report say that the whole arabic public land
remaining, after deducting mountains, aka
line plains, sand and sage deserts,
swamp lands and shoal lands, rail-
road grants, &C., can not exceed
three hundred and fifty to four hun
dred million acres. There was taken ND by
homestead entries alone last year nearly
four million acres, and as our population in
creases this yearly amount will also increase
and at so rapid n rate that in less than CEN
fury the whole arabic land of the govern
ment will be absorbed by settlers. Although
it has been the beneicient intention of these
presumption and homestead laws to afford
cheap homes to the people, yet both laws
and especially that which allows presumption,
have been perverted from their original de-
sign and have been made the instruments
whereby spectators have obtained
large areas of land and hold
them unimproved. waiting until the
neighboring improvements of industrious
settlers may advance their value and
afford profitable sale. In limited degree
present homestead law. To correct these
abuses, to insure to every one who wants it
a home, to prevent frauds on the national
government, and to bring under improve
ment the public lands, is the object of the
bill reported by the committee. 1t repeats
the presumption laws, except that it allows
incohate titles under them to be completed
according to their provisions. It also sub
stitutes for the present homestead law an
entirely new one, retaining all the best
features of The existing law, and adding
others that the experience of the working of
that law seemed TO require. 1t does not in
terfere with the soldiers and sailors home
stead law.
IT'S NEW FEATURES
are as follows:
1t requires actual settlement and cultiva-
ton for dive years, after which, on due
proof thereof, the settler can obtain a title
to the 100 acres of land, the whele cost of
which will be $40 on entry Of the land, and
IS on the final proof II, however, the set
Ter wishes to obtain title earlier than in
five years he can do so at the end of
eighteen months on payment of the mini
imum price of the land.
The bill exempts spine lands" with min
eral, coal, and saline lands heretofore ex-
empted, in order to save the vast tracts of
valuable pine timber to the Government,
that are now destroyed under the present
laws, without insuring settlement or culti-
Walton. 1t extends to minor heirs, at the
death Of their parents, the right to continue
the parents settlement with the consent
of the guardian, and allows widows, after
settlement and before entry, to make entry
in their own name. It provides for the de-
termination Of controversies where two or
more persons have settled on the same quar-
ter section or smaller legal subdivision
also that vacancies in the Office of register or
receiver shall not prejudice claimants as to
m QCf "a chr ont
of their claims. Among other provisions, it
allows tho purchase by cash of small tracts
OF forty acres for sites for mechanical, COM
mercial or manufacturing purposes, after
one years occupancy thereof, and provides
that all the United States reserved lands
within the lateral limits of railroads shall be
held at .the double minimum price of $3.50
per acre.