The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-04-02
Timber on Western Prairies.

doubtedly sign, when it will become q
law. 1t is of especial interest to the
honest traders and settlers on the
frontier, and we therefore print it in
full. The bill reads:
AN ACT to amend the act entitled
"An act to encourage the growth of
timber on western prairics."
BE it enacted By the senate and house
of representatives Of the United States
of America in Congress assembled.
That the act entitled, "An act to ell
courage the growth of timber on west
ern prairles," approved March Sd.
1873, be, and the same is hereby
amended so as TO read as follows: That
any person who is the head of family,
or who has arrived at the age of 81
years, and is citizen of the United
States, or who shall have filed his de-
claration of intention to become such.
as required by the naturalization laws
of the United States, who shall plant,
protect, and keep in a healthy condi-
ton for eight years. forty acres of tim
her, the trees thereon not being more
than twelve feet apart each way, on
any quarter section of any Of the pub
lie lands of the United States, or TWEEN
ty acres OH any legal subdivision of
forty acres, or one-fourth part of any
fractional subdivision Of land less than
forty acres, shall be entitled to pat
ent for the whole Of the quarter-sec-
tion or of such legal subdivision Of
such eighty or forty acres, or fraction
al subdivision of less than forty acres,
as the case may be at :hc expiration of
said eight wears. on making proof Of
such fact by not less than two crcdi-
| bic witnesses. Provided. that not
more than one quarter of any section
shall be thus granted; and that no per-
son shall make more than one entry
under the provisions of this act, I'M
less fractional subdivisions of less than
forty acres are entered, which. in the
aggregate, shall not exceed one quar-
| tcr-scction.
Sec. >. That the person applying
for the benefit of this act shall, upon
application to the register of the land
district in which he or she is about to
make such entry, make affidavit before
the register or receiver, or some ofli
Ger authorized to administer oaths in
/ the district where the land is situated,
who is required by law to use an offi-
cial seal, that such entry is made for
/ the cultivation Of timber; and upon
! filing said affidavit with said register
and said receiver, and on payment of
$40. he or she shall thcreupon be per-
mitted to enter the quantity of land
/ specified; and the party making an ell
try Of a quarter section under the pro-
visions of this aci shall be required TO
break ten acres of land covered there
by the first year, ten acres the second
year, and twenty acres the third year
after the date of entry, and TO plant
ten acres of timber the second year, ten
acres the third year, and twenty acres
the fourth year after date of entry.
A party making an entry of eighty
acres shall break and plant, at the
! times hcreiubcEorc prescribed, one
half the quantity required of party
who critters :. tuarter-section, or pro-
portional quantity for any smaller
fractional subdivision: Provided, how
ever, That no final certificate shall be
given or patent issued for the land as
entered until the expiration of eight
wears from the date of such entry: and /
! if at the expiration of such time. or at
any time within five years thereafter, /
the person making such entry, or if he !
or she be dead. his or her heirs or legal
representatives, shall prove by two
credible witnesses that he or she or
they have planted, and for not less
than eight wears, have cultivated and /
protected such quantity and character
of timber as aforesaid, they shall re-
ccive a patent for such quarterscction |
or legal subdivision of eighty or forty
acres of land. or for any fra ,tional (
quantity of less than forty acres as /
herein provided. And in case of the
death OF person who has complied
with the provisions of this act for the
period of three years, his heirs or legal
shall hava fha ont
to comply with the provisions of this |
act and receive AZ the expiration of
eight years, patent for 100 acres. or
receive without delay a patent for |
forty acres, rclinquishing al! claim to
the remainder.
That il, at any time after the filing |
of said affidavit, and prior to the issu /
ing of the patent for said land, the /
claimant shall abandon the land. or
fail TO do the breaking and planting re-
quired 10y the act, or any part thereof. /
or shall fail 10 cultivate, protect and /
keep in good condition such timber, 4
then. and in that event, such land shall /
De supJcCt 10 cHtTl uuuei tue HUNT
stead laws. or by some other person |
under the provisions of this act: Pro- 1
vided. that the party making claim TO /
said land. either as a homestead settler 4
or under this act, shall give, at the /
same time of filing his application,
such notice TO the original claimant as I
shall be prescribed by the rules estab-
lished bv the commissioned of the gem
eral land office. and the rights of the .
parties shall be determined as in other /
contest cases.
Sec. 4. That each and every person .
who. under che provisions OF the act .
entitled, IAN act TO secure homestcads .
to actual settlers on the public do
MAN," approved May Goth, 1862, or
any amendment thereto, having a
homestead on said public domain. who,
at any time after the end of the third
wear of his or her residence thereon,
shall, in addition to the settlement and
improvement now required by law.
had under cultivation, for two wears,
one acre of timber, the trees thereon
not being more than twelve feet apart
each way, and in good thrifty condi-
fion for eacl, and every sixteen acres