The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-15
Projection TO SETTLERS.
An End TO n Shrewd Mormon Dodge ~ omc-
stead Entries within Land Grants.

WASHINGTON. April 4.-The House yes
terday passed Mr. Pages bill limiting 10 $3.50
acres Tue area that shall be entered in any one
Instance for a town site, unless the excess
claimed is actually settled upon, Inhabited, and
used for business aud municipal purposes. The
bill also throws open to homestead and preemp .
ton settlement all lands heretofore entered I'M
der the Town Site law which did come within
the above provisions regarding entries IL excess
OF $3.50 acres.
Itseems from the statement presented by Rep
resentative Crounse OF Nebraska, who reported
the bill from the committee, tnat the existing
law has been greatly abused In tho Territory OF
Utah, where Il number of Insignificant places
have been Incorporated as " cities" and OBJ
tanned title 70 tracts of Government land, COM
prising from sixteen to forty square miles each,
as town sites" Twelve of these villages have
entered town stee OF sixteen or eighteen square
miles each, and seven OF them nave thus ac-
CURED title 10 tracts OF thirty six or forty square
miles each. Mr.. Crounse made It evident that
legislation IL needed to cut down the needesslN
those which may be created hereafter. aud 10
confirm the titles TO those lands which may
have been settled upon under the III, dmption
ana Homestead laws, where such settlement
does not interfere with any municipal need
| This il the object Of the till.
lhe following is the text Of the i'm portan bill
passed by the House Yesterday relative to home
sic ID and presmption entries within land grant
| limits The oil was passed lust as IL came from
4
soon a. Il receives the Presidents signature. II
| does not confirm. out on the contrary entirely
| reyerses the ruling OF Secretary Deano, that
| railroad grants can take effect PRIOR to the
reception at the local land Offices and notices OF
| Withdrawal:
Ben enacted &C.. That all pre6mpton and Homestead
entries or entries m compliance with any Law Of the
United States Of the puoc tnd made In good faith ny
actun settlers upon tracts 4 ands OF no more tan 100
acres each within the limits OF land grant prior
| the lime When notice OF withdrawal OF ne LANDS EN-
Draccd ia such grant received at the local land
| UIr- Ui ds,uct Ia rnch sucn lands situated
after their restoration to markct Nv OrGer OF The
| General Ian Office, and where the PtctnptlOn aud
Homestead law have Oeen compned wlth ana proper
proofs thereof have been made by the parties holding
sucn traces or parts they shall be confirmed anu pat
cuts 4 the same shall stue ~ tue parties EMIT ed
| thereto.
| SIC. That when at the time Of such withdrawal a.
afOre,aiu valid prtfmptOn homestead claims existed
upon any i4nds wlihn the limits OF any such granF
which afterNald were abandoned ana under the de
cisiun and rulings " the Land Department were r.
| entered by prccnptiOn or Homestead claimants who
have complied vita the laws governing preemplOn Ol
HOMESTEAD entries, and shall maze propr proofs re-
qureu uuder such laws, such entries IN u be crmeu
valid, patent tsue to the ptrsOn entitled thef to-
SEC. g. lhit all such presumption and Homestead en-
tries which may have IL en- M lie by permission IL,
Land Department or 10 pursuance OF the rules ana In
struouOns thereof Ntntn the nits Of any land gran
tine 81 lstquent to expiration of such grant hhal
b. detmed yalld and "A compliance with the laws, an,
tie making Of the proofs required shall entl,.e TN
holder Of the claim 10 patent therefor