The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-09
Lands for Whoever Will Take
b., e.Je VI. Them. .fr .# 81

We yesterday had some comments upor
the decision OF Secretary schurz direct
Ing that all the lands donated BY the gov
eminent to the Pacific Railroad Compa,
mics should hereafter be open to pre-
emplion and private entry at the rate o
81 % per acre. This will open 10 privat,
purchase about 100000 acres Of lane
at 81 % per acre. Il ia supposed BY many
that these are the only lands now obtaina
Bile, or that are open TO occupation BY pur
chase, redemption, or under the Home
stead or soldiers lava. As 80 much i
said about the inability Of poor men Il
get lands, We give az a matter Of iniorma'
ton an abstract Of the land laws as they
now stand. To understand this the bet
ter, It should be, stated that 10 all The
grantA Of land to railroads the Govern
'ment retained each alternate section o.
land, which sections are now and have
always been open to purchase and pre-
emp,ion atas2 so per acre. There are
several modes Of obtaining Government
lands: (l) By purchase, by "privatt
entry" or location; (2) location by land
scrip (3y By Prescriptions; t4) by entry
under the. Homestead law; (5) by entry
under the special homestead provisiona
in the case Of soldiers Of the late war
The proceedings in these cases are n
follows:
/. Any person having selected the LAND
he desires makes written application
therefor, describing It. II this land be q
the character open TO private entry, bill
application is recorded, and he pays the
purchase money 81 % per acre, and re-
ceiyes a patent therefor. Under thi4 form
the quantity isrnot limited, and there
are no restrictions "a to occupation OF
cultivation hh ,Itsl7.J tla- IL
a.. Congress has granted at varioul
times land to States for colleges and Other
institutions, and scrip has been issued
therefor, .whichymay be located on any
land subject to private entry The war
rant oriscrip is accepted in place Of the
cash at the rate Of 81 % per acre. ~
8. The pre- emption privilege ia re.
stricled to The heads ofiamiiies. widows
or single men over Fl years OF age, citi-
zens Of the United States, or who have
taken steps to be naturalized. This right
extends 10 100 acres at 81 rs per acre or
general public lands, or at 50 80 per acre
on the alternate sections Of land along
the railroad routes. The person must
70 upon aud occupy the land, and within
three months file q. declaration Of biz
purpose 10 purchase that quarter section
and within thirty months, or two Year,
and six months, thereafter, must file
proof OF bis occupancy and settlemen,
and pay the price thereof In cash. IL
case the settler dies before maturing his
claim, all his riglhs succeed TO his widow
or heirs. Actual settlement 10 the essen
tial feature Of this privilege, there being
credit Of thirty-three months for The
purchase money.
4. The Homestead law gives the right
to enter, free Of charge, on any land open
10 purchase, 100 acres; he or she mus, be
81 years OF age; the head oil family, a
citizen, or intending to become one; be
must declare that the entry ia for bis or
her exclusive benefit, and for actual set,
Element and cultivation. Al the end oil
Eve years settlement and cultivation
upon proof thereof, and payment OF the
office iees, the person is entitled to a pat
ept therefor. Theapplicant for home-
stead eau select 100 acres Of any land
The cash price Of which is 81 % per acre
or be may take eighty acres OF any o.
the reserved land, The cash price Of which
is s. so per acre. .l' lie,
s. All'the provisions Of the Homestead
law are extended 10 every soldier and
officer Of the army who served not Lees
than ninety days during the late war and
who was honorably discharged, the differ.
ence being that he may select 100 acres
Of any land, Including the reserved lands,
the cash price OF which Ia So so per acre,
and The time OF the service 10 the army
shall be deducted from the period Of five
years, required in all other cases oi
homestead, for settlement and cultivation
The benefit Of this law Is extended 10 the
widow OF a soldier, II unmarried, or in
case Of her death or marriage the minor
children may enter the homestead. IL
the soldier died during the term ot'his
enlistment, then the widow or children
shall be entitled to the benefit Of the full
term Of the enlistment. The total fees
and commissions TO be paid In 'caae of q
bomesteaH IL SlS. Of which 81 are paid
when the final certificate ia issued.
From theee particulars 1t will be seer
that any adult person may pre- empt any
portion OF The public land TO the extent
Of 90 acres Of land held at 81 25 an acre
or eighty acres held at SO so per acre, and
pay for the same, without interest, at thu
end Of thirty.three months after taking
possession. 70. ~ t'i
Or, under the Homestead law, every
adult may enter 100 acres Of 81 % land
or eighty acres Of 81 so land, withou
cost, on the condition Of cultivating and
occupying the same Ave years. - ~
Or . soldier, orthe widow OF q soldier
or the minor children Of asoldier, cal
enter 100 acres Of either description o
land, and have the term OF service In tn
army deducted from the Ave year, settle
men, or cultivation. Land may be en-
tered for homesteads by duly appoint
ed sgent. Lands acquired under th
Homsstead law are not liable for debt
contricted previously. ~ :
The objection is urged that there 10 n
land now open for settlement under thes
laws, and that all the good lands hay
been taken mp. This Ia not true. N
State has exhibited greater growth D
late years than KansAS, and We have be
fore % a statement Of the lands now ope
10 settlement In that State. From thi
we give tho following summary: ~ .'
| RsIlrood Ind, ID 20 "a yaa91 IcTet.
4, A.iopSEa 5 r. R. r landa..-.-......I $50 o.
2. KipEAs taelhe X 200 "
III Al Xmas 4 Texas H. k.........,......,". 5000
(, Mieouri biNer, etc. r. R...........t.... $50 g
s. Central Branch u =. q. h......"......'. 100 y
v t.4 1ESno