Daily globe., 1878-04-15
SOLDIER CHANGERS.
OF an Association to secure Lar

Formation OF an ABSlIC1AttOn 20 8eCUJo Land
Claims.
The ex-soldiers held an adjourned meet
ing, according to notice, at the old court
house last evening, the assemblage number
ing some forty or fifty.
At precisely s o'clock P. NJ, Col. J. 81.
Davidson again took the chair, and opened
the proceedings by explaining to those who
had not been present at tho last meeting the
objects aimed at and the reolutions then
passed. He then called upon the committee
appointed last week for their report.
Capt. e. II. Wood, chairman of the com
mitteo instructed to inquire into the mooted
points of the homestead, law read the fol-
lowing written report, who stated that the
statements therein contained were derived
from direct application to the general land
Office at Washington:
Your committee appointed at meeting Of
ex-suldiers, held in this city, April 9th, 1878,
for the purpose Of ascertaining all the require
ments Of the soldiers homestead law, necessary
to enable soldiers to act with full information
in availing themselves of its benefits, beg leave
to make the following report:
FIRST.
The statements hereinafter made in regard to
the law are derived from the authority of the
general land Office at Washington direct, and
may be relied upon as being correct. The
attorney, (through power of attorney or per
sonally, file his declaration at the
local land office, to make home
stead of any surveyed lands of
the government, not otherwise reserved, to the
extent of 100 acres, by paying the land Office
fee of 50. The declaration will hold the land
six months, but within this time the soldier
must file his application and affidavit of ser
vice. with q certified copy of hin honorable dis
charge from the army or navy, and pay the ad-
ditional fee of $l8, and personally enter upon
and commence improvements on the land; OF
he may file all papers at once. pay the fee of
$40, and commence his Improvements at his
option, completing thereby the preliminary re-
quirements of the Law. The nominal expense
of making out the necessary papers and of ex-
amining the land is to be added, which of
course will be light.
SECOND.
The time served in the army or navy will be
deducted from the FIVE years residence, or set
tlement required by the law, but in no case will
he receive the patent for the land. until he has
resided upon and improved it for period of
least one year. As to what constitu es resi-
dence, the intended meaning of the law is
plain and decisive, and will not permit eva
sions. The soldier must enter upon the land
in person. and make his improvements, accord
ing to his financial ability, no specified amount
being required, and an absence exceeding
six months at any one time, may forfeit his
rights. Yet it ia evidently the policy of the
government to protect the homesteader to the
extent of his evident good faith in making and
maintaining his homestead. At the expiration
Of the residence required, the soldier files an
affidavit accompanied by an affidavit of two re-
sponsible persons an to the time of residence,
and extent of improvements, and pays the
final fee of SO at the land Office, making the
total fees to the government of 1913, and re-
ceives his patent for the land.
THIRD.
The law provides that the lands shall not be
liable for the payment of any Judgments OBJ
tanned or debts incurred prior to the issuing of
the patent to the soldier.
FOURTH.
Similar requirments and proofs, are required
in thu case of o soldiers widow Or orphan chill
dren taking homestead. If the soldier was
k lied or died, or was discharged for disability.
before his term of enli stment expired. the full
term for which he enlisted, will be allowed to
apply on the time Of residence required on the
land.
In addition your committee beg to suggest
that each of us should use every effort to &C.
cure the benefits of the soldier homestead law.
for the widows and orphans of our deceased
fellow soldiers, as many of them are ignoran'
of the law, and would be greatly benefited b,
availing themselve, of its provisions.
We further suggest that it would be iexpedi-
ent to invite ex-soldiers throughout the State
to hold meetings and form temporary organi.
cations for the purpose of comforting with III
for the object of obtaining information as tt
good locations, good lands railroad rates, ane
economy of expenses in making locations, al
such information is most available at the capi:
tai Of the State. Railroad officials have in
formed us that they are now doing all they cal
in the way of reduced fare for all new settlers
and should our movement result in getting |;
number of ex-soldieis to locate together, yer,
satisfactory special arrangements will be made
E. 81. WOOD, Chairman Com. s.
Capt. Wood then said that in order K
have the action of thu meeting receive re-
liable form some organization ought
to bv perfected, that Col. Taylor and himself
| had discussed the matter, and he had pu1
| their ideas in brief document. He the1
read the following scheme of organization;
| SOLDIERS HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA
| Until some other form of organization shal
| be provided we, whose names are hereto at
| tached, do hereby form an organization, to b'
known as the Soldiers Homestead association
of Minnesota.
| Our object shall be to obtain and furnish
reliable information to ex-soldiers and seamer
| of the United States army and navy, of Ou
owa State and elsewhere, in regard to good 10
cations for homesteads in our State, and sucl
| other information pertaining thereto as may b.
desired; and to furnish to nonresident OK
soldiers and sailors, whenever oppor
| tunity offers. reliable information a
to the superiority of Minnesota a
an agricultural State. Any honorably discharged
soldier or sailor may become a member of thi
association by signing these articles of organi
| cation, or such other as may be hereafter pro
vided. The officers of the same shall consist Q
a president, vice president and secretary, and
committee of seven, who. with the said officers
shall constitute an executive board, upon whom
the management of the entire affairs of the as
sociation shall devolve until otherwise pre-
vided. The stated meetings, and the annup
meetings for the election of officers and mab
ing reports, shall be held at such time an
place as the executive board shall hereafte
designate in their bylaws.
Capt. Starkey suggested some sligh
amount for entrance fees to meet what itt]
incidental expenses in the way of stationery
location of claims, ETC., that the organizatio
might incur.
The following officers were then elected
President, Capt. O'Connor; Vice Presiden
Col. Taylor; Secretary, Capt. Wood; Eyecr
tive Committee, Capt. Starkev, Major Bech
Mr.. Geo. A. Wells, Col. ]. II. Davidson, NJ
G. w. Anderson, Mr.. M. Muller and Mr.. !
; II. McCloud.
Themeeting then adjourned.
!, IMMIGK4rION.
Getting tho Machine Into Working Ort1c
The committee appointed by the immigr
ton commissioners to complete unfnishe
business, met yesterday morning in the Go
, ernor's room.