Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-14
SOLDIER CHANGERS.
FORMATION of an Association to Secure Lam

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 8 o'clock P. NJ, Col. J. H
Davidson again took the chair, and opened
the proceedings by explaining to those who
had not been present at the 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. 81. Wood, chairman of the COM
mittee 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:
ex-soldiers, held in this city, April 9th, 1878,
for the purpose of ascertaining all the require
ments Of the soldiers homes law, necessary
to enable soldiers to act with full information
in availing themselves of its benefits, beg leave
to make the following report:
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 being correct. The
soldier or seaman, may, either by agent or
attorney, Through power of attorney or per
sonally, file his declaration at the
local land office, to make a home
stead of any surveyed lands of
the government, not otherwise reserved, to the
extent Of l60 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 certified copy of his honorable dis
charge from the army or navy, and pay the ad-
ditonal fee of 1913, and personally enter upon
and commence Improvements on the land; OF
he may file all papers at once, pay the fee of
500, 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-
aiming the land is to be added, which Of
course will be light.
The time served in the army or navy will be
deducted from the FIVE years residence, or set
Element required by the law, but in case will
he receive the patent for the land, until he has
resided upon and improved it for period of a
least one year. AS to what constitutes a 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 mOnUnS at any one UlIne, may LOIlelI Ills
rights. Yet it is 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 as 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 $685. 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 the case Of d soldiers widow OF orphan chill
dren taking d homestead. If the soldier was
killed or died, or was discharged for disability,
before his term of enlistment 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 Sc
cure the benefits of the soldier homestead law,
for the widows and orphans Of our deceased
fellow soldiers, as many of them are ignorant
Of the law and would be greatly benefited by
availing themselves of it's provisions.
We further suggest that it would be expedi-
ent to invite ex-soldiers throughout the State
to hold meetings and form temporary organi-
cations FOR the purpose of comforting with us
for the object Of obtaining information as to
good locations, good lands railroad rates, and
economy of expenses in making locations, as
such information is most available at the CAPT
tai of the State. Railroad officials have in
formed us that they are now doing all they can
in the way of reduced fare for all new settlers
and should our movement result in getting q
number Of ex-soldiels to locate together, very
satisfactory special arrangements will be made
E. n. WOOD, Chairman Com.
The report was accepted and filed fol-
further action.
Mr.. G.. w. Anderson then made verba
report of the proceedings of the COMMITTEES
appointed to gather information from the
various railroad land Offices. He said they
& Sioux City, Southern Minnesota, and St
Paul & Pacific railroads, and found thai
there wore in all cases excellent farming
lands still open for settlement, the authori
ties assuring the committee they would affort
every facility to the organization, both il
the way of granting free passes to commit
tees Of investigation and generally in assist
ing the location of a settlement.
This report was also accepted by the meet
ing.
Capt. Wood then said that in order t.
have the action of the meeting receive re
liable form some organization ough
to be perfected, that Col. Taylor and himsel
had discussed the matter, and he had pu
their ideas in brief document. He the1
read the following scheme of organization;
SOLDIERS HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA
Until some other form of organization sha]
be provided, we, whose names are hereto at
tached, do hereby form an organization, to
known as the Soldiers Homestead association
of Minnesota.
Our object shall be to obtain and furnis
reliable information to ex-soldiers and seame
Of the United States army and navy, of on
own State and elsewhere, in regard to good lc
cations for homesteads in our State, and sue
other information pertaining thereto as may b
desired; and to furnish to nonresident e1
soldiers and sailors, whenever oppo1
tunity Offers reliable information q
to the superiority of Minnesota q
an agricultural State. Any honorably discharge
soldier or sailor may become member of thi
association by signing these articles of organ
zation, such other may be hereafter pro
vided. The officers of the same shall consist c
apresident, vice president and secretary, and
committee of seven, who, with the said officers
shall constitute an executive board upon whol
the management Of the entire affairs Of the al
ISOLATION shall devolve until otherwise pre-
vided. The stated meetings, and the annu;
meetings for the election of officers and NAL
ing reports, shall be held at such time an