Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1878-11-21
EDWARD Y. FOSTER, EDITOR.
Land for kegl. ar Army SOldi RS.

The soldier~ at Fort T"ttrn are arxi' Us
to make entries Of homesteads upon gov
crn,ncnt lands 50 thar when their time OF
service shall cease, they may have a place
I" settle down, aud in company ",th> me
good woman enjoy III. m~elves in peace
and plenty, rewarded bv gifts "f Motmr
Ea'th Last Saturday Va presented to the
land tticers at Fargo the applications "I
a couple of the soldiers ut T"ttcn, for
t"mesttads upon lands near JancstnN II,
but The d. cisi"n of the land officers, (t'sey
having II" instruction from the C"mmis
sioner of the General Land Office. A.
Washington, t" the contrary) is that
parties taking land by h"m'st'a ad or pre-
cmrti"n, must live either in pers II, it"
singlc man, or their families, # married,
upon the land required by law and that
q soldier serving in the regular army, is
not by reason Of such service excused from
actual residence upon the land # this
be SO soldiers cannot take government
homesteads or pre- emp'ions> except they
arc married. and move their families
upon the land, and keep them there to'
the period required BY law. Gen: j f:
Davis was allowed to enter and prove up
on a soldiers lu mestead, but We were
informed that his family actually resided
upon the land claimed. This is in our
opinion manife>tly unjust to the men
serving in Our army and navy, di>tran
ing American citizens OF their rights, and
We hope way may be found to remedy
the difficulty by Congress ~ the coming
session.
That no decision has been made by the
Commissioner of the General and Office,
to the Effect that soldiers could take land
without residence, is quite sure; as a
gentleman Of our Acquaintance showed us a
letter f'om his attorney at Washington,
whom he had instructed to make inquiries
upon this same subject. The letter says
that no d, cision was made by the Com
missioner as was claimed, allowing soldiers
to take claims without residence, hut in
an interview, the Commissioner expressed
the wish that some way could be provided
whereby soldiers who had served five
years, could be given homestea,ls without
residence upon them.
Soldiers ca:not take any claim, except
tree clam. One tree claim of 100 acres
can be taken on every government section
no granted to railroads. except sections
16 and SO in each township which are
school sections. In taking tree claim
the laws do not require residence, but
requires the breaking of five acres Of the
land within one year from taking the
claim, an additional five acres within two
years. The first Eve acres must be cult
vated the second year in trees, either by
transplanting young ones, or by planting
tree seed directly in the place where they
are expected to gov. The second five
acres must bc planted the third gear in
like manner, and the whole plantation
must bc kept in thrifty growing condi
tion for eight years.
There will undoubtedly be move in
Congress tho coming winter to pass bill
giving both veterans Of the war Of the
Rebellion and soldiers in the regular
service more privileges in the matter Of
lands than they now have. Until then.
those interested must possess their souls
in patience.