The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-29
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The Recent Decision Of Secsy Schurz-
Abstract OF the Present Land Laws =
The Number Of Acres Open to Settle.
mont

The Number Of Acres open to Settle.
ment.
ALLUD1NG to Sec Y Schurz' recent de-
cision that all the unsold lands donated
by the Government to the Pacific Rail-
road Company shall hereafter be open
to pre-emption and private entry, at
the rate Of S1.25 per acre, the Chicago
Tribune says:
This will open to private purchase
about 70, 600, 900 acres of land at 1925
per acre. 1t is supposed by many that
these are the only lands now obtaina-
BILE, or that are open to occupation by
purchase, presumption, or under the
Homestead or Soldiers laws. As so
much is said about the inability of
poor men to get lands, we give as q
matter of Information an abstract of
the Land laws as they now stand. To
understand this the better, it should be
stated that in all the grants of land to
railroads the Government retained each
alternate section of land, which Sec
tons are now and have always been
open to purchase and presumption at
$3.50 per acre. There are several
modes of obtaining Government lands:
O) BY purchase, by "private entry"
or location; (2) location by land scrip;
(3) by pre-cmptions; (D by entry UNI
der the Homestead law; (O by entry
under the special homestead provis-
ions in the case of soldiers of the late
war. The proceedings in these cases
are as follows:
l. Any person having selected the
land he desires makes written applica-
ton therefor, describing it. If this
land be of the character open to private
entry, his application is recorded, and
he pays the purchase money, S1.25 per
acre, and receives patent therefor.
Under this form the quantity is not linn
tied, and there are no restrictions as to
occupation or cultivation.
2. Congress has granted at various
times land to States for colleges and
other institutions, and scrip has been
issued therefor, which may be located
on any land subject to private entry.
The warrant or scrip is accepted in
place of the cash at the rate of $1.25
per acre.
5. The presumption privilege is re-
stricted to the heads of families, Wild
ows or single men over twenty-one
years of age, citizens of the United
States, or who have taken steps to be
naturalized. This ri ght extends to 100
acres at $1.25 per acre on general pub
lie lands, or at $3.50 per acre on the
alternate sections of land along the
railroad routes. The person must go
upon and occupy the land, and within
three months file a declaration of his
purpose to purchase that quarter Sec
ton, and within thirty months, or two
years and six months, thereafter, must
file proof of his occupancy and settle
ment and pay the price thereof in cash.
In case the settler dies before maturing
his claim, all his rights succeed to his
widow or heirs. Actual settlement is
the essential feature of this privilege,
there being credit of thirty-thrce
months for the purchase money.
4. The Homestead law gives the right
to enter, free of charge, on any land
open to purchase, 100 acres; he or she
must be twenty-one years of age, the
head of a famil y, citizen or intending
to become one; he must declare that
the entry is for his or her exclusive
benefit, and for actual settlement and
cultivation. At the end of five years
settlement and cultivation, upon proof
thereof and payment of the office fees,
the person is entitled to a patent there.
for. The applicant for q homestead
can select 100 acres of any land, the
cash price of which is S1.25 per acre
or he may take eighty acres of any Of
the reserved land, the cash price o.
which is $3.50 per acre.
5. AL the provisions Of the Home
stead law are extended to every soldier
and officer of the army who served MOI
less than ninety days during the late
war, and who was honorably dis
charged; the difference being that he
may select 16O acres of land, including
the reserved lands, the cash price O
which is $3.50 per acre, and the time o
the service in the army shall be deduct
ed from the period of five years, re
quired in all other cases of homestead
for settlement and cultivation. TIL,
benefit of this law is extended to tn,
widow of a soldier, if unmarried, or
in case of her death or marriage, thu
minor children may enter the home
stead. If the soldier died during tn,
term of his enlistment, then the widow
or children shall be entitled to the ben
eft of the full term of the enlistment
The total fees and commissions to b.
paid in case of a homestead is S1S, o
which 81 are paid when the final Ger
tificate is issued.
From these particulars it will be seer
that any adult person may pre-emp
any portion of the public land to the
extent of 100 acres of land held at 81. 2!
an acre, or eighty acres held at S2.5(
per acre, and pay for the same, withou
interest, at the end of thirty-thre,
months after taking possession.
Or, under the Homestead law, every
adult may enter 100 acres of 81. % land
or eighty acres of $3.50 land, withou
cost, on the condition of cultivating ant
occupying the same five years.
Or soldier, or the widow of soldier
or the minor children of soldier, Cal
enter 16O acres of either description O.
land, and have the term of service in thu
army deducted from the five years. set
Element or cultivation. Land may b.
entered for homesteads by duly ap
pointed agent. Lands acquired under
the Homestead law are not liable fol
debts contracted previously.
The objection is urged that there is
no land now open for settlement under
these laws, and that all the good lands
have been taken up. This is not true.
The Tribune then goes on to show
that there are nearly 100000 acres
of public lands in Kansas alone, open
under the Homestead law, in farms OF
16O acres, free of cost, or open under
private entry at 81. rs per acre for cash,
or under presumption, in farms of 16C
acres, at $1.25 per acre, with thirty
three months credit without interest.
In addition, there are 100000 acres
of State lands for sale on ten years
time, and 100000 acres of railroad
land on eleven years time. All this is
! in the one State of Kansas. In Ne
braska, Minnesota and Dakota, the
lands of all kinds-railroad, State and
public lands-are even of greater ex.
tent, and, for the most part, all capa-
BILE of immediate cultivation, easy Of
access, with facilities of travel, trans.