The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-06-08
Official Press Of King County
Saturday, June 8, 1878.
THE NEW TIMBER LAND ACT

The bill providing for the sale OF
timber lsnds on the Pacific coast has
passed both Houses Of Congress. and
probably ere this has received the
signature of the President
II provides that surveyed public
lands of the United States within the
States of California and Oregon, and in
Washington Territory. not included
within military, Indian, or other reser.
vations of the United States. valuable
chiefly for timber, but unfit for cultiva-
ton, and which have not been offered
at public sale according to law, may be
sold TO citizens of the United States,
or persons who have declared their in
tention to become such. in quantities
not exceeding one hundred and sixty
acres to any person or associations OF
persons, at the minimum price OF ~ oo
per acre; and lands valuable chiefly
for stone may be sold on the same
terms as timber lands; provided that
nothing therein contained shall defeat
or impair any bona tide claim under any
law Of the United States, or authorize
the sale Of any mining claim. or the
Improvements of any bona fde settler.
or lands containing gold, silver, CHINA.
bar, copper, or coal, or lands selected
by the said States under any law OF the
United States donating lands for in
terral improvements, education, or
other purposes and provided further
that none of the rights conferred by
the act approved July &c. 1866, entitled
IAN act granting the right of way to
ditch and canal owners over the public
lands, and for other purposes, shall be
abrogated by the act +; and all patents
granted shall be subject to any vested
and accrued water rights, or rights to
bitches and reservoirs used in connec-
ton with such water rights as may
have been acquired under and by the
provisions of said act and such rights
shall be expressly reserved in any
patent issued under said act.
1t provides in its second section that
any person desiring to avail himself OF
the provisions of the act, shall file with
the register of the proper district a
written statement in duplicate. one OF
which is to be transmitted to the Gen.
sral Land Office. designating by legal
subdivisions the particular tract OF
land he desires to purchase, setting
forth that the same is unfit for cultiva-
ton. and valuable chiefly for its timber
or stone that it is uninhabited con-
ains no mining or other improvements,
where any such do exist, save such as
we're made by or belong to the appli-
cant, nor, as deponent verify believes,
any valuable deposit of gold, silver.
cinnabar, copper. or coal; that deponent
has made no other application under
the act /; that he does not apply to
purchase the same on speculation. but
in good faith to appropriate it to his
exclusive use and benefit and that he
has not, directly or indirectly. made any
agreement or contract in any way or
manner with any person or persons
whatsosvsr, BY which the title he might
acquire from the government Of the
United States should iuure in whole or
in part to the benefit Of any person ex
ospt himself; which statement must be
verified by the oath Of the applicant
before the register or the receiver of
the land Office within the district where
the land 10 situated aud if any person
taking such oath shall swear falsely in
the premises. be shall be subject to all
the pains aud penalties of perjury, and
shall forfeit the money which he may
have paid for said lands. and all right
aud title in the same and any grant or
conveyance which he NAV have made.
except in the hands of iona tiie pur-
chasers, shall be null aud void.
1t provides in its THIRD section that
upon the filing of said statement. as
provided in tbe second section Of the
act, the register of the land office shall
post notice of such application, EN-.
bracing . description OF the land by
legal subdivisions, in his Office. for a
period of sixty days. and shall furnish
the applicant copy of the same for
publicatien. at the expense of such sp-
plicant. 10 . newspaper published near
sst The location of the premises. for .
like period Of time; and after the expi-
retiou OF said sixty days. If no adverse
clolm shall have been fled, the person
desiring to purchase shall furnish TO
the register OF the land office satisfac-
tory evidence. fret. that said notice of
the application prepared by the regis
ter ~ aforesaid was duly published in q
newspaper as herein required second
ly. that the land is Of tho character
contemplated in this act. unoccupied
and without improvements, other than
those excepted. either mining or agri.
cultural. and that it apparently con-
tains no valuable deposits Of gold. sill !.
yer. cinnabar, copper or coal and upon
payment to the proper officer of the
purchase money of said land. together
with the fees OF the register and the
receiver. as provided for in case of
mining claims in the twelfth section of
the act approved May 10. 1872. the ap.
plicant may be permitted to enter said
tract. and. ON the transmission 10 the
General Land Office of the papers and
testimony in the case. q patent shall
issue thereon provided, that any per-
sou having valid claim to any portion
of the land may object, in writing. to
the issuance Of patent to lands so
held by him. stating the nature of his
claim thereto; aud evidence shall be
taken. and the merits of said objection
shall he determined by the officers of
the land Office. subject to appeal. as in
other land cases. Effect shalt be given
To the foregoing provisions Of the act
by regulations to be prescribed by the
Commissioner os the General Land
Office.
1T provides in It's fourth section that
after the massage of the act il shall be