The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-02-28
Correspondence Of the Champion
HOMESTEAD SlTTLERS UNDER THE IN
CALLS STATUTE.
Col. Plumb's Amended Homestead and Pre-
Emption Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1873.
The act of Congress of April 21st,
1876. confirmed homestead and pre-
emption entries made in good faith.
by actual settlers, within the limits Of
railroad land grants prior to the re-
ceipt at the local land office of the no.
tice of the withdrawal of the lands
from market, where the homestead
and presumption laws have been COM
piled with and proper proof thereof
furnished, and patents were directed
to issue. The same act confirmed the
homestead and presumption entries
based upon prior entries that had been
abandoned, but that were valid and
subsisting at the date of the notice OF
such withdrawal.
This act, which has proved shield
to large number of honest aud de-
serving settlers, and which protects
them from the rapacity of grasplng
corporations, was introduced and
championed by Senator ingalls,, and
passed the Senate after a spirited de-
bate running through several Gays.
The Missouri, Kansas " Texas Rail
road Company has been makinga pro-
longed and vigorous fight IN the IN
terror Department with reference TO
the proper construction to be put
upon the act. and as to the duty OF the
Secretary under it.
Mr.. IngaIis is entitled to great cred
it for the part he has taken i'll this con-
test, and it will be comfort to thous-
auds of settlers on lands the title to
| which is in controversy to know that
we now have Secretary of the lnte-
rior who, whatever his political short
| comings and eccentricities may be,
seems to be in sympathy with them III
their controversies with great corpor-
atoms.
Col. Plumb has bill pending before
the Public Lands Committee which
makes radical changes i'll our land
laws. 1t amends the first section OF
the homestead law by inserting pro-
vision for the cultivation of timber.
AS the subject is one of great impor-
lance to thousands of your readers,
venture to quote this provision at
length:
"That every person making a home,
stead entry under the provisions OF
this act shall, at or before the end OF
the third year of his residence thereon
plant and have under cultivation one
acre of timber for each and every SIX
teen acres or fraction thereof covered
by his homestead entry, the trees there,
on not being more than twelve fee
apart each way; and before any per
son shall acquire title to a homestead
he shall, at the time of completing hi'
final entry, and, in addition to TIT
proof now required by law. prove by
at least two credible witnesses that TIT
trees have been planted as herein pre-
scribed, that they have been cultivated
for period of at least three years, ant
that they are, at the time such proof II
offered, in thrifty and growing con
dition The failnre to do the planting
and cultivating required by tins sec
ton shall, upon proper proof Thereon
be sufficient good for cancellng an.
homestead entry under the pro vision
of this act"
The bill repeats the existing t,mbe
culture statute, and also the pre-emp
ton law, thus combining the DISPOSE
ton of the public lands to Homestead
settlement. The Senator is thorough
+ " convinced that the time has com
when the interests OF the country re
quire that the public domain shall b
reserved for that purpose.