The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-05-24

The commissioner of the Gener-
nj Land Office has issued the fol-
lowing circular of Instructions for
the guidance ofIocal officers in bust
ness under the act of Congress Of
last Writer, amending the home
stead law.
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INrERGoEl
GENERAL LAND OFFICE, March "a, '79S
Registers and Receivers Of U, S, Dist. Land
Offices;
Gentleman: [ have to cal! atten-
ton to the provisions Of the act Of
Congress entitled, can act to grant
additional rights to homestead set
tiers on public lands within Grail
road | mits, approved March Sd,
1879.
Eirst-That acts proFides that
from and after its passage "thc even
sections within the limits of any
grant ofpublic lands to any railroad
company, or to any State in aid to
any railroad or military road, shal!
be open to settlers Under the home
stead laws to the extent OF one hun
dred aud sixty acres TO each set
tler," thus doing away IN this class
Of entries with the distinction be-
tw cen minimum lands, or lands hcll
at 81 % per acre and lands held al
81 50 per acre, which had existed
under section 2,289 OF the revised
statutes Of tie United States, SO Tar
as the double minimum lands may
be found In even sections within the
limits OF Iaud grants for railroads or
military roads. But Congress has
not seen proper to extend this pro.
vision of the act SO far as to en-
brace any double minimum lands
which may be found in odd mum
oered sections or in the limits of
grants tor any ott er description OF
public works. it must be held in
operative in any case where even
sections are granted and not re-
served.
You will observe the change in
the law, as above noted, in future
proceedings respecting entries und-
er said section, 2,289 Of the revised
statutes; observing, however, that
the commissioners arc in all cases
20 be computed on the cash price Of
the land under the third and twelfth
Subdivisions Of section 2,23S.
Second-The act further pro-
Fides that ''any person who has un-
der existing laws taken a home-
stead ON any even section within
the limits OF any railway or militia
y road land grant; ana who, by ex-
istng laws shall have been restric-
ted TO 80 acres, may enter under the
homestead laws an additional $50"
adjoining the land embraced jn his
original entry, if such additional
land he subject 10 entry" without
payment OF fees and missions,
aud "the residence and cultivation
of such person upon any Of the lane.
embraced in his original entry, shall
be considered residence and culti-
vatIon for the same length of time,
upon and of the land embraced in
his additional entry, and shall be
deducted from the years residence
required by law" with the proviso,
that In 10 case shall pat
ent issue "until the person has ac-
tually, and in conformity with. the
homestead laws, occupied, resided
upon and cultivated the land" em-
braced In his additional entry, s'at
least one year"
Upon any party proposing to en-
ter an additional tract under these
provisions, you will require hIm to
make homestead application and
according to annexed forms,
Nos. l and ?. You will then, If
you find his original entry to be in
fact upon your records, whether
patented or not, and if no objection
appears in any respect, allow the en-
try applied for, note tho same on
your records, giving it the proper
in the regulrr homestead
series, ard report it with your mo'y.
homestead returns, indicating Its
character as an additional entry