The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-31
PUBLIC LANDS.
Useful information for Settlers.


There are now public lands open to
settlement in nineteen States and eight
Territories. In the following land Of
tices are established, which are in
charge of a register, where the land
records are kept and where all applica-
tions concerning lands in each district
are filed and inquiries answered.:
Alabama Huntsville, Montgomery.
Arkansas-Little Rock, Camden, Harrison, Oar
danelle
Arizona Territory-Prescott, Florence.
California-San Francisco, Maryville, Humboldt
Stockton, visalla, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Shas-
to, Susanyile, Bodie.
Colorado-Denver City, Leadville, Central City,
Dakota TerritoryNMitcheil, watertown, Fargo
Yankton, Bismarck, Deadwood, Grand Forks.
Idaho Territory-Boise City, Lewiston, oxford.
KansasNTopeka, salina, Independence, Wichita
Kirwin, ooncordia, Lsrned, Wa.EKeeny. --.-4
Lousiana--New Orleans, Natchitoches. I,
Michigan-Detroit, East Saginaw, Reed City'
Marquette.
Fergus Falls, Worthington, Crookston, Benson
Tracy, Redwood Falls.
MssIsslppi-Jackson. -;
Mssouri-Boonville, Ironton, Springfield.
Montana Territory-Helena, Bozeman, Milea
Nebraska-Norfolk, Beatrice, Lincoln, Mo.
brara, Grand Island, North Platte, Blooms
Sevada-Carson City, Eureka =
New Mexico Territory-Santa Fe, La Mesla.
Oregon-Oregon City, Roseburg, Le Grand, Lakd
Utah Territory-salt Lake City. f'F-e-
Washington Territory-,olympia, Vancouver
Wala Wala, Cofax, Yakima.
Wisconsin-Menasha, Falls Of st. Croix, Wausau
La Crosse, Bayfield,, Eau Claire.
Wyoming Territory-Cheyenne, Evanston
There are two classes of publid
lands, one being disposed Of at $1.25
per acre and the other at $3.50 pei
acre. The latter are the alternate see
tions reserved by the government ili
the land grants to railroads, etc.
/ If a person desires to purchase fol
cash, he applies at the land Office, payi
his money, gets receipt for it and q
certificate Of purchase, the compiled
title to the land being given by the
commissioner Of the general land Office
at Washington if the proceeding of
the register is found regular; if not,
the money is refunded. But cases of
refunding scarcely ever occur, so that
no anxiety is felt on that score if the
certificate is once obtained
! Heads of families or citizens over
twenty-one alone can locate under the
pre-emption law. If such settle upon
a quarter-section Of unoccupied land
they have the right Of prior claim to
purchase on complying with the proper
regulations,
The homestead laws give to any citi-
zen, or applicant for citizenship, over
twenty-one years of age, who will actu-
ally settle upon and cultivate the land,
160 acres Of $1.25 per acre land, or half
the amount of $3.50 per acre land. The
settler must occupy and cultivate his
farm for five years before his patent
will be issued. The fees will range
from 81 to $34, and must be paid to
the register.
In order to obtain title to a timber
claim on the public lands of the United
States, according to the amended law,
but ten acres on each quarter section
need be planted to timber, or a CORE
spending portion on eighty and forty
acre tracts. The following are the con
ditions: Five acres on each quarter secl
tion are to be broken the first year.
cropped the second year, and the addi4
tional five acres broken. The tree plant
ing on five acres must be done the third
year, at the rate of 2,700 to the acre,
which means that the trees must stand
four feet apart. The fourth year the
remaining five acres must be put in in
the same manner. Cultivation of the
trees must continue for eight years, at
the end of which time there must be
675 living trees per acre on each Of the
ten acres. The fees and commissions
in timber culture entries range from
$13 to $18. There has been some re-
striction as to the kind of timber trees
that should be planted, intended, of
course, to make all efforts to obtain
lands under this act legitimate to pre-
vent fraud in securing them. The land
commissioner named the species of
trees that must be planted, but his
latest decision is in effect that any kind
of tree may be planted that is known
to be valuable in the locality on which
the land is to be located. Of course,
every one who desires to create home
for himself and family on one of these
tracts is more deeply than any one else
interested in informing himself upon
this subject, and in securing the very
best species and varieties obtainable.-
Prairie Farmer.