The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-18
The Public Land Laws.
HOMESTEADs.

Under the Homestead law every citi-
zen or person who have declared their
intention of becoming citizens, over the
age of Il if single or heads of families,
can enter 100 acres of surveyed land.
He will be required to pay to the reg
ister and receiver Of the land Office the
Government fee and that part Of the
commission which is payable when the
entry is made, according to the amount
Of land entered as follows: 100 acres;
fee, $40; commission, 81; total, Sl4. so
acres; fee, 81, commission 81; total, 81.
When the applicant has settled on the
land he desires to enter but is prevented
| by bodily infrmity, distance, or other
good cause, from visiting the land office
in person, the affidavit may be made be-
/ fore the clerk of the court for the coun-
/ ty within which the land is situated !;
and the affidavit together with the APP
/ plication and money, can be forwarded
to the register and receiver.
Having selected and entered the land,
| he will be required to establish an actu-
al residence thereon within six months
from the date Of entry, and that resi-
dence must be continued without aban-
donment, for more than six months at
any one time, for five years. If he has
n family, his family must also reside on
the land. While the law allows a tenn
porary absence (of not more than six
months at any one time) it requires that
the residence and improvement of the
land shall be actual. The settler can
not sleep on the land one night every
six months and call it a residence
neither cen he pile few logs or poles
together and call it a cabin. At the end
; of five years from date of entry, or
: within two years thereafter, he can sub
nit to the land officers proof of his resi-
dence, cultivation, etc. The proof car
either be made before those officers OF
J before the Judge of Court of Record o.
the county in which the land is situated
! He will then be required to pay the bal
J ance of the commissions being same
J amount as the commission paid when en-
= try was made); then the patent certifi
cate will issue on which the Government
patent OF deed is executed. He neeC
not necessarily make his proof Cor, as i
is commonly termed, ''proye up') at tn
1 end of five years, though he must do ),
within seven years from date of entry
If the settler does not wish 90 remain
upon the land the fpll period required
he can, aftere-.a months residence
, prove up; l.dt he will then be require,
to pay for the land at the Governmen
price. This is called committing an entry
} PRE-EMpTIoNs.
l The pre-emption law requires, in ad
: dition to residence and cultivation, tina
8 payment for the land, at the Govern
| ment price, shall be made The pre-
: emption privilege is restricted to head
OF families, widows, or single person
a over the age of Il years, who are citizen
or who have declared their intention +
$ become citizens. 1t also excludes pei
{ sons who own 800 acres of land in an
State or Territory, and those who leay
= their own land in the same State or Tel
$ rltory to move on the Government lands
h The right of a settler attaches from til
9 time settlement is Made. When he file
, his "declaratory statement" the date @
$ such settlement must be given. Th
5 "declaratory statement is preliminar
e paper that must be filed with the Ian
4 officers and the fee required to be PAL
4 is 81. 1t is required to be filed within
G three months from date of settlement,
: the land was surveyed, or within thre
e months after survey, if the land was III
l surveyed ut the time of settlement
e Thirty months thereafter are allowed i
, which to prove up and pay for tn
: land. Actual residence for a period {
5 six months at least is required, with Gu
!, tivation and improvement of the lane
and the proof submitted must be simila
!, to that required under the Homestea
+ law.