Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-18
GOVERNMENT LAND.
Seattle. June 10. lsS

St8ttit. y ul1c Az AcoSs F
GOVERNMENT LAND.
Farther Expressions from special
AGENT Grass ON this Absorbing
Topic.
fWaIla Walla Journal.
As much attention is at this time
being given by the government to her
landed interest and an effort is being
made to prevent the Wholesale fraudu-
Ient disposition of what remains of her
desirable lands, although action at this
late date may forcibly remind one OF
the man who shut and latGhed his bara
door after his horse had been stolen, yet
il NAV be well to consider how frauds
are pfactic-d in obtaining title to gov
eminent lands aud what may be done
70 prevent their continuance. / shall
NOT at present consider the character of
frauds practiced under the timber cul-
,nre ac: further than to say that in
most oases il is used to cover up and
hold land until it can he takeu under
the homestead or pre- emptlon act, or
the right Of the claimant sold TO some
A0kUHI SSttAoL. oc uCs ~ tLaS th1Sp tA
cloak for speculative purp0ses, aud
should be repealed at the earliest pos
sible date. Persons who do not acquire
the land for the purpose OF making n
home, bot tor speculative purposes only
resort 70 many novel modes OF farming,
smo0e which Ito illustrate) II the fol-
lowing; A physician with u good prac-
ties residing IL town concludes that as
ths public lands are becoming scarce and
eune.Qpentay valuable, II would be O.
good thing 70 have farm, and 30
go about procuring one under the in,-
peoved method. lhe doctor employs
sonpsons 10 build what is called a house,
which il frequently l0xl2 in size, built
Of rough iumbei SGT perpendicular with
out batting, and hoer, If they have one,
OF some rough material; the whole sor-s
mounted with what they denominate a
"ahske roof" Then, TO make the proof
convincing that he il bona fide farmer
and intends to occupy the land M
home, he hires from ten to twenty acres
Of land broken, and with this evidence
Of good faith on his part he .s ready for
practical farming, aud tells his good wife.
mot that they auss leave their pleasant
home in town and 20 upon their future
n0mDUUoHAks uAb u8A3b 80O tA40mS o1A0 tuO
children and 90 over and remain upon
the premises for q week or two; that he
will BE- ont on Sunday 10 come home
with them. The necessary afran9ements
are made, often friends are taken along
and Q good time 10 had for . shors
period rusticaiinR- "ranchinR," 40
Shsy eall it--during the pleasant weather,
for they seldom think OF continuing
thsiF labors into the winter season.
These excursions to their homestead are
rspoatod ct intervals Of month or two
uneil the expiyation Of six months,
which ID the shortest period Of residence
allowed By law, when the homestead is
commuted 70 a cash entry and the land
purchased at $l.26 per acre. Then the
Would-bs farmer ut once removes to his
more congenisl quarters in town what.
eyer, uf anything). of his household
goods there are upon the premises by
hin % hsroically and carefully farmed
during the past summer. And thereaf-
tss the homestead remains unoccopied
OF u used a. . tenant farm. or, las 10
frequently the case), held for sale while
TIE doctor has 40 more idea of ever re-
turnina 70 and living upon the land
tAan be has Of going 70 the moon. This
coarse Of practice IL not only true OF
~ doctor, but OF the lawyer, merchant,
editor. Aioon keeper and barber ~ veil
H. eams sharp practios is resorted 10
b parties living In town who make an
ky under The pro empsion cot. In cass
q = einQls man il Il thought by this
eaGoe Of farmers - Be Sufficient CON-
pliancs With the Law IL they 90 upon she
pcemises on an occasional Saturday or
bsnday evsning and stop over night,
and on suoh nocturnal visitations they
ass usually accompanied by friend TO
b used q Q Witncasl, NTH guns, dog,
and ooos1era, especially steetsra, and
thus ths night 10 passed In the pleasant
e0ort (uot 10 subdus the wild nature
OF tAs bunch grass ranch that they
sveAr shay have appropriated ~ a
futnrs home), bat In the effort to dis
poos az the last rsfrsshing cordial; and
q the end Of six months the claimant
and two witnesses appear before the
peopes ofllcer and without the least
keeitati0n make sn oath that the claim
aaA has srssided continuously" upon
u lAnd for the pesiod required by Law
Thus tho land passes into the pesses-
don Of persons Who are not entitled b
Il under the provisions of the law, and
bcth they and their witnesses have tea
tiAad 10 q state Of facts which can only
b rccos.ciled with the truth by the fact
thas the afliants are the happy pnsses.
oop Of conscicnces capable OF extreme
tension.
Not only has the law been thus vio
lAtsd, but the standard Of ysracity Il
lowered 70 such degree ~ to serioualy
impair and lessen the binding ooliga-
tim Of an oath, the injurious effects oi
vhich will net likely end with the entry
q the land. In many instance Il would
ooen thai the parties do not realize thai
hey are pracficing fraud upon the
Ae0ese settler, or swearing - things en-
tirNly Ct variance With the truth.
vuah not Be understood - saying that
the foregoing state Of facts can DO uni
VERBALLY applied to homestead and pre-
empGion entries, but What do say Z
hat they may be very generally applied
% perpons suoh ~ ! have described
Who axo doing business in tDwn durins
the time they claim 70 b living upon
IL Ind. l think u VII b admitter
enat the only effective remedy for thu
ey1a1 refesred 30 would 10 the repeal ol
eas timber culture act and pre- emptiox
MUs and ths amenament of the homo
oAd act % a. 10 leave out OF its pro
vn1ous the oonmutation clause. az,s
80 remove the present tnducenene b
aed and perjury, bat a. this radica
saAnQe caAAot be effected before IA
sseeeaoG Of OonGrssa and vill not prob
0sn, e becomes necessary 10 seal
eoms other. though il must be Q les
eAi remedy, under the Law.
.uee eepxtneue has prspasDa anadR
~ g be nsed by parties making q,