The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
THE PUBLIC LAND LAWS.
A Synopsis OF the Acts to Encourage
the Settlement of the Far West.
How to Proceed TO Get Land tIndertIle
Homestead, Pre-Empfion and
and Timber Acts.
HoMESTEADS.

Unuef the homestead law every citizen
or persons who have declared their inten-
ton of becoming citizens, over the age o!
81, if single or heads of families, can
enter 100 acres of land.
He will be required to pay TO the regis
tier and receiver of the land office the
government fee and that part of the com
mission which is payable when the entry
IS made, according to the amount of land
entered, as follows: 100 acres fee. so;
commission, 81; total $14. 80 acres
fee, 81; commission, So; total, So
| When the applicant has settled on the
land he desires TO enter. but is prevented
by bodily infirmity, distance or other good
cause. from visiting the. land Office in per-
son, the affidavit may be made before the
| clerk of the court for the county within
which the land is situated; and the affida-
: vii, together with the application and
money! Can be forwarded to the register
| and receiver.
Having selected and entered the land,
! he will be required to established an
| actual residence thereon within six months
from the date of entry, aud that residence
| must be continued without abandonment
for more than six months at any one time
for five years Ii he has family his
family must also reside on the land
While the law allows temporary absence
(of not more than six months at any one
| time) it requires that the residence and
improvement of the laad shall be actual
The settler cannot sleep on the land
one night every six months and call
it residences neither can he pile
few logs or poles together
and call it cabin. At the
end of five years from date of entry, or
within two Yeas thereafter, he can sub
init to the land officers proofzof his resi-
denee,, cultivation, etc. The proof can
either be made before those officers or
before the Judge of court of record of
the county in which the land is situated.
He will then be required to pay the bal
ance of the commissions (being same
amount as the commission paid when
entry was made); then the patent certifi
cate will issue on which the government
patent of deed is executed. He need not
necessarily make his proof Cor, as it is
commonly termed, prove up@ at the
end OF five years, though he must do. so
within seven years from date of entry.
Ii the settler does not wish to remain
upon the land the full period required. he
can, after six months residence. prove
up; but he will then be required to pay
for the land at the government price.
This is called committing an entry.
Every soldier or sailor who served in
the army or navy of the United States for
ninety days during the late rebellion, and
was honorably discharged, is entitled to
receive on the period of residence required
on his homestead the time of his service
in the army or navy, providing such ser
vice dldsnot exceed four years. 3 One years
rcsidence on the land Is Invariably re
7quiHed. Single women over the age of
II, and married women whose husbands
have deserted them, come within the pro-
visions of the law. and can take home
steads; and the widow Cf unmarried or,
in case of her marriage, the orphan
children) of soldier can have the same
privileges and benefits that the soldier
would have were he alive.
A soldier can file his declaratory through
an agent. and under this he has six months |
in which to get upon the land, commence |
his settlement and improvement and make
his entry.