The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-05
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TELEGRAPHIC
Bill for the Forfeiture of the
Northern Pacific Land
Grants.
Now Pending Before Congress
and will Probably Pass
Both Houses
futile Lynched at Spearfsh,
Dakota, by an Infuriated
Mob.

The following is the full text of the
land grant bill:
First-Tnat except as to all lands
granted for that portion of the road of
the Northern Pacific railroad which was
completed before July 4, A. D. 1879, the
grant of the public lands made in aid of
the construction of the said Northern
Pacific railroad, by act of congress ap-
proved July 2, 1866. Thirteenth Statu-
ties at Large, page 1861 be, and it is here
by forfeited and determined, and the
SAID act making the grant is, SO far as the
said grant Is concerned, hereby restored
to the public domain for sale and settle
ment under the existing laws of the
United States and all said lands shall be
held and treated as though the grant and
the Withdrawals under it had never been
made. Provided, that in case any lands
embraced within the terms of this act, to,
which the railroad company would have.
been entitled had the said road been con-
structed as prescribed in the act making
the grant, have been sold by said COM
pany prior to Jan. l, 1884, the party or
person SO purchasing any OF said lands,
his heirs or assigns, shall retain the right
to the lands SO purchased upon making
proof of the fact of such purchase
before the register of the local land office
Of the district where said land may be
located; provided that all unpaid pur-
chase money On such sales shall be paid
to the United States through the receiv-
er of public moneys at the proper land
office and upon proof as above and pay
ment of such unpaid balance, ifany,
within twelve months of the passage Of
this bill, patent shall issue to the parties
entitled thereto for; the land; provided,
further, the unpaid balance of the pur-
chase shall be satisfied with the payment
of $l.25 per acre for the land to the Uni
ted States if such unpaid balance equals
or exceeds that amount.
Second-That all persons who made
actual settlement or have made valuable
Improvements upon the odd-numbered
sections adjacent to the uncompleted por-
ton of said road or branch::thereof, wi h
out contract of purchase therefor, with a
bona fine intent to secure title thereto
by purchase from said Northern Pacific
railroad company, when the said COM
pany had earned the same by compliance
with the conditions and requirements of
said act: and being citizen of the Uni
ted States, or having declared his inten-
tention to become such in compliance
with the naturalization laws of the Uni
ted States, shall be entitled to enter one
quarter section, 100 aares each, of land,
SO settled upon or improved by such per-
son, under the presumption or homestead
laws of the Uuited States; and in case
such person has exhausted his or her
right under said laws, then and in such
case such persons may enter. one quarter
section, 100 acres, of lands SO settled
upon or improved, by paying therefor
S1.25 per acre.
It is not known exactly how much land
the bill will take from. the company, but
the number Of acres. isvariously estimat-
ed from 100000 to 100000. Nearly
the entire Northern Pacific grant west of
Bismarck, if the bill passes, will be for
feited. Mr.. Anderson of Kansas, men,
Der of the committee, says that the bill
will undoubtedly pass the house and I'M
doubleday the. senate. The house has
overwhelmingly declared in favor of
sweeping forfeiture of all railroad grants
not earned in the time required by law.
The senate has taken no action on the
subject; but while it Is more conserva-
tive, tits very sensitive regarding public
sentiment, and will very likely pass the
forfeiture bills, although in a modified
form.