The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-03-06

/ million acres OF vacant land IN the ten
ceHtral counties Of Kansas, to which
the great wheat growing interests
have given the suggestive names Of
iThe Golden Belt.n The govern
ment land may Be taken By pre-emp-
ton, homestead tOr timber culture.
The presumption privileges is restricted
20 heads Of families, widow, OF single
person over the age Of tWenty-One,
/ who are citizens Of the United States,
or who have declared their intention
TO become citizens, as required BY the
naturalization laws.
The laws extending the homestead
privilege give 70 every citizen, and 10
thOse who have declared their inten-
ton 20 become citizens, the right 10 q
homestead on surveyed land. To OBJ
tain a homestead, the party must, IN
connection with bis application, make
an affidavit before the register OF re-
eeiver Of the land office, that he h
over twenty-One years Of age, or the
head Of q family; that he Is q citizen
Of the United States, or has declared
his intention TO become such and
that the entry IL made for his exclu-
Eive use and benefit, and for actual
settlement and cultivation, and must
pay the legal fee and that part Of the
commission, which is payable when
the entry Is made.
The total fees for homestead entry
/ on maximum land $3.50 per aere) are
Sc; on minimum land (sf.26 per aeFe)
SIS. This Is for leo acres. Eighties
one-half these fees.
There are certain privileges given 20
the hOmesteader, such as paying up
after q certain time ofactual Fesidence
and cultivation or q pre- -emptor may
change bis filing into 9 homestead, II
he continues in good faith 20 comply
with the bre-emption law until the
entering under timber culture laws,
are restricted to such persons as here
tofOre named.
Not more than leo acres In any one
section can be entered, and no person
can make more than one entry. The
party making an entry Of quarter
section, Is required to break or pillow
five acres during the first year, and
five acres In addition during the sec
Ond year. The five acres broken dur
ing the flrst year he Is required 10 oul-
tivate by raising q crop, or otherwise,
dunug the second year, and TO plant
IN timber, seeds or cuttings during
the third year. The five acres broken
or plOwed during the second year, he
IL required to cultivate By raising 3
crop, or otherwise, during the third
year, and to plant In timber, seeds or
cuttings during the fourth year. Pro-
vision Is made for an extension Of
time IN case the trees, seeds or cut
tings should be destroyed by ex-
treme and unusual drouth.
At the expiration Of eight years two
credible witnesses are required TO
prove the planting, cultivating and
protection Of the timber for that peri
cd, when a patent will be issued for
the land embraced In the entry. IN
der the timber culture act the plant
ing Of shrubbery and fruit trees is not
sufficient. The character Of the trees
must be such &c are recognized In the
neighbOrhood as Of value for timber,
commercial purposes, or for freWoOd
and domestic use. The land ofiice
fees are about SIS. A soldier, honor
ably discharged, his widow, or Or
phan children, can have the time Of
service, or the whole term Of enlist
ment, II discharged on account Of
wounds OF disability, deducted from
the period Of FIVE years required to
perfect a title; providing, however,
that at least one years residence and
cultivation Will be required In all
cases.
The common school lands are sold
by the County Treasurer, upon an ap-
Rraised price which cannot be less
than s. per acre. The lands are val
ued by two hOussholders Of the cOun-
~. At the time Of sale one-tenth is
paid by the purchaser In cash twen-
ty years. time is allowed on the bal
ance, with interest ct the rate Of sew
en- per cent. per annum. About five
hundred thousand acres Of these
lands have been patented al an aver
age price OF S4.09 per acre. There are
still In the State Of Kansas 500, 900,
acres vet unsold. Information re-
garding these lands may be obtained
from the County TFeasurers and
County Clerks.
The Railroad lands named in this
letter may be bought:
l. On eleven years credit. Under
this plan one-tenth of the purchase
money, with interest at seven per
cent. on deferred payment Of pFincl-
pal, ls paid at time OF sale, and for the
hrst, second and third years follow
ing, no payment has TO be made, ex-
cept the Interest annually ct seven !
per cent, so that It Is four years from |
date Of purchase until the second pay
ment Of principal is REQUIRED.
.. On six years' credit. Under |
this system six per cent. IL deducted |
from the price per acre. One-hfth Of
the purchase money Is paid az the |
time Of sale, but no interest. No |
more principal is required for three |
years. Seven per cent. interest on |
the remaining fOur-fiifths Is paid an
nually.
I have given you the number Of
acres Of land open to purchase or set
Element in the garden spot Of Kansas,
now the noted wheat growing region
Of the west, and rapidly acquiring
for all kinds OF fruit. The
stock interests IN this same section
are becoming enormous, aud ] may,
IN q future letter give you description
1f some Of the celebrated ranches.
There are just as good farms to be had
n this county now, as any taken ten
7eaFs ago, and now worth from SIS to
80 per acre. With q careful exRmin-
ion, a man can homestead 100 acres,
purchase from the railroad $50 acres
md timber culture another quarter,
which will give him q farm worth 10
en- years from this time $4,000, be
ides the stock and improvements he
viii have. tt Is almost as certain a.
leath and taxes.
From what I am able 10 learn, the
ush to Kansas this spring will be
phenomenal, even In her
aried history. The barren lands and
leak climate Of Dakota and the Ear
orth, have failed to satisfy the in
slhgent emlgTant. This winter they
ave been frozen up, while IN sunny
Kansas stock has been running on the
rairie with but little feeding or shell
sr.
Here are some items about Saline
nd Mcpherson counties which might
e interesting to our eastern friends ,
Massachusetts, hsd q wheat crop az
regating only 42l 600 bushels IN 1876,
lille Mcpherson county alone pro-
uced 1,022 28S bushels. The six I
lev England States produced only
b, 500 bushels Of wheat 10 1875, o.
g than McPheTSon alone ID 1871, OF
De county Of Saline, whose product
! 1871 aEEregated |, 9T6, Is5. Another I
ct Only q states In the Union pro- (
nee as much wheat as the county Of
Jefferson.
The University.
gaIiua NorunaI Universally Of salina- \