The Dickinson press., 1884-07-26
Government Lands and How to Get
Them.

Them.
The laws of the United States mo-
vide that citizens of the United
States, OF persons who have declared
their intention to become such, who
are heads Of families, or owe the age
of twenty-one years, can obtain land
us follows:
UNDER THE HOMESTEAD ACT.
A citizen " n who has declared
his intention to become such, can
homestead 100 acres by filing his APP
%plication and affidavit at the local
land Office, and within six months
thereafter commencing settlement
and Improvement, and continuing the
same five years. The only cost is the
United States land office fees, which
are Sis for 100 acres.
A soldier having served in the ar
my or navy during the war of the re-
l'ellion for over ninety days, a OBJ.
tain 100 acres of any of the public
lands by filing (himself or by an at
torney) a declaratory statement, and
within six months thereafter fling
his affidavit and application, COM
.nenaing settlement and cultivation.
and continue the same five Years. less
the time he served in the army or
navy-such time in nc Ease to exceed
four years. His widow can take adj
vantage of the above.
BY PRE-EMPTION.
The presumption law gives to any
citizen of the United States, and to
those who have declared their inten-
ton to become such, 100 acres of land
within the limits of lanl granted to
any railroad company, at $3.50 per
acre, OF outside of railroad limits, at
Sl.25 per acre, on condition of actual
cultivation and residence thereon.
Within ninety days after commencing
settlement a declaratory statement
must be filed and Il fee of 50 paid,
md within thirty-three months ina |
proof must he made of actual resi-.
dence and cultivation of the tract.
UNDER THE TIMBER CULTURE ACT.
Citizens of the United States, OF
those who have declared their inten-
ton to become such, who shall plant,
protect and keep in a healthy grow
ing condition, for eight years, ten
acres of timber on any quarter sec
ton, or five acres on any legal sub
division of eighty acres, d. two and a
half acres on any legal subdivision of
forty acres OF less, shall be entitled
to a patent for the whole of said
quarter section or legal subdivision
of eighty or forty acres, at the expir-
alton of said eight years, on making
proof of such fact by not less than
two credible witnesses. The land
Office fees for 100 acres are $1S.
a person can not take a homestead
and a presumption at the same time.
for the law requires continuous resi-
lence to be commenced on a home.
stead within six months after date of
entry. and maintained until final
proof is made, and on a presumption
it must he commenced at once. A
failure in this respect OIL the proof of
Il home in another place, is fatal to
the right of the claimant; but a par
ty can hold a homestead and a tree
claim, OF a presumption and a tree
claim, at the same time, and secure
title to both, and, after proving up or
a pre-emption, can then take a home
stead. An unmarried woman, of age,
can take the benefit of the Acts the
same as a man. If she marries, be-
fore she has acquired title she car
proceed to prove up at the proper
time, the same us if she had remained
single. All the sons and daughters
of Il family, who are of age, are ell.
.s.