Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-01-10
The Land Laws,

lueIS ae heFeCul WuloHB Of acres oil pubic lanti
yot remaining In this district. subject to entry. Much
Of this land Is tho very best quality for agricultural
purposes, while there IL a vast area thut experience
has shown to be the very best grazing land in tho
west. A party Intending to locate q claim should
either mako personal inspection Of tho land no intends
to enter, or have the report OF somo trusted friend who
has made personal inspection of tho lnnd. After an
entry has once been made. even Ii II is found to DO
worthless, 1t Is worry difficult and in most instances im.
possible to obtain tho privilege Of making unutlrr
entry.
Tho public lands In this Territory are subject to
entry under the homestead, presumption and timlur
culture laws. One hundred and sixty acres can DO Gu.
tered under zach law. A party can make a homestead
and timber culture cntry. or n presumption and timber
culture entry, at the same time. but he cannot mke II
homestead and %pre-emptlon claim at tho same time.
A party who Is twenty one years Of age, or who is at
tho head Of a family can make All entry of pnplic land.
A woman who ia the head of a family, OF n single
woman who Is over twenty-oue years of age can mako
entry Of public land.
Only those prraons who arc native born citizens of
the United States, or who have declared their intention
to become citizens can avail thems ,lvoS of the privilege
OF the land laws. No peraon Of foreign birth can OBJ
tain any right to land by actual settlement before he
has declared his intention tn become II Citizen; hence
the first thing that a persun Of foreign birth, who in
tends to enter public lands, should do upon his arrival
In to 60 before The Clerk Of tho court and declare hs In.
tention to become a citizen. No party WIN lis the owner
of 38O acros of land In any State or I Territory eau take
a presumption claim; neither can any person who leaves
land of hiH own In this Territory to go upon tho public
land obtain any presumption right by settlement.
Ownership to land IL no bar to making Il homrstrlul
entry. To nuke Il legal presumption claim, a party
shonld first max" actual settlement upon the land, and
then within ninety days ir"m such srttirmrnt. he
should hlc hh dcclaintory statement in the lucnl land
Office. A filing mud" without prior settlement is null
and void and cuntrrs M right upon tho settler, and even
If he has valuable improvements and has been an uct,ml
resident upon the lind his claim In subject IT, forfeiture
In the presence "fan adverse claim, or even when there
IL n" adverse claim. Hence, no party should file x de-
c,Hratory abatement for land until infer he Ims made an
actual sctilcmrnt upon tho same. The law allows
ninety days from settlement In which to file, and the
larty's right dates from the timo OF settlement anl not
from tho time of filing.
a party Gun obtain q legal right to Que hundred and
sixty "rre" under tho prcrmpti"n law prior to the sur.
wy Of said tract " making settlement upon the sulrnr.
In making settlement upon unsurvcyrd land the set
tier should first designate the tract claimed by him By
well defined land marks. If this IL dune the riylI, of n
subsequent settler upon the same tract will be- subject
to the right of ths first settler. The right of IL settler
dates from the date of his settlement upun the land.
and he Is allowed ninety days after the tow usl,ip plat
IN filed IN the local land Office in which, to file hi. pre-
emltinn Ueclarutory statement. After mn actual resi-
dcnc" Of six months upon land n settler can make nav.
ment for the same vt sl.25 per acre. lie cum make
payment for the land at my time within II period of
thirty tire" month"; from tho date Of settlement after
showing IL continuous residence upon the land for nj.
months prior to til" date Of making proof. OF couru.
payment cannot be mmie for land until after it liz sur
veyed and comes into market. A purity possessing the
sam" legal qualification I'M u rre-rmptiul claimant can
taks one hundred and sixty ucres under the homestead
law. Tudor the presumption law Il party acquires his
right by actual settlement; under tn" homestead lava
party can gain un actual right by making an c,,,r, at
the local land Office, and then he is allowed six months
from that date in which to nuke his actual settlement
and establish his residence. A settler can make pay
mcnt for his land at 81. Is per acre after six months con.
tinuouS residence and Improvement Of the land. or If he
Continues his residence for five years he can obtain title
to the claim without payment. Payment ut 81. - par
acre can be made Cor land at any time during five Year,
from date Of entry, after xix months residence mex, pre-.
| SocaIhS tIe RhJI uEut. u IL u buOWn tuAt u IuTty luLt
abandoned his land for a period Of six months tho entry
Is subject to forfeiture.
A party can take one hundred and sixty acres under
the timber culture act. The requirements Of this law
are that the party shall break Eve ucrcs during ,ir
first year from date Of entry; during tho second year he
must cultivate to crop or otherwise said Ave acres and
break five acros, more and the third year he must plant
the nrst Ave acreH ~ trees, seeds or cuttings, and cult.
vate thu .econd Ave acres To crop or otherwise. and the
fourth year the second Ave acres must be planted u
trees, seeds or cuttings.
After fulfilling the requirements Of the timber cul-
tnre law rs above stated. the claimant can make final
proof at the end Of eight Year, and acquire title to his
tree claim" without payment Of 81. 25 per acre, or any
sum, TO the government, AZ is the requirement under
the Homestead and presumption laws. Undsr the tim.
borcnlture act only one troe claim can b. taken in q
| section.