Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-03-07
The United States contains th]rce-quar-
ters of the coal fields of the world.
The Land Laws,

There are several millions Of acres of public land
yet remaining in this district, subject to entry. Much
Of this land Is the very best quality for agricultural
purposes, while there is Il vast area that experience
has shown TO he the very hest grazing land in the
west. A party intending to locate Il claim should
either make personal inspection of the land he intends
to enter, or havo tho report Of some trusted friend who
has made personal inspection of the land. After an
entry has once been made. oven If it Is found to be
worthless, 1t is very difficult and in most instances I'M
possible to obtain the privilege If making another
entry.
The public lands in this Territory are subject to
entry under the homestead, presumption and timber
culture laws. One hundred and sixty acres can be en-
tered under each law. A party can make a homestead
and timber culture entry, or a presumption and timber
culture entry, Mt the same time, but he cannot take a
homestead and pre-enption claim at the same time.
A party who is twenty one years Of nge. or who is at
the head of q family can make an entry Of puplic land.
A woman who is the head of a family, OF a single
woman who is over twenty-onc years Of ago can make
entry of public land.
Only those persons who are native born citizens of
the United States, or who have declared their intention
to become citizens can avail thems lives of the privilege
OF the land laws. No person of foreign birth can OBJ
tain any right to land 10y actual settlemen before he
has declared his intention to berome a citizen; hence
the hrst thing that a person of foreign birth, who in
tends to enter public lands, should do upon. his arrival
is to 60 before The Clerk Of the court and declare his in.
tention to become acitizen. No party who IL the owner
OF $40 acres Of land in any State or Territory can take
land of his own in this Territory to 60 upon the public
land obtain any presumption right by settlement.
Ownership to land Is no bur to making a homestead
entry. 10 make a legal presumption claim, a party
should frst make actual settlement upon the land, and
then within ninety days from such settlement, he
should he his declalatory statement in III. local land
/ office A hNn0 mazda Syifhnnf nr10r l.r, I -.l,
and void and confers no right upon the settler, and even
If The has valuable improvements and has been an actual
resident upon the land his claim is subject to forfeiture
in the presence OF an adverse claim, or even when there
is no adverse claim. Hence, no party should file q de-
claratory statement for land until after he has made an
actual settlement upon the same. The law allows
ninety days from settlement In which to file, and the
party's right dates from the time of settlement aud not
from the time Of filing.
A party can obtain a legal right to one hundred and
sixty acres under the presumption law prior to the sur
Wy OF said tract ~ making settlement upon the same.
In making settlement upon unsurveyed land the set.
tier should first designate the tract claimed by him by
well defined land marks. If this is done the right Of a
subsequent settler upon the same tract will be subject
to the right Of tina first settler. The right of Il settler
and no Is allowed ninety days after the township plat
Is filed in the local land office in which to file his pre-
emption declaratory statement. After an actual resi-.
dence Of six months upon land a settler can make pay
ment for the same at Sl.8 per acre. He can make
payment for the land at any time within a period of
thirty three months from the date Of settlement after
showing q continuous residence upon the land for six
months prior to the date Of making proof. Of course
payment cannot be made for land until after it is sur
veyed and comes into market. A party possessing the
same legal qualification as a presumption claimant can
take one hundred and sixty acres under the homestead
law. Under the presumption law h party acquires his
right by actual settlement: under the homestead lava
party can gain an actual right by making an entry at
the local land office, and then he is allowed six months
from that date In which to make his actual settlement
and establish his residence. A settler can make pay
ment for his land at 81. Is per acre after six months c II.
tinuous residence and Improvement OF the lane. or If he
continues his residence for five years he can obtain title
to the claim without payment. Payment ut 81. 25 per
acre can be made for land at any time during Eve years
frum date Of entry, after SIX months residence next pre-.
ceeding the payment. If 1t Is shown that a party has
abandoned his land for q period of six months the entry
Il subject to forfeiture.
A party can take one hundred and sixty acres under