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

There are several millions of acres Of public land
yet remaining in this district, subject to entry. Much
Of this land ~ the very hest quality for agricultural
purposes, while there is a vast urea that experience
has shown to I've the very best grazing land in the
west. A party intending to locate q claim should
either make personal inspection of the land he intends
llas made personal inspection Of the land. After an
entry has once been made, even il IL IL found to be
worthless, II IL very difficult and In most instances i'm
possible to obtain the privilege Of making another
entry.
The public lands in this Territory are subject to
entry under the homestead, pre.emption and timber
culture laws. One hundred and sixty acres can be Gu.
tered under each law. A party eau make q homestead
and timber culture entry, or a presumption and timber
culture entry, at the same time but he cannot take a
homestead and presumption claim at the same time.
A party who is twenty one years of age, or who Is at
the head OF a family can make an entry Of puplic land.
A woman who is the head of a family, OF q single
entry of public land.
Only those persons who ae native born citizens OF
the United States, or who have declared thefr intention
To- become citizens can avail thems lives Of the privilege
OF the land laws. No person of foreign birth can Oh.
tain any right to land by actual settlement before he
the arst thing that = per.on Of foreigs {{h. Who DIN 10.
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 a citizen. Noparty who is the owner
Of $40 acres Of land in any State or Territory can take
q claim; neither can any person who leaves
land of bis own in this Territory to 70 upon the public
land obtain any presumption right by settlement.
Ownership to land is no bar to making homestead
entry. To make . legal presumption claim, . party
should first make actual settlement upon the land, and
then within ninety days from such settlement, he
should file his declaratory statement in the local land
ontce. A filing made without prior settlement Is null
and void and ccnfers no right upon the settler, and even
fine has valuable improvements and has been an actual
resident upon the land his claim is subject to forfeiture
In the presence ofan adverse claim, or even when there
is no adverse claim. Hence, no party should file Q dc.
~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 and not
from the time of filing.
A party can obtain a legal right to one hundred and
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
subsequent settler upon the same tract will be subject
to the right Of thu first settler. The right Of q settler
dates from the date of his settlement upon the land,
and he IL allowed ninety days after the township pla1
is filed in the local land Office In which to Ale his pre.
emptfon declaratory statement. After an actual resi-.
dence Of six months upon land a settler can make pay
payment for the land at any time within q period Of
thirty three months from the date of settlement after
showing a continuous residence upon the land for six
months prior to the date Of making proof. Of course
payment cannot he 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
law. Under the presumption Law & 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 rs per acre after six months CON
tinuous residence and improvement ofthe land.o If he
continues his residence for five years he can obtain title
to the claim without payment. Payment at 81. Is per
acre can be made for land at any time during Eve years
from date of entry, after six months residence next pre-.
ceeding the payment. If it is shown that a party has
abandoned his land for q period of six months the 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 five acres during the
first year from dateof entry; during the second year he
must cultivate to crop or otherwise said five acres and
break five acres, more and the third year he must plant
the first five acres to trees, seeds or cuttings, and cult.
vate the second five acres to crop or otherwise. and the
fourth year the second five acres must be planted to
trees, seeds or cuttings.
After fulfilling the requirements of the timber cul-
ture Law as above stated, the claimant can make final
proof at the end Of eight years and acquire title to his
tree claim" without payment of 81. Is per acre, or any
sum, to the government, as is the requirement under
the homestead and presumption laws. Under the tim.
ber-cr,lture Act only one tree claim can be taken in q
section.