Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1885-06-26
How to Take and Hold eOvernnsnt
Lands.

Lau0G.
Az y number of persons have lef
Charlton county recently, and 9th
ers are talking Of leaving for Kansas
and other points where governmen
lands are subject to presumption,
homesteading, etc., with a view Of
entering lands, we publish the fol
lowing synopsis Of the laws bearing
on this matter, so that those who
contemplate acquiring this kind Of
land will know how to proceed in.
teliigently in the matter.
PRE-RNPTIoN.
4 person, to pre-empt, must be
either head of = family, or over q
years of age, and in addition must
be citizen of the United States or
have declared his or her intention OF
becoming citizen. No one owning
320 acres Of land iE the United
States can pre-empt. No enc who
Is living on farm land can leave il TO
pre-empt land in the same state or
territory. A person living in town
may leave his town property to pre-
empt.
A single woman, q widow, or q
deserted wife is qualified to file pre-
emption or any other claim.
Any land not previously taken in
any other way, may be pre-empted.
Indian reservations, land already
settled or filed upon. either for ag-
ricuItural purposes or for other uses,
land lying within town sites, and
lands known to contain minerals in
paying quantities, cannot be pre-
empted.
In every surveyed township Sec
tions 16 and Sc are given to the state
or territory for school lands.
In case a settler has, before sur
vey, settled upon land which, on
survey, proves to be section 16 or
Sc, his claim is prior to that of the
state or territory, and will be valid
if he files his papers within three
months after the plats are received
at the local land Office and opened
for filing. On land that is already
surveyed and in the market, settle
ment and Improvement are the first
steps. Settlement and Improvement
may consist in building, or laying
for house, or digging
or beginning to dig a well. or in
breaking, or IN any act in the nature
Of settlement which would be con-.
spicuous enough to present fair mo-
tice to others Of an intention to ap-
propriate the tract. Within three
months from date Of settlement the
mast file, at the land
office, his Declaratory Statement.
It is best, however, to file this as
soon as possible after settlement, as
t will avoid risks of adverse filings
and consequent conflicts.
On unsurveyed land the settler
must continue to reside until it Is
opened for fling. Within three
months after it comes into market,
be must file his DecIaratory state
meat. Regular forms are prescribe
ed and blanks are used which eau be
obtained at q printing Office. After
ding, the claimant must still reside
upon the land until he shall have ac-
tually lived there six months. If he
Is head of family his family must
live ON the land. He must have at
least Eve acres broken. He may be
absent at work several weeks at
time If he makes that his home.
A great many live in some town
and go out once week, or some
times ouly once month, but this is
not legal residence and would in
validate the claim if contested. The
blowing may be hired or done in
person. AT any time after six
months residence and within thirty
months from date of fling the Dec
laratory Statement final proof may
be made and the land paid for at the
rate Of $l.25 per acre.
But in no case can dnal proof be
made until three months after the
plats are received at the land Office.