Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-11-14
The Land LaWs.

There are several millions of acres Of public land
yet remaining in this district, subject to entry. Much
purposes, while there is a vast area that experience
has shown to 10 the very best grazing land In the
west. A party intending to locate a claim should
either make personal inspection Of the land he intends
to enter. or have the report of aOmo trusted friend who
has made personal inspection Of the land. After an
entry has once leen made, even il 1t is found to he
worthless, it 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, presumption and timber
culture laws. One hundred and sixty acres can be en-
tered under each law. A purity can make q homestead
and timber culture entry, or a presumption and tii1ber
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 tand.
A woman who is the head of a family, OF a single
woman who is over twenty-onc years of age Gun make
entry of public land.
Only those persons who are native born citizens OF
tho 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 by actual settlement before he
has declared his intention to heroine q citizen; honce
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 IL tho owner
Of 800 acres of land in any State or Territory can take
a presumption claim; neither ean any person who leaves
land Of Ills own in this Territory to 20 upon the public
land obtain any presumption right by settlement.
o"ueESulpI " iouu u ~ UdT W maklnS 3 homestead
entry. To make q legal presumption claim, a party
should first make actual settlement upon the land, and
then within ninety days from such settlement, he
should file Ills declaratory statement in the local land
office. A filing made without prior settlement Is null
and void and ccnfers no right upon the settler, and sven
he 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 flo q de.
~clsratory statement for land until aftes he has made an
actual settlement upon the same. The law ulluws
ninety UHya from settlement In which IN Ala and tho
party's right dates from the time Of settlement and not
from the time Of filing.
ixty acres under the presumption law prior to the sur
vty Of said t. act ~ making settlement upon the same
In making settlement upon unsurveyed land tho set.
well defined land marks. II this il done the rrich, of q q
subsequent settler upon the same tract will be subject
u tho right Of thu first settler. The right of a settler
and he is allowed ninety days after the township pls,
Is filed In the local land Office In which to nle his pre-.
emption declaratory statement. After an sexual resi-.
dence Of s1 months upon land settler can make pay
ment for the same at Sl.25 per acre. He can make
| 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 be made for land until after 1t 10 sur:
veyed and comes into market. A party possessing the
same legal qualification Is q presumption claimant car
take oae hundred and sixty acres under tho homestead
law. Under the ~pre-emptiO law + party acquires his
| right by actual settlement: under the homestead Lawn
l party can gain an actual right oy making al entry ii
tho local land Office. and then he IL allowed six months
from that date in which to make his actual settlement,
and establish his residence. A settler can make nay
ment for his land at 81. rs per acre after six months con
tinuous residence aud Improvement ofthe land. or If hi
continues his residence for ave years he can obtain It'll,
to the claim without payment. Payment at 81. q pei
acre can be made for land at any time during 6vo year,
from date Of entry, after six month residence next pre-
ceeding the payment. If 1t is shown that q party hs.
abandoned his land for . period Of nix months the entr,
Is subject to forfeiture.
A party can take one hundred and sixty acres unde1
the timber culture act. The requirements Of this Law
are that the party shall break ave acres during til,
first yea. FROM date Of entry; during the second year h
must cultivate to crop or otherwise said five acres snt
break FIVE acres, more sndt the third year he must plan
the fIst i've acres to trecs. seeds or cuttings, and cult
vate tbs second Ave acres to crop or otherwise. and tn
fourth year the second i've acres must be planted t
trees, seeds or cuttings.
After fulfilling the requirements of the tin,ber.cul
ture law - above stated, the claimant can make Una
proof 1t the end Of eight years and acquire title to hi
} "tree claim" without payment Of Sl.26 per acre, OF an
sum, to the government, - Il the r~squirement unde
the homestead and prescription laws. Undsr t6 tin
bssseshtntv ~ caly me trss slain eaa1bs takes IN
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