Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-02-14
The Land Laws.

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There arc several millions Of aeres Of public land
yet remaining in this district, subject to entry. Much
Of this land ia the very best quality for agricultural
purposes, whilc there Is \ vast area that experience
has shown to 10 the very Ives, grazing land in tho
vest. \ party Intending to locate a claim should
either make personal inspection Of the land he intends
to enter, or have the report Of some trusted friend who
has made personal inspection Of tho land. Aner an
entry has once been made. oven il it is found to lie
worthless, it is very difficult and in most instance. i'm.
possible to obtain the privilege Of making another
entry.
The public lands In this Territory are subject to
entry under the homestead, redemption and timber
culture laws. One hundred and sixty acres can be en-.
tered under each law. A party can make = homestead
and timber culture entry, or n presumption and timbet
culture entry, al, The same time, but he cannot take u
homestead and presumption claim at the same time
A party who is twenty ons years Of age. or who is at
the head Of n family can make an entry Of puplic land.
A woman who is the head Of u family, o, a single
woman who is OVER twenty-ope years Of age can mako
entry Of public land.
Only those r. rsuns who are native horn 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 vb-
tain any right to land by actual settlement Lefue he
las declared his intention to bseono n citizen; hence
the first thing that a lesson 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 drclure his In.
tention to become II citizen. Noprty who is the OWNER,
Of 80 acres Of land in any State or l erritur, can take
u pre-t mpti,n claim; neither can any person who leaves
land If his uwn in this Territory to g. upon the public
land obtain any presumption right ly settlement.
(wnershirto land Is nu bar to making y homestead
entry. To make " legal prc-emrtion clam, u party
should fist make actual settlement upon tile land, aud
then within ninety days fr"m such settlement, h.
should file his dcciaiatory statement In ,hs local lund
office. "A filing made without prior s-t,l, men, i. null
aud v"id aid cunfvts no right upon tho ssttler, aud even
il liz lms Valuable improvements amt has Lceu All actual
resident ulrn the l"nd his Claim iAsubisct t. forfeiture
in the r. s-I.co Vi un adverse claim, Or even when tler,
IL no a,i,ersc claim. Hence. no part, should kls 4 de-.
~claratory statement for land until after lie Laa made Nh
actual. set:lsment upon the same. The law allows
par'y's right dates fvu the thus of settlement mud not
ttum the time Of filing.
A party eau obtuiu a legal right to one hundred and
sixty acres uuhei the prescription law prior to the sur
Wy Of said tnact ~ making settlement upon tho SAME.
-" 'ulHIu 0u1OIVVS III ilhNu' Tue SET
tier should strst designate the tract claimed by -hlna by
we'll defined land marks. If this Is done the right Of u
subsequent settler upon the SAM tract will be subject,
to the right VI ths1rst settler. .Ttp right Of n settler
dxtes fruni the date VI ;hs, settlement upvn tho land,
aud no Is allowed ninety days after the township plat
Is filed In the local laud office In which to Mo his pre-
emption dechhrstory' abatement. .Ai,eran actual resi-.
deuce VI SIX nopths upon land Asaitlsr, can u.aks lay-
ment for the same At 81. 25 ,per acre. lie eau make
payment for the land at any time wit, In . period Of
thirty three months fron the dHts Of set.ismsut After
showing cuatinvus p~esidence. upon The |sud for ak
months prior to tn. date Of making pruof. VI course
payment cannot be male fur land until after 1t Is sur
veyed aud comes into market. A party p,ssnssing the
sane lvgal qualifications q prescription claimant can
take Que hundred and sixty acres under the homestead
law. Under tile presumption law h party acquires his
tight by actual settlement: under the homestead iuwa
larty can gain an actual right by .muking au outrv at
the local land office, aud then he Ia allowed six months
from that dais in which to make hs actual settlement
aud establish hts residence. A settler can uake pay
mcnt fur his land Al 81 "a Ier acre after six months c.. n.
tInuuus rrsidciice aud Improvement OF the lund.Ur II he
continues his r.~ihence for tive yvars l,e can obtain title
to the claim without payment. Payment Ut u. Is per
acre can he made for land vt any time during nve years
from date uf entry, after six nun: lbs residence uaxl mo.
csedlng tlls paymeut. Ii 1t Ii shown that y purity In.
abandoned his land for y period Of six m"ntI,> tho entry
IL subject tn forfeiture.
A party can t.ke one hundred and sixty acres under
tho timber cultnrv net. The requirement. Of this Law
are that the party shall break five acres during The
first y kr ftUnn date OF entry during ths HeconI year he
must culii.at u crpp or otlierwi.e said five scred aud
hrrak tive ACRES mors anl the third yrar hp u,IAt plaut
the tir-t fve acres L" trees, seetls or ruttinga, mud cult.
vmtn III, second five acres to crop Or Otlierwi.r. and the
innrtl, year the 'r "nd 1--we acres must 10 planted to
tlrer, seeds ur cuttings.