Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-11-21
The Land Laws.

There are several millions of acres of public land
yet remaining In this district, subject to entry. Mucl,
OF this land is the very host quality for agricultural
purposes, while there is a vast area that experience
has shown to he tho very best 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 have the report of some trusted friend who
has made personal inspection of the land. After an
entry has once ''een made, oven If it Is found to I've
Worthless, it is 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 OIL
tered under each law. A party Gun make a homestead
and timber culture entry, or n presumption and tiiahc,
culture entry, ut the same time but he cannot take a
homestead and presumption claim ut tho same time.
a party who Is twenty one years of age. or who is ut
The head Of Il family can make an entry Of puplc land.
A woman who is the head Of a family. q, a single
woman who IL over twenty-une years of age 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 oh.
tain any right to land hy actual settlement before he
has declared his intention to become a citizen; hence
the first thing that a person of foreign birth. who in.
tends to enter public lands, should do upon his arrival
is to go before the Clerk of the court and declare his in
tention to become a citizen. No party who is the owner
of $40 acres Of land in any State or Territory can take
land of his own in this Territory to 80 upon tho public
land obtain any presumption right iy settlement.
Ownership to land is no bar to making n homestead
entry: TO make a legal presumption claim, a party
then within ninety days from such settlement he
should file his 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 even
ifhe has valuable improvements and tas been an actual
resident upon the land his claim Is subject to forfeiture
in the presence fan 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 tho same. The law allows
ninety days from settlement in which to file, and the
rarty's right dates from the time of settlement and moi
from the time Of filing.
y party can obtain Il legal right to one hundred and
ixty acres under the presumption law prior to the sur.
wy of said tract oy making settlement upon the same
In making settlement upon unsurveyed land the set.
tier should first designate the tract claimed by him b,
well defined land marks. If this is done the right of a
subsequent settler upon the same tract will be subject
to tho right Of the first settler. The right of II settle,
dates from the date Of his settlemen upon the land
and le Ia allowed ninety days after tho township pla,
Is filed in the local land office in which to file his pre-
emption declaratory statement. After an actual resi-
dcnce Of six months upon land a settler can make pay
ment for the same at SIPS per acre. He can make
payment for the land at any time within o period o.
thirty three months from the date Of settlement aftcl
showing u continuous residence Upon the land for al,
months prior to the date Of making proof. Of cours.
payment cannot b. made for land until after it is sur
veyed and comes into market. 4 party possessing tn.
same legal qualification as u presumption claimant cal
take one hundred and sixty acres under the Homestead
law. Under the presumption law q party acquires hi
/ AiSht W Itu bctttGIIcut. uAucE u uoluebteAu laN8
party can gain an actual right by making an entry u
the local land office. and then he is allowed six month
iron, that date In which to make his actual scttlemen
and establish his residence. A settler can make pay
ment for his land at SIZE per acre after six months con
tinuous residence and improvement ofthc land.o or If IL
continues his residence for five years he can obtain it'll
to the claim without payment. Payment at ST. Is pe
acre can he made for land at any time during FIVE year
from date Of entry, after six months residence next pre-
ceeding the payment. II it is shown that a party ha
abandoned his land for a period Of six months the entr,
is subject to forfeiture.
A party can take one hundred and sixty acres unde
the timber culture act. The requirements of this lav
are that the party shall break five acres during til
first year from date of entry; during the second year h
must cultivate to crop or otherwise said five acres All
break five acres, more anil The third year he must plan
the first five acres to trees, seeds or cuttings, and cult
vate ths second five acres to crop or otherwise. and tn
fourth year the second five acres must he planted t
trees, seeds or cuttings.
After fulfilling the requirements of the timber.cul
ture law q above stated, the claimant can make fins
proof At the end Of eight years and acquire title to hi
stree claim" without payment Of 81 % per acre. or An
sum, to the government, ~ II the requirement undo
the homestead and ~pre-emption laws. Under the tin
bsrenlture cot oaly one tres claim can b. taken in
] soSjon,