The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-02-04
General News Con densed.
LAND OFFICE POLICY

i 2. -. 10 4 va VI.
dc says that Patents are being Issued
More Rapidly than ever, and his Audi.
tors Prononnce His Position Correct.
N Washington, Special Telegram, Jan. 81 -
Commissioner Sparks to-day received dele
cations from Aberdeen, Oak, and OMAHA
Seb. In each instance his visitors called to
protest against certain rulings OF the land
office and learn from the commissioner YER
bally something definite regarding his inten.
lions. The Aberdeen delegation presented
q long memorial, signed by Delegate Clif-;
lord and other Western representatives, set
ting forth the troubles OF the land business.
1t was held that the withholding OF patents
and the cancellation OF entries were infict.
ing hardships upon innocent persons and
Tightening capital out OF the new SETTLE
ments. The burden OF the address was that
the receipts given by the districtland office
should DO final in order that money
loaned upon such receipts would be secure.
Another feature OF the memorial was the
statement that the investigation Of fraud
ulent entries after the issuance OF land GER
tificates inflicted injury upon innocent pur-
chasers Of the land. Mr.. Sparks met the
yarions phases Of the case in the following:
The land Office receipts cannot be
final under the law. You must ap-
peal to congress. The decisions OF
the courts are adain at this point.
This department cannot amend the law
1t Is our duty simply to enforce it. a per-
aon Ion nine n, oyoy :, ~, 1l>a l,,7 "a, - -,
ceipts and taking q mortgage is perfectly
secure if the entry was ingood laith. I APP
prohend that no man lends money upon
public lands in this stage without knowing
something about the improvements, the
actual residence and the good faith OF the
pre-emptor. II he do es lie is not ordi-
narily prudent. The bona fidesettler who
is making his home upon the land, and has
substantial improvements will not be mo-
Tested. The man who goes there with all he
/ has, enters land in good faith, maintains a
Ehabitable dwelling, and does what he can
in the way of;cultiyating his land, is a sale
person to loan money to. He is not going
to be disturbed. On the contrary, mean
that he shall be protected. 1t is the chap
who is not making improvements or an
actual residence, who has q worthless
shanty on his place, in which he OCCASION
| ally spends q night, and who proves up
BY means of perjury and other kinds
Of sharp practices, that this depart
ment is alter. This is not q sale per-
son to loan money to. for il the land in de.
serted MS soon as the loan has been OBJ
tanned, OF if any agent discover and report
the manner in which the entry was made,
| no patent will be issued. Iwould not ad-
wise anybody to loan money upon land
taken by q nonresident who leaves the
country as soon as he has made final proof,
but loan would be perfectly secure in a
case where there is actual settlement. The
courts have decided that the government
has not parted with y the land
until tho patent issues; but I'VE
have taken the position that when
claimant has secured his rs.eiptA is
equivalent to "A patent for purposes OF
mortgaging or alternating the land, provid-
ed he has complied with the law. In loan
ing money it is wise TO- ascertain that the.
borrower has made, a Proper residence and
otherwise obseEye tho Jaw in good faith.
| Then it is perfectly safe to deal with him.
the same as il he held the patent. Re
5gareiing the statement that patents are
being withheld to an unusual extent I
can assert that they are being issued.
faster by five hundred or o thousand per
mouth than ever before in the history OF
this country. 5.3 +: ;s37S
The visitors nowledged the fairness
and business Of Gen. Spark position. The
Omaha bunker stated that he considered
the. commissioner to be right on the subject
and he declared that he would not lo an
money to any man who WINS acquiring land
fraudulently. 3 -.
Washington Gossip. HI.