Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-02-06
The Land Laws.

There are several millions Of acres Of public land
yet remaining H. this district, subject ~ entry. Much
Of this land L. the very bcst quality for agricultural
purposes, while there 10 q vast area that experience
bus shown to I've the very best grazing land In tho
west. A party intending to locate . 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. After an
entry has once cen nlnde, even II It Is found to be
worthless, it is very difficult and 10 most instances i'm.
possible to obtain the privilege If making another
Tile public lands In this Territory are subject to
entry under the Homestead, presumption and timbe
culture laws One hundred and sixty acres can be on.
tered under each law. A party can make q bomestead
and timber culture entry, or a presumption and ti,aber
culture entry. Vt the same time but he cannot take y
homestead and ~pre-emptiUn claim at the same time.
A PARTY who Is twenty one years Of age. or who 10 at
the head Of a family can make an entry Of puplic land.
A woman who is the head Of q family, o, a single
woman who 10 over twenty.one years Of age can make
| entry of public land.
Only those p rsuns 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 ob.
tain any risht TO land by actual settlement before he
has declared his intention to betsme a citizen; hence
the frst 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
.snt I to become a citizen. hoparty who is the owner
u prescription claim; neither can any person who leaves
land Of Ills own In this Territory to 90 upon the public
land obtain any presumption right by settlement.
ownership to land is no bur to making a homesteai
entry. To make q legal pre.elnption claim, a party
should first make actual settlement upon the land. and
then within ninety days from such settlement, he
should file his declaratory statement in the local land
Office. A filing made without prior settlement |. null,
and void and ccnfers no right upon the settler, and even
resident upon the land his claim Is subject to forfeiture
I'M the presence ofan adverse claim, or even when therr
is no adverse Claim. Hence, no party should file . de.
claratory statement for land until after he has made an
actual settlement upon tn" same. The law allows
ninety days from settlement In which to file, and the
Larty's right dates from the time Of settlement and not
A party can obtain q legal right to one hundred and
wy Of said tract ~ making setuemen upon the same
In making settlement 'upon unsurveyed land tho set.
tler should first designate the tract claimed by him by
well defined land marks. If this Is done tho right of a
subsequent settler upon the same trart will be subject
dates from tue date of his settlement UPON the land.
and he Is allowed ninety days after the township plsl
is.aled in the local tInd Office in which to hle his pro.
emption declaratury statement. After an actual resi-.
dence Of six months upon land q settler can make pay.
nent for the same ut Sl.25 per acre. He can make
PAYMENT for the ;and at any time within a period Of
showing y continuous residence upon the land for SIX
months prior to the date Of making proof. Uf course
payment cannot be made for land until after It Is sur.
veyed and comes into market. \ party possessing the
saulo legal qualification as a presumption claimant can
take one hundred and sixty acres under the Homestead
law. Under the law {. party acquires bis
right by actual settlement: under the homestead lava
iarty can gain an actual right by making an entry al
the local land office. and then he Is allowed six month,
from that date IL which, to make his actual settlement
and establish his residence. A settler can make pay.
ment for his land u, Sl.z5 ler acre after six months Con.
tinuous residence and Improvement oftlie land. or If lie
continues his residence for five years hecan obtain title
" the claim without payment. Payment at ST. IS pc,
aero can be made for land at any tinie during five year.
from date Of entry, after six mon lis residence ncxt pre-
ceedine the payment. If 1t IL shown that q party Ina.
abandoned his land 70 aperiod If six months the entry
10 subject t. forfeiture.
A party cat take one hundred and sixty acres under
the timber. culture act. Tho requirements Of this law
are that the party shall break 1--we acres during tile
first y ar from date OF entry; during the second year III
must cult, ate " crop or otherwi Q said five acres aud
breuk five acres. more anil the third year he must plant
the first five acres to trees, seeds or cuttings, and cult
yate th , second five acres to crop or otherwise. and the
fourth year the 20 Ond five acres must be planted te
trees, seeds or cuttings.
Alter fulfilling the requirements of tho timber cul
ture law NJ above stated. thu claimant can make fnaj
proof at the end Of eight years and acquire title to his
tree claim" without payment Of Sl.25 per acre. or an.
su1n, to tile government. ~ il the requirement unds
the homestead and presumption laws. Under tho tin,
ber-cnlture act only one tree claim can be taken in
section