The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-11-25
GOVERNMENT LANDS.
TWO WAYS BY WHICH FREE HOMES
MAY BE ACQUIRED.

Land May be Acquired by Timber Gull
ture Entry-RightS of Honorably Dis
charged Soldiers.
Government lands are available for free
homesteads in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Dakota, Florida, Idaho,
Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wash
ington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Texas has
no free lands. When she won her independ-
ence, at the saber's point, her domain be-
came absolutely her own, and when the COM
pact of union with the other states was
formed she retained her proprietorship. The
lands of Alaska are not open to settlement,
and no title to any of them, save such mar.
rowed and uncertain interests as may be de-
rived from old Russian grants, can be OBJ
tanned. There is fiction that some vacant
lands remain untaken in Indiana and Illinois,
but ii has no foundation. A few undesirable
quarter sections may be found in remote parts
of Iowa. Within the vast public domain are
found every variety of soil and climate, and
every condition which men regard as condu
Give TO prosperous rural life The opportu-
nifty for choice is almosJ unlimited
Free homes may be acquired from the gov
eminent domain in two ways-by home
stead and by timber culture entries. The
first of these ways is general in its applica-
ton, while the second is available only in
the prairie countries The homestead law
enables actual settlers to secure title to not
more than 160acres each, provided the home
steader be 81 years old or the head Of a
family and citizen of the United States or
one who has legally declared his intention to
become citizen. The settlement must he
actual and for the purpose of cultivation. To
complete title the homesteader must within
six months after entry begin to live on the
land, and must continue his residence there
for five years without intermission.
HoNoRABLY DISCHARGED SOLDIERS
If the settler has served In the army or
navy of the United States, and been honor
ably discharged, the period of such seru is
deducted from the five years of residence,
but the residence must last at least one year
Soldiers discharged because Of wounds are
entitled to deduct the entire term of their
enlistment. Stock raising and dairying are
construed as cultivation. The land office
fees for homestead entries, payable when APP
plication is made, are; In Alabama, Arkan-
sas, Dakota, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louis
lana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and
Nebraska, land within the limits of rail
road grant, for 100 acres, SlS; for so acres,
80; for 40 acres, 81; land outside the limits
of a railroad grant, for 100 acres Sl4; for
so acres, 81; for 40 acres, So, In Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah. Wash
ington, Wyoming and Wisconsin, land with
in the limits of railroad grant, for JOG
acres, S22; for so acres, ST. for 40 acres, S.
land outside the limit Of railroad grant
for 100 acres SIG; for 80 acres, IS; for
40 acres, $3.50 The fees for final proof
in the first named states are 81, and in the
last named states 50 for 100 acres Of land out
side the railway limit, and double these foi
land within such limit, smaller tracts being
charged proportionaly.
All government lands in Arkansas ant
Missouri all United States lands in Mich
! gan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas, ex
: cept odd-numbered sections within the limit
a of railroad grants, made since Jan. l, 1861
n and all government land in all other state
:, and territories which does not fall under tn
: above exception, and which is not reserve,
:, or designated as coal or mineral land, ar
open to homestead entry. It is not necessar,
that government surveys should precede set
g Element, although they must be made befor
. title can be perfected. The settler ON unsur
{ veyed land acquires preferred right" b
enter H.
II THE TIMBER CULTURE LAW.
b Upon the prairie lands 100 acres may
r, acquired under the timber culture law, tn
a qualifications Of the settler being the same q
II for homestead. The fees In this case ar
:. $14 at the time Of entry and 81 when tn
7, final proof is made. No distinction is mad
y as regards lands within or without the limit
o of railroad grants. The requirements ar
I, eight years residence and the cultivation G
70 a stated area of forest trees per year. Land
a. acquired under either of the above laws ar
not subject to the debts Of the settler mad
q. prior to their acquisition. Under the deseI
q land law $40 acres can be acquired by pay
ment of twenty-five cents per acre down, th
% construction of means of irrigation, and th
e payment of 81 per acre at the end of thrt
. years.
ie The entries Of government land were,
s. round numbers, 100000 acres in 1888
TX 26,0O0,000 acres in 1884, and 20,000000 acr,
It IN 1885 at this rate the available area, II
IL Guiding reserves, will be exhausted With
the next two decades.
J In addition to the government lands, var
q GUS states offer to settlers at nominal price
y ranging from six cents TO as many dollar
u, per acre, 5S, 800 900 acres OF desirable land.
W There is held In reserve by the federal go'
=, eminent all the vast territory Of Alaska, an
10 about 50, $40, 600 acres Of Indian reservation
" exclusive Of Indian territory and Oklahomi
70 The different territories also hold %, 500,0 OK
acres of land for the benefit Of their scho
funds when they shall become states The
reserve areas will be futher increased
:. some 100000 acres which is now So
y marshes, but which can be recovered fro
= the seas. Several million acres will also
e added to the free domain through forfeitur
u Of railway grants. The lands Of Alaska a
- of uncertain availability, but that possessic
!. will afford at least So 900, 900 acres susceptib
~ Of modified cultivation. The Indian reservI
~ tions are choice farming sections, and Il
- areas reserved to the territories partake OF q
= the varying characteristics Of the regions
which they lie.--Chicago News.
--
BURDETTE
a. PAYS a Tribute 20 the Memory Of II
~ .r.u,o~oH GoI.nnI TaonItae