The St. Johns herald., 1888-08-23
CGPP'S LAND REYIEW.
How FOreign-BOrn Persons May
 Acquire Title to Public Lands.
Written for the St. Johns Herald.

entage who have not been natural ized, nor declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, nor received honorable dis charges from the military or naval service of the government, may purchase lands at private entry within the States and may acquire title to mineral lands within the Territories. It was probably the intention of the lawmakers, when enacting the law on this subject passed by the last Congress to pre- vent the aequirment by the aliens of title to agricultural lands in the several Territories, and, as the law has not been construed by the courts or the Interior Department, it may bethat the object has been attained. I am of opinion, however, that 1t is very doubtful whether the right to purchase land at private entry in the Territories-if any can be found subject to such entry-@has been denied to foreigners by said act.
 In ordinary cases of entry under the pre-emption and timber-culture laws, an alien who has declared his or her intention to become a citi- zen of the United States may ac quire title to public lands.
 An entry may be initiated under the homestead law by one who has made the declaration of intention respecting citizenship, but the nat uralization must be complete be- fore title can be perfected.
 In the administration of the public land laws, an honorable dis charge from the military or naval service of the United States is con sidered as equivalent to a declara- of intention to become citizen so far as relates to the initiation of claim.
 A declaration of intention by an entryman, who dies before being fully naturalized, is deem ed fully equivalent to declara- ton by his widow or minor chil- d,en. An alien can acquire no rights, as against an adverse claim ant, t,by settlement upon public land. Such settlers rights, in the absence of adverse claim, will relate back to date of original settlement upon becoming naturalized.
 The alien heirs of a deceased homesteader may purchase under section ?, act June 15, 1880, unless forbidden by the alien act yefered to above
 The son who came to this country as a minor with his father. and whose father-still living-has on- ly declared his intention to become citizen, is not qualified to make entry without having filed his own declaration Of intention.
 An alien who has been honora- bly, discharged from the military or naval service of the United States, may initiate a homestead entry, but must take out citizenship papers before he can complete his entry and receive patent.
 The nineteen-year-old daughter of a person who had declared his intention to become a citizen, but had not yet received his final citi- zenship papers, may in person or by guardian make proof upon the homestead of her deceased father, provided she shall have continued either in person or by proxy to cultivate and reside on the land embraced, and is able to show that sic has taken the paths required by naturalization laws.
 The full naturalization of an alien naturaIizes his wife and all minor children.
 The marriage of an alien woman to an American citizen endows her with citizenship.