The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-07-06
THE CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS.
Tie Irrigation aud OHter Clauses Ia tie Net,
Land BH,

"
Tie Irrigation aud Other Clauses In h,e Ye,v
Land BH.
The land bill rs passed by the house
on the 29th carried the Holman amend
ment, retaining title in the government
to coal mines found on government
lands, but allowing entrymen to use
such coal mines until further action by
congress. The bill as passed contains
the following provisions: 1t Classics
all public lands as follows: Agricultu-
raj, timber, mineral, desert and re-
served, and disposes of mineral lands
the same rs under existing laws, and al
lows every citizen, OIL person who has
declared his intention to become a citi-
zen, to enter 100 acres at the price of
$40 per acre. 1t forbids the sale of all
timber land, but allows the timber to be
disposed of under proposals, allowing
settlers the use Of timber which has no
commercial value for domestic uses.
The secretary of the interior is required
TO reserve shade trees on the lines of le-
gal subdivisions, and the residents of the
western territories are permitted to
Gu timber under existing law for six
months after the passage of this act. If
mineral is discovered on tracts where the
timber has been sold, such lands may be
entered as mineral lands. it provides
for the sale, at not less than $1.25 per
acre, of isolated tracts of less than 100
acres, and authorizesa any person to enter
a 320-acre tract of such land upon affida-
fit that it is for his own benefit, and not
for a corporation, and that he intends to
cultivate ~ NV irripntinn an1 1TnT q
payment Of from So to $40, according to
the size Of the entry. Persons are to be
permitted to associate in the conStruc-
ticn of irrigation bitches and to file joint
maps, surplus water to be free to the
public. Patent is to issue for desert
lands only when one-eighth of the land
has been irrigated, and cultivated with
IN three years and upon payment of %
cents per acre heads of families are per-
mltted to enter quarter-sectlon tracts
where they don't own that amount of
land III any state or territory (maklng
afiidavits that the land is intended for
their own use) upon a payment OF 50 or
$40, according to the size of the entry.
Any person who has not previously had
the benefit of the homestead and pre-
emption law, and who has failed to per-
feet title to a tract entered by him is to
be permitted to make a second entry in
lieu thereof In case of drouth or sick
ness an entryman may be allowed leave
of absence from his claim for not ex-
ceeding IN year at time, but this time
is not to be deducted from the actual
residence required. The. entrymen is
required to establish residence upon his
claim within six months after entry in a
habitable house and to reside continu-
ously thereon for five years and cult
vate at least ten acres, when he may take
out n patent. Proof of settlement, irri-
CATION, residence, etc, may be made
before a United States commissioner
and clerk of a court of record in the
county. 1t is unlawful for any n to
cut and wantonly burn or destroy what
may be necessary for clearing the land
for actual settlers. A strip of land ON
each side of section lines is reserved for
public highways. 1t repeats the pre-
emption and timber culture laws, al
lows settlers, when subjects of action at
the hands of land grant companies or
persons holding title under foreign
grants, to plead in defense
action of congress or the executive in
certifying OF p~atenting the land to the
tcOmpanieS.