The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-08-17
C0Pns LAND REVIEW.
How Foreign-Dorn Persons May Ae
4uire Title to Public Lands.

4uire Title to Public Lands,
Persons of foreign berth aud parent
age who have rot been natnralized,
nor declared their intention TO become
citizens of the United States, nor re-
ceiyed honorable discharges from the
military or naval service of the gov
eminent, may purchase lands at pri-
yaie entry within the states and may
acquire title to mineral lands within
the territories, 1t was probably the
intention OF the law makers, when en-
acting the law ON this subject passed
by the last congress, to prevent the ac-
quirement by alines OF title to agricul-
tural lands in the several territories,
and, as the law has been construed by
the courts or the interior department,
it may be that The object has been at
tanned. am Of the opinion, however,
that it is very doubtful whether the
right to purchase land at private entry
IN the territorles-if any can be found
subject to such entry-has been de-
MED to foreigners by said act.
In ordinary cases of entry under the
pTe-emption and timber culture laws,
an alien who has declared his or her
intention to become a citizen of the
United States may acquire title to
public lands.
An entry may be initiated under the
homestead law by one who has made
the declaration OF intention respect
ing citizenship, but the naturalization
must be complete before title can be
perfected
In the administration of the public
land law, an honorable discharge from
the military or naval service of the
United States is considered as euuiva-
lent to declaration of intention to
become citizen SO far as relates to the
initiation of claim.
A declaration of intention by an
entryman, who dies before beng fully
naturaliZed, Is deemed equivalent to a
declaration by his widow or minor
children. An alien can acquire no
rights, as against an adverse claimant,
by settlement upon public land, Such
settlers rights, in the absence of ad-
verse claim, will relate back to date of
original settlement upon becoming
naturalized.
The alien heirs of a deceased home
Steader may purchase under section
5, act June lo, 1880, unless forbid den
by the alien act referred to above.
The son who came to this country
as a minor with his father, and whose
father still living-has only declared
his intention to become citizen, is
| not qualified to make entry without
| having filed his own declaration of in
| tentiOn.
An alien who has been honorably
discharged from the military or naval
services of the United States, may in
itlate homestead entry but must
take out cltizeship papers before he
can complete in his entry and receive
| patent.
The nlneteen-year-ol daughter of a
person who had declared his intent1 on
to become citizen, but had not yet re-
| his final citizenship papers, may in per-
| son or guardian make proof upon the
| homestead of her diseased father, pro
| vided she shall have continued either
in person OF by proxy to cultivate and
reside on the land embraced, and is
able to show that she has taken the
oaths required by naturalization laws.
| The full naturalization of an alien
naturaliZes his wife and all minor chill
dren.
The marriage of an alien women TO
an American citizen endows her with
citizenship.
The children of an alien who were
minors at the date of his declaration of
intention to become citizen, must
complete their naturalization in tie
event that the citizenship of the father
was not completed prior TO tho attain
ment by them Of their majorities.
An alien who immigrates during his
minority and remains until after mt,
Jority must become naturalized if lie
desires to exercise the rights and enjoy
the privileges OF citizenship.
Alien women may be naturalized the
same as foreign born men, the proceed.
ing being precisely similar.
The rules respecting citizenship in
relation to entries OF public lands ap.
ply to all alike without regard to sex.
\ HD,rDN NJ Cam