St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-18

TOT several years cOllSrcSS HAS dppdI-
emily been upon the point of revising
and materially changing the land laws,
but they still remain intact. This, of
course, is not matter pertaining to Da-
kOta exclusively, but as it now has the
greater share of the public lands invit-
ing the landleSS, it is specially inter-
ested i'll the character of the land laws.
Heretofore, when it h as been proposed
TO repeal portions of the statutes, it has
been DANGEROUSLY opposed by many of
the journals and prominent citizens of
the territory. as calculated to deter mi
grafton TO and investment in the terri
tory. These notions, if seriously
entertained, have worn away, and
the opinion is now prevalent that
the laws need modification and ma
terial change. The bill reported to have
been introduced by committee in the
house recently is stated to absolutely
repeal the provisions granting pre-
emptiOn and tree-claim rights. So far
as the first of these is concerned, this is
probably the best disposition to be made
of il. No rigOr of administration can
Obviate the evils resultant from it.
Under its operation, Dakota is studded
all over with vacant shacks and tenant
less claims acquired by parties who
have never had serious intention of
making homes upon them. Under the
present enforcement of the land laws,
the abuses of lax administration are
much abated, but if there was ever
necessity for such a statute, the time
hoc e.,
is concerned. The homestead right,
with, perhaps, some modification, is suf
ticient. The aim of the tree culture act
is good, and should not be lost sight of
by the lawmakers. The law has been
practically worthless to promote this
object, and had probably better be re-
pealed than to continue as it has been
but one of the most urgent, imperative
needs of the prairie regions of Dakota is
forestry. A good variety of trees can
be grown in every part of the territory
with reasonable effort. Liberal in
ducements should be presented 10y the
government for the development of this
feature. Enough of the claims taken
under the act have been improved as
contemplated by the law to demonstrate
the feasibility of the end sought, but
the claimants do not often care
TO give the requisite pains and
labor, when there are easy and lu-
crative means to evade them. The
claims under this right that have been
matured in good faith are the exception.
As a rule the claimant holds the land for
speculation, and when he can hold it no
longer without the Improvements eX-
acted by the law, he sells the relinquiSh-
meut or converts it into a homestead.
The law should be rigorous and evade-
less in the requirement that no title
should be acquired to the quarter sec
tons set apart as tree claims until the
purpose of the statute is fully accom-
plished. There should be no diversion
from the object for which the
designation is made. If the claim
ant does not, grow the trees, he
should not have the land. The title
should continue in the government
until there has been honest full
fillment of the objects of the laws.
1t is desirable to make it very easy for
people of small means to secure homes
and contribute to the development of
the cOuntry-and most liberal induce
ments should be offered to secure the
growth of trees, but no more tracts of
land should pass into the hands of great
corporations, SyndicateS or SPECTATORS
The small farmers, the men who live on
the land, are the ones who develop
and build up the country, and the land
should be held for them alone. The proc
ess of acquiring the land should be
made as simple and inexpensive as
possible, consistent with full guaranty
that they are to hold and improve it in
good faith as actual occupants and per-
maneut settlers.