Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-17
Copp's Land Review.

bill pending before congress containing
important and benefcient provisions,
and predicted that it would pass both
houses. Well, the prediction proved
correct. but the bill failed to become a
law because it was not reached by the
president for signature before the adj
iournment Of congress. / have no doubt
that the matter will receive early atten-
ton when congress ~econvenes in De
cember; that the bill will be re-enacted,
and receive the signature of the presi-
dent. In order that the people may be
familiar with all its provisions, | print
it entire in this letter to the exclusion of
| other matter, deeming it Of the utmost
Importance:
"An act to allow persons who have aban-
doned or ~relinquished their home
stead entries to make another entry,
and for other purposes.
"Be it enacted etc, That any person
who has not heretofore perfected title
to a tract Of land which he has made
filing upon under the pre-emption law.
or entry Of under the homestead law
may make a homestake entry of not ex-
ceeding one-quarter section Of public
land subject to such entry such previous
filing or entry to the contrary notwith
standing; but this right shall not apply
to persons who perfect title to lands
under the presumption or homestead
laws already initiated.
"Sec. 2. That whenever it shall be
made to appear to the register and re-
ceiver Of any public land office, under
such regulations rs the secretary of the
Interior may prescribe, that any settler
upon the public domain under existing
law, is unable by reason of drouth,
whole OF partial destruction of crops.
sickness, or other unavoidable casualty.
to secure a support for himself, herself
or those dependent upon him or her
upon the lands settled upon, then such
register and receiver may grant to such
settler a leaye of absence from the claim
upon which he or she has filed for a
period not exceeding one year at any
one time, and such settler SO granted
leave of absence shall forfeit no rights
by reason Of such absence: Provided,
That the time Of such actual absence
shall not be deducted from the actual
residence required by law.
Sec. 3. That the price of all sections
and parts Of sections Of the public lands,
within the limits of the portions Of the
several grants of lands to aid in the
construction of railroads, which have
{ been heretofore and which may here.
G after be forfeited, which were by the act
making such grants or have since been
increased to the double minimum price
: and, also, Of all lands within the limits
of any such railroad grant, and not EN-
4 braced in the grant lying adjacent tc
and coterminous with the portions O
I the line of any such railroad which shall
not be completed at the date of this act
is hereby fixed at one dollar and twenty
five cents per acre.
"Sec. 4. That from and after the pass
age of this act, any homestead settle
who has entered less than one quartz
section of land may enter other and al
r ditional land lying contiguous to tn,
original entry, which shall not, with tn,
z land first entered and occupied, exceed
4 in the aggregate, one hundred and sixt,
e acres without proof Of residence upol
: and cultivation of the additional entry
and if final proof Of settlement and cul
t~ivation has been made for the origina
entry, when the additional entry i
made, then the patent shall issue with
e out further proof.
U Sec. 5. That every person entitled
under the provisions of the homestead
laws, to enter a homestead, who ha.
heretofore complied with, or who shall
hereafter comply with the conditions O.
said laws, and who shall have made his
final proof hereunder, for a quantity O
land less than one hundred and sixty
acres, and received the receivers final
/, receipt therefor shall be entitled under
said laws TO enter, by legal subdivisions
of the public lands Of the United States
subject to homestead entry SO much adj
! ditional land rs added to the quantity
4 previously SO entered by him shall not
exceed one hundred and sixty acres
> Provided, That in no case shall paten
issue until the person making such adj
ditional homestead entry shall hav,
actually and in conformity with tn
homestead laws resided upon and cult
waited the land entered therein an,
= otherwise complied with such laws"
Should my opinion as herein express
ed be verified, many homeless peopl,
will have occasion to rejoice in tn,
h opportunity to secure homes.
v IIrypy " Conn