Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-16

school PURPOSES The lands so thrown open
to settlement are to be disposed or to actual
settlers only, in quantities not TO exceed
100 acres to each settler, At the price OF
Sl.25 per acre.
These lands are not to be opened to set
tlement until authorized by Presidential
proclamation. The President is directed to
cause land offices 10 be opened in the new
territory and the Commissioner OF the Cen
eral Land Office is ordered, upon direction
of the President, to cause the various por-
lions of the lands to be properly surveyed
and subdivided, where it has not already
been done, and if, after examination or Il
claim for patent, [ appears that such claim
was not taken out in good faith, the Com
missioner is to refuse patent and declare
all prior proceedings null and void. All
persons settling on lands under the pro
visions of this act are to maintain Il con-
tinual personal residence OF three years be-
fore obtaining title 1t opens the lands not
required for the use of any Indian tribes
to settlement. 1t makes it Il punishable
offense for any person or company to d.
rectly or indirectly induce any person 10
settle upon these lands with a view In
afterward acquiring title for himself from
The occupant. All leases of lands belong
ing to the United States or held in common
by the Indian tribes of Oklahoma, except
such as are held for farming purposes are
declared void and contrary to public policy,
and the President is required to cause the
lessees to be removed. The laws granting
lands for right of way to certain telegraph
and railroad companies except Tor right Of
way and necessary stations are TO be re-
pealed and such lands are to be forfeited
to the United States. 1t prob bits any rail
road company from acquiring lands in the
Territory to aid i'll the construction OF the
road.
Greer County is exempted from the pro
visions of the bill.
The bill as reported contains numerous
amendments, but none of its leading feat
ures are changed. The Territorial limits
are the same as in the original bill. and all
of the amendments adopted by the commit
tee are highly acceptable TO the friends of
The bill and are calculated TO add to its
strength. One of the amendments provides
for road four rods wide along each sec
ton line and another provides that in all
town sites not less than ten nor more than
twenty acres shall be reserved for parks
and other public purposes to be decided to
the municipalities when they shall be or
ganized. The time of residence under the
homestead sections is reduced to three
years, and payments for land can be made
in three annual installments.
The bill not only compels continuous resi-.
dence for three years but also continuous
cultivation. 1t provides, however, that IN
cases of soldiers who served in the late
war, the time of service may be deducted
from the required residence, provided no
time of residence shall be less than one
year In order to obtain title.
A substitute for section was adopted
follows: ''Section s. That the precedence
in applications, entry contests and adludl-
cations under this act shall all be in The
form and manner prescribed under the
Homestead laws of the United States,
and the general principles and
provisions of the Homestead
laws, except as modified by the
provisions of this act, shall be applicable TO
all entries made hereunder, and no patent
shall be issued to any person who is not
citizen of the United States at the time he
makes final payment. Such proof and pay
ment, except in cases OF contest, shall be
made within three months after the ex-
plratlon of three years from the date of
entry, and in default thereof, or in default
OF the payment of any installment of the
purchase money when due, the entry shall
be liable to cancellation and the money
pad thereon shall be forfeited to the
United States. Lands entered under the
provisions of the act shall be liable to tax
at on after the first installment OF the pur-
chase money shall have been paid, but the
same shall not be subject to any Judgment
or lien obtained upon Indebtedness con-
tracted or obligations incurred other than
for taxes prior to the issue or patent there
for. Nor shall such lands be sold or be
contracted to be sold, leased or contracted
to be leased, conveyed, mortgaged or in
any manner incumbered prior TO final
proof and payment and the record thereof
made in the office of the Commissioner
of the General Land ONCE, and any
sale, lease, conveyance or mort gage made,
executed or contracted for prior to such
final proof. payment and record shall be
absolutely null and void, and all assign
ments, transfers and mortgages of un-
patented land entries shall be at the risk
of the assignees, transferees and mort
gagses, who shall have no recourse "a galnst
the United States for any failure Of claim
ants TITLE before issue of patent"