Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1889-04-17
THE NEW LAND LAW.

The TRIBUNE has already given an al
stract of the new land law, but there are
provisions in 1t which merit renewed at
tention, The first section declares that ex-
cent in Missouri no land shall be subject
to private entry
The second section is for the relief OF
persons who have not heretofore acqu' red
land under the homestead law. The text
Of that section is as follows:
Sec. 2. That any person who has not
heretofore perfected title to tract OF land
Of which he has made entry under the
homestead law, may make homestead
entry of not exceeding one-q uartersectlon
of public land subject to such entry, such
previous filing or entry to the contrary not
withstanding; but this right shall not APP
| ply to persons who perfect title to lands
under tie presumption or homestead laws
already initiated. Provided, that all set
tiers upon the public lands whose claims
have been initiated prior to the passage
of this act may change such entries to
homestead entries and proceed to perfect
their titles to their respective claims I'M
der the homestead law, notwithstanding
they may have heretofore had the beneht
of such law, but such settlers who perfect
title to claims under the homestead law
shall not thereafter be entitled to enter
other lands under the presumption or
homestead laws Of the United States.
This will give another chance to per-
sons who may haye forfeited their right
: to acquire homestead under the public
: land law.
The third section is of much practical
Importance to people, such as some o.
the new settlers around Great Falls. who
have come with the intention OF earning
a living while "holding down. home
stead. This section directs that the reg
lister and receiver may allow any settler
e on the public domain leave of absence
for year when he or she lis unable by
reason of total Or partial destruction O.
failure Of crops, sickness or other una
: voidable casualty, to secure support TO
himself, herself or those dependent upol
him or her upon the lands settled upon.
The reasons here are rather restricted,bu
: under the rules which the secretary 0
the interior is to prescribe, the settle
may receive better terms than the act i'm
plies. The provision at least indicates
liberal spirit, which will no doubt hav
:, due weight with the land office.
- The fourth section fixes the price of a
- :. public lands adjoining railroad lands 6
~ s1,25 per acre. Itlikewise fixes at tn
- same prices all lands that have reverted
the public domain or may hereafter n
= vert thereto. This salutary provision wi
. serve to reduce the price Of land in tt
=. territories and may impel the land graz
railroads to sell on more reasonable term
~ The fifth section is intended to place a
= settlers on an equal basis as regards tt
- area of their "claims." If a person HI
- entered strip of, say 100 acres he will
- at liberty to enter 40 acres more els
-. where and can prove up for all at tt
49, same time. But the entire "claim" W
~, depend on the validity of the first emit
g He must town and occupy" the land
~, corded in the first entry, but he need L
:. occupy the second. In other words t
first entry carries with it the right to {
-. quire the second tract without regard
:. time or residence.
l.. In the sixth section the right to acqui
,..' the full 100 acres is extended to persc
n who have "proved up on less than tt
~ area. But they must "reside upon and C
- tivate" the extra land in accordance W
- the homestead laws. The seventh s.
80 ton very properly extends the time
,us proving up to ten days from the advert
~, ed date, when accident or unavoida1
~ delays" prevent the applicant or his v
,ot nesses from making such proof on
In day specified.
80 The final section provides that the
for the disposal of abandoned and usel
reservations shall remain in full fol
~, This new law may be abused and II
tho applied, but in the main its provisi
10, are wise and indicate the dawn oil
Nd brighter day tor the much abused sett