The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-04-19
TOWN SITES in OKLAHOMA.
No Measures Can 10 Taken for Establish.
ing TlicM Before April c:.

The following letter has been issued by
Commissioner Of the General Land Office
Stoclslager, which fully explains itself:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
WASHINGTON. April s.
To the Hon. G. g. Vest, United States Senate:
SIR. have tho honor to return herewith tho
letter which you recent. left in this Office, NIL
dressed TO yon by II. S. Wicks. dated ut Kansas
okfnlioina, Indian territory. In reference
to tie specific questions presented by Mr.,
MiSks' letter have to state: 4; That tho
claims for TOWNSHIP purposes therein under said
sections 23s7 and 23sS must bc for the tracts ac-
aats recording to the proper legal subdivisions
established! by such surveys. Hence, no plats or
survey OF the town sites will be required for tho
the land SO occupied must DO identified as tho
tract applied for, by tho proper proof, specified
on page five OF sud circular Of July 0, 1886. which
ilces. 2. No measures can be taken on
prior to 1s o'clock noon Of tho 2oi inst,
when, for the first time, tho land becomes
open for settlement under tho proclamation.
3. 1t will he seen by reference to sections 1887
and 23ss as given in circular of July Q, 1886. that
the town shall bo Incorporated, in which the cn-
try must he madc by the corporate authorities
for whom insa,i the Mayor 9a may sy act, OF, If the town is
Court for tho county in which such town Is
situated, to make entry. AS it appears
TINT there are neither laws for incor-
i%ofItion OF own nor county organi-
zasions now existing, in Oklahoma, it does
not appear to be feasible for entries to be Of
fected under said sections wllilo this condition
continues, md applications should therefore be
mado TO tho district officers under sold sections:
but III the absence of tho officers properly quail
fied to nuke entry i'll trust for the Inhabitants,
according to tho provisions %tl,ereof, the register
and receiver are directed in circular of April !,
1859. to report the Same, md await further in
structions before allowing cntry of tho land.
The legal prerequisites to tho establishment
OF towns, or their incorporation as such,
are dependent upon local laws, and after
entry. is allowed under snid sections 1887 and
1888 in trust for tho inhabitants, the execution
of such trust, rs to the disposal of such lots in
sn!d town, md tho proceeds Of tho sales thereof,
Ia to be conducted under such regulations as may
be prescribed by the legislative authority of tho
Statc or Territory-see said section 1881. As an
example OF such legislation reference may DO
,sadeto tho compiled laws of Kansas-Dassler,
1881; pages 972 mud 073. Where there appears to
be no means by Which tOwll-sito entries may DO
effected, and The method of proceeding there
after determined rs to the right of tho inllabit-
UNITS i'll Oklahoma, until legislative provision is
innle for tho proper town and county organtza-
lions, and for the execution of the trust as CON.
tclnllateI i'll said sections 1887 aud 23S8, any
lands actually selected as tho site of city ortowI,
or any lands actually settled and occupied for
purposes of trade and business and not for agri.
Of reservation from disposal under the home.
stead laws, under sections 225s aud 1859, United
States Revised StatuteS, which will operate to
preserve the claims of the inhabitants 1T towns
from the thtorpOsing adverse rights of %scttlers,
until such timo as they be enabled to secure the
Respectfully,
s. M. ST~oCKsLAoER, Commissioners.