The Russellville Democrat., 1889-04-18
Ghe 9emotrat.
sUPPLEM ENT.
THE OKLAHOMA LANDS.
Instructions Issued to the New
p.,,i.t.cs ond ISa.aiy.rs

registers ana AteceINerS.
WASHINGTON, April > Tie Com
missioner OF the general land office
with The approval of Secretary Noble
has issued to the registers and re
ceivers Of the newly established land
offices in Oklahoma a letter of in
structions which is ofspecial interest
to the persons desiring to settle in
that territory.
The most important features Of the
letter of instructions are the follow
ing.
"You will observe that the statute
reserves sections Is and SO IN every
township for school purposes, and
the proclamation reserves Tor govern
ment use and control the following,
viz: One acre of land IN square
form in the northwest corner Of sec
ton in township l6, north range
west, of the Indian meridian in the
Indian Territory, and also one acre
Of land in the southeast corner OF the
the northwest quarter of section 10,
township l6 north, range Z, west of
the Indian meridian in the Indlan
Territory. The remainder of the
lands are made subject to entry by
actual settlers under the general
homestead laws with certain modl-
| fications.
"Your attention is directed TO the
general circular issued by this office
January |, 1889, containing the
homestead laws and official regula
lions Hereunder. These laws and
regulations will control your actions,
but modified by the special proyis
ions of the said act of March 2, is.
SO, in the following particular, viz:
81. The rule stated on the sew
enteenth page of said circular, under
the title Only one homestead priv
ilege to the same person, permitted,
is so modified as to admit OF home
stead entry being made by anyone,
who, prior to the passage Of said act
had made a homestead entry, but.
failed from any cause to secure IT,
tie In fee to the land embraced there
IN, or who, having secured. such title
did so by what is known as the com
mutation Of his homestead entry.
with regard to persons making
homestead entries and failing to &C
quire title Hereunder, or committing
them after the passage of said act of
March ., 1889, the rule as to second
homestead is operative and will be
enforced in relation to these lands as
well as others.
20. The statute provides for the
disposal of these lands to actual set
tiers under the homestead laws only"
and while providing that the rights
of honorabIy discharged Union sol
diers and sailors In the late civil
war as defined and described In sec
tons, 1904 and 2,305 of the Revised
Statutes, shall not be abridged,
makes no mention of sections 2,306
and 2,307 thereof, under which such
soldiers and sailors, their widows
and orphan children are permitted
with regard to the public lands gen
orally TO make additional entries in
certain cases free from the require
ment of actual settlement OF the en-
tered tract. 1t is therefore held that
soldiers or sailors additional entries
cannot be made on those lands under
said sections 1906, and 2,307, unless
the party claiming will, IN addition
to the proof required, make atliida-
Wit that the entryHs MADE FOR actual
settlement and cultivation according
to section 1921 as modf
ed by sections 1904 and 2,305 of the
Revised Statutes, and the prescribed
proof of compliance Herewith will
be required to be produced before
the issue OF final certificate.
80. 1t is provided in the statute
that section 2,30l of the Revised
Statutes shall not apply to these
lands. Therefore, entries made
thereon will not be subject to com
mutation under that section.
ANY persons applying to enter or
/ Gle for a homestead will be required
I first TO make affidavit in addition to
other requirements that he did NOT
violate the law by entering upon or
occupying any portion Of the lands
described in the Presidents proca-
nation, dated March %, 1889, prior
70 10 o'clock noon, April -, 1889,
the AFFIDAVIT to accompany your re
turns for the entry allowed.
The statute provides that town
site entries may be allowed un.
der sections 1887 and 2,38S of the
United States Revised Statutes, but
limits the area ia any such entry TO
one. half section or $40 acres as the
maximum whatever the number OF
inhabitants.
"Should applications for town site
entries or filings be presented by
parties in interest in the absence Of
officers properly qualified to make en-
try in trust for the inhabitants, under
the provisions Of said section 2,367,