The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-01
CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OFCOM
MISSIONER GRAFEpS DECISION

Editor The DIAMOND DAHL;
DEAR SR:--Therc seems TO be much
misunderstanding, Of the honorable com
missioner letter 81 the 18th instant,
among our pre-emptors and homestead
ers, and many OF them think TINT it is
necessary for them TO appeal from his
decision.
II you viii kindly give me space | will
cndeavor to set them right ia the matter,
although it may seem egotisticil in me
to say SO, but | have made careful
study Of our land question and believe
that am not altogether incompetent to
give advice.
Ia the first place it might bc well to
review the history OF the hand question,
or that part OF il 20 which Hon. l.. III.
Groif's letter applies From 1882, the
time OF the discovery Of the cloud upon
the title Co the lands within the grant to
the Ontonagon q Brule River railroad,
np to the time of the forfeiture in March,
1889, many persons filed declaratory
statement applications 10 prc-empt Ger
tain portions 81 these lands. which
applications We're rejected by the local
hand offices az Marquette, and the APP
plcations appealed To the honorable
commissioner. Not hearing from their
appeals many ~ these applicants have
abandoned their claims aud left the
country.
Others came in and finding no one on
these abandoned claims. settled thereon
aud applied therefore, their applications
being rejected AMI they appealing as
their predecessors did before thcm. The
first applicants not being ia The country
did not renew their applications, while
the subsequent applicants did renew
theirs aud they were allowed In this
manner the commissioner office became
flooded with appeals As time passed
the second applicants made final proof
and paid for their lands.
Ia considering these final proofs the
department was net with the inct that
the appeals Of the prior applicants for
these same lands were still pending, and
that they could not allow subsequent
entries until the prior appeals had dis
posed Of ; and as u would take months
aud even Yeas TO consider each case
separately, the honorable Commissioner,
IN order To save time aud permit the
bona hie settler 20 secure his title with
az little delay as possible, has by one
decision sustained the decision ~ the
local offices los rejecting The applications
Tor reasons given in said letter. Under
the rules 81 practice before the Interior
department the PARTIES are allowed sixty
days from date az notice ia which tu
appeal TO the honorable secretary Of the
Interior
The iuics further provide that when
notice is given by mail five additional
days shall d. allowed lJr sprvicc and Eve
more for returns OF appeal, making in
an SEVENTY DAYS ia which an appeal may
De- Gicd ia the local Office 81 Marqnette.
Emo appeal betaken. at the end 81 the
seventy days the honorable commission
er's decision becomes absolute aud The
SECOND applicants proofs will b. paase'i
upon and his claim allowed This viii
also explain Che delay those who have
made final proof have experienced ~
hearing from their said prooi~.
In conclusion will say That II any pre-
enntnr car homenteadcr hae not renewed
has application, he had better do 80 at
onrc and send ia his ipe tothe l,,enl ollice.
There ia another cln-s ~ claimants
whose attention wish la call 10 some
necessary ateps "a be taken 60 enable
them Co make proofs Of their claims, Il