The record-union., 1891-02-28
TIMBER CULTURE LAW.
New Bill Agreed Upon by the Confe
once Committee.


| WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The conferees
on the bill for the repeal of the timber
culture law and amendatory land laws
generally have practically reached an
| agreement on an entirely new bill. which
| will be brought forward at the first op-
portunity.
! The subject matter of the bill has for
the past two Congresses been in dispute
| between the House and Senate, and for
| Il long time the contereeS during this
Congress failed TO come to an understand
| ing.
The bill agreed upon will change the
general land system of the Government
The bill first repeals the Timber Culture
| Act, but with a reservation in favor of
bona tide claims heretofore initiated.
In computing the period of cultivation
on claims already accruing it is provided
that the time shall run from the date OF
entry.
The preparation of land and the plant
| ing of trees will be construed as acts of
cultivation.
Persons who have complied with the
provisions of.the Timber Culture Act for
four years may prove up their claims by
the payment Of 81 % per acre.
The Desert Land Act has been amended
by the requiring of the filing map show
litS lIlG pEOpOsttl filtlilOti o1
and no person shall receive patents for
| land under the Act unless they have ex-
! pended in the work OF reclamation ut
least 81 per acre, 81 to be expended within
| each year.
| After four years the title may be Sc
| cured by the payment of 81 per acre.
Section 22SS of the Revised Statutes has
! been amended, SO thatany bona fide set
| tier may have the right to transfer any
portion of his claim for the right of way
! for irrigation purposes, as well as for
church, cemetery, railroad or school pur-
! poses.
The pre-emption law is repealed, except
| as to claims heretofore initiated and except
| as to prescriptions by counties under the
| special law.
Section 22S9 is amended so that persons
already holding 100 acres of land. or who
abandon their residence on their own
| land, shall not have the right to make a
homestead entry. Entries may be sgis-
| pended for the correction of clerical
errors.
The United States is estopped from the
| vacation OF any patent or claims hereto
| fore initiated, unless suit is brought with
| in five years, and on future claims within
| six years.
| It is provided that in Colorado. Mon
| tana, North and South Dakota, Wyo-
ming and the gold and silver regions of
| defense OF any prosecution for trespass to
/ show that the timber culture was for
| agricultural, mining, manufacturing or
| domestic purposes, and not for trans
! portation out of the State. This provis-
ion, however, does not apply tp rail-
roads.
! A provision is made for town-site en-
try in Alaska and for acquisition there of
| lands necessary for trade or manufactur-
ing purposes.
Towns and cities, it is declared, may
/ make town-Site entries on mineral lands,
but this right shall not interfere with
| working underground mineral claims.
| Provision is made for grants of right OF
way for irrigation purposes; bat reser-
| voir sites must not contain any more
| land than what may be necessary for
| their construction.
| The maximum amount of land which
any person may acquire is limited TO 320
acres.
| The President is given the right to set
apart and reserve in amy territory forest
! lands rs public reservations, not subject
to be entered upon.
This viii meet the principal aim OF
| what is known as the Yellowstone Park
bin.
In France there is Government tax O.
wo per cent. lowed on all bets on races.