Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-03-12
WILL BE REPEALED.
The Present Timber Culture Law Will Be
Repealed.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.!The confer
ees on the bill for the repeal of the tim
ber culture law and amendatory of the
land laws generally have practically
reached an agreement on an entirely
new bill, which will be brought forward
at the first opportunity. The subject
matter of the bill has for the past two
congresses been in dispute between the
house and senate, and for a long time
the conferees during this congress failed
to come to an understanding. The
bill agreed upon will change the gen.
eral land system OF the government.
The bill first repeals the timber culture
act, with a reservation in favor OF
bona fide claims heretofore initiated.
In computing the period of cultivation
on claims already accruing it is pro-
vided that the time shall run from the
date, the entire necessary acts OF cul-
tivation shall be performed within the
proper time; the preparation of the
land and the planting OF trees shall be
construed as acts of cultivation. Per
sons who have complied with the pro-
visions of the timber culture act for
four years may prove up their claims
by the payment of $1.25 an acre.
The desert land act is amended by
requiring the filing of map showing
the proposed method of reclamation,
and no person shall receive patents
for land under the act unless he has
expended in the work of reclamation
at least 50 per acre, 81 to be expended
within each year. After four years
title may be secured by the payment
OF 81 per acre.
Section 22SS, Revised Statutes, is
amended SO that any bona fide settler
may have the right to transfer any
portion OF his claim for right OF way
for irrigating purposes, as well as for
church, cemetery, railroad or school
purposes.
The preemption law is also repealed
except as to claims heretofore initiated
and rs to pre-emptions by counties I'M
der special law. Section 22S9 is
amended so that persons already hold
ing 16O acres of land, or who aban-
doned their residence on their own
land, shall not have the right to make
homestead entry. Entries may be
suspended for the correction OF clerical
errors. The United States is estopped
from the vacation of any patent on
claims heretofore initiated, unless suit
is brought within five years, and on
future claims within six years; pro-
vided that in Colorado, Montana,
North and South Dakota, Wyoming
and the gold and silver regions OF Ne
vada and Utah it shall be sufficient
4 sc 50,
to show timber cut for agricultural,
mineral, manufacturing or domestic
purposes, and not transported out OF
the state. This provision, however, is
not to apply to railroads.
Provision is made for townsite entry
in Alaska and for the acquisition there
of lands necessary for trade or manu-
featuring purposes. Towns and cities,
it is declared, may make townsite en-
tries on mineral lands, but this right
shall not interfere with the working OF
underground. mineral claims. Pro
vision is made for grants OF right OF
way for irrigation purposes, but reser-
vOir sites may not contain any land
necessary for construction and main
tenance. The maximum amount OF
land which any person may acquire Is
limited to 800 acres. The president is
given the right to ct apart and reserve
in any territory forest lands as pub
lie reservation, not subject to be en-
tered upon. This will meet the princi-
pal aim of what is known as the Vel
lowstone Park bill.
Since the above was put in type tht
bill has become a law and Commiss-
ioner Croft has sent the following
notice to all registers and receivers oi
land offices: climber culture and
pre-emption laws are this day re
pealed. Allow no further entries there
under of claims hereafter initiated"