The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-03-11
IMPORTANT CHANGES.

The Repeal Of the Timber Culture Lsw
WIN Work Radical Change in Land En-.
tries-Provislons of the New Law.
WASHINGTON, March e.-Among the
bills signed by the president was one
ITO repeal the timber culture act" The
title hardly gives a hint of the impor
lance of this legislation Under 1t is
embraced a radical reconstruction Of
the public land laws of the United
States. The repeal of the act which
permits entries by timber culture Is
only one feature of the new law. Acme-
stead, presumption. "a;ns-a. aN.riss and
other branches of the publ: land laws
have undergone marked changes by
this legislation. The bill was prepared
and perfected by Senator Plumb and
Representative Payson. 1t embraces
many reforms which have been
before congress after congress in
separate bills for eight or ten years,
but have never reached enactment. The
design of Senator Plumb and Mr.. Pay
son was to reconstruct the land laws SO
as to make them conform to changed
conditions of the public domain. To
this end much attention was given to
the question of irrigation. Elaborate
provision is made in the new law for
legalizing the location of reservoirs,
canals and bitches. A very noticeable
section is that which confers on the
president the power to withdraw from
occupation such timber land as he sees
fit and set it apart in trust reserves.
Senator Plumb and Mr.. Payson have
prepared an epitome of the new law
very briefly setting forth the promi-
nent features. The entire act would
fill several columns. The epitome is
as follows:
This bill repeats the timber culture
law, but saves the rights of all existing
entries, and gives right of commuta-
ton to those who have for four years,
in good faith, tried to comply Mt Sl.25
per acre. Section provides modifi-
cation of the desert land act, providing
fully for actual reclamation of the land
entered, and preventing speculative ac-
emulation of land, with a saving of all
rights under existing entries. Sec
ton enlarges section 22s, revised
statutes, by including reservoirs or
bitches for irrigation purposes, as
land which may be transferred.
Section repeats the presumption laws.
with modification of the homestead
law, and with provisions more strict as
to proofs of entry, and all final proofs,
extending the Communication from six to
fourteen IN onths. Sections and s pro-
vide detail as to final action in the in
terror department on final entries, and
provide limitations as to contests and
suits to cancel patents, fixing the latter
at five years as to patents now issued,
and six years as to future ones.
Provisions as to timber trespasses:
Section 9 prohibits offering of public
lands and public sale hereafter, thus
preventing private or cash entries. Sec
tons 10 to II relate to lands in Alaska,
for their acquisition for manufacturing
and commercial purposes and for town
sites. Section II allows mineral entries,
in addition to the maximum allowances
of $50 acres allowed by existing law.
Sections is, 10, 90 and 81 relate to bitches
and reservoirs, and provide for their
construction. Section 90 cures defects
in the titles of settlers on certain for
mer Indian lands, caused by different
rulings of the department of the in
terror. Section "a authorizes the presi-
dent to set apart trust reserves where,
to preserve timber, he shall deem it adj
visable.