The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-28
TIMBER CULTURE.
The COnferreeS Practically Agree Upon an
Entirely NV Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The conferrees
on the bill for the repeal of the timber
culture law and amendatory of the lahd
laws generally have practically reached an
agreement on an entirely new bill, which
will be brought forward at the first oppor-
tunity. The subject matter of the bill mas
for the past two Congresses been in dispute
between the House and Senate, and Tor a
long time the conferrees during this Can-
gress have failed to come to an understand
ing. The bill agreed upon will change the
general land system of the Government.
The bill first rereals the timber-cu'tnfe
act. but with reservation in favor OF bona
hde claims heretofore initiated In c0mput-
ing the period of cultivation on CLAIMS
already accruing IL is provided that the
time shall run from the date of entry, the
necessary acts of cultivation being per
formed within the proper time, the prrpara-
tOn of the land and the planting OF trees 10
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 OIL
81 % per acre.
The Desert Land Act is amended by re-
curing the filing of a map showing the pro-
posed method Of reclamation, and no person
shall receive patents for land under the act
unless there has been expended in the work
of reclamation at least So per acre, 81 to be
expended within each year, and after four
years title Inay be secured by the payment OF
81 per acre.
Section 22Ss of the Revised Statutes is
amended SO that any bona fde settler may
nave the right to transfer any portion OF MS
claim Tor the rlght-Of-Way for irrigation pur-
poses, as well as for church, cemetery, rail-
road or school purposes. The pre-emptlon law
Is also repealed, except as to claims hereto
fore Initiated and Tn MI OflS
by counties.
Section 22S9 is amended so that persons
already holding 100 acres of land, or VINO
abandon their residence on their own
land, shall not have right to make home-
stead entry. The entries may be suspended
Tor the correction of clerical errors.
The United States is stopped from the
vacation OF any patent or claims heretofore
initiated, unless suit is brought within five
years, and on future claims within six years;
provided that in Colorado, Montana, North
and South Dakota, Wyoming and the gold
and silver regions of Nevada and Utah, 1t
shall be sufficient offense for any proSecu-
ton for trespasS TO show timber culture for
agricultural, mining, manufacturing or de-
mestic purposes and not transported out OF
the State; this provision, however, is not TO
apply to railroads. A provision is made for
town-site entries in Alaska and for the ac-
QUESTION thereof of lands necessary for
trade or manufacturing purposes.
Towns and cities. 80 declared, may make
town-site entries on mineral lands, but this
right shall net interfere with the workings
of underground mineral claims. A provi-
sion Is made for grants Of right of way for
irrigation purposes; but the reservoir sites
are not to contain any more land than neces-
sary for construction and maintenance.
The maximum amount of land which any
person may acquire is limited to $50 aces.
The President is given the right to setAart
and reserve in any Territory forest laA4 as
public reservations not subject to be en- ed
upon. This will meet I'll Principal of
what is known as the Nilowstone Park
Bill.