, 1891-03-07
THE TEXT OF IT.
New Land Law Which the West
Must Now WrestIe With.
Timber Culture and Presumption
Entirely Wiped Out.
Strict Provisions Which Govern
Desert and Homestead Entries.
Showing Plainly How Wyoming
Gets it in the Neck.

THE LEADER herewith presents its
readers with the text OF what Is to Wyo-
ming people the most important piece of
legislation that passed the last session of
congress:
BE it enacted, etc That an act emit
tied An act to amend an act entitled An
act to encourage the growth OF timber on
the Western praIries," approved June
IA, 1878, and all laws supplementary
thereto or %amendatory thereof, be, aud
the same are hereby repealed: Provided,
That this repeal shall not affect any valid
rights heretofore accrued or a~ccruinR un-
der said laws, out all bona fde claims
lawfully initiated before the passage of
this act may be perfected Upon due com
pliance with law, in the same manner,
upon the same terms and conditions, and
subject to the same limitations, forfeitures
and contests as if this act had not been
passed. And provided further, That the
following words of the last clause OF sec
ton 2 OF said act, namely. That not less
than twenty-seven hundred trees were
planted on each acre, are hereby repealed:
And provided further, That, in comput-
ing the period of cultivation the time
shall run from the date of the entry il the
necessary acts of cultivation were per-
formed within the proper time: And pro-
vided further, That the preparation OF
the land and the planting of trees shall
be construed as acts OF cultivation,
and the time authorized to be
SO employed and actually employed
shall be computed as a part of
the eight years of cultivation required by
statute; Provided, That any person who
has made entry of any public lands of the
United States under the timber culture
laws, and who has for a period of four
years in good faith complied with the pro-
visions of said laws and who is an actual
bona hde resident of the state or territory
III which said land is located, shall be en-
titled to make final proof thereto, and
acquire title to tho same, by the payment
OF Sl.25 per acre for such tract, under
such rules and regulations as shall be pre-
scribed by the secretary Of the interior,
and registers and receivers shall be al
lowed the same fees aud compensation for
final proofs in timber-culture as is now al
lowed by law in homestead entries: And
provided further, That no land acquired
under the provisions of this act shall 10
any event become liable to the satisfaction
of any debt or debts contracted prior to
the issuing OF the final certificate therefor.
Sec. 2. That an act to provide Tor the
sale Of desert lands 10 certain states and
territories, approved March 3. 1877, is
hereby amended by adding thereto the
following sections:
Sec. 4. That at the time of filing the
declaration hereiubefore required the
party shall also file a map of said land,
which shall exhibit a plan of showing the
mode OF contemplated irrigation, and
which plan shall be sufficient to
thoroughly irrigate and reclaim said land.
and prepare it to raise ordinary a%gricul.
tural crops, and shall also SHOW the source
of the water to be used for irrigation and
reclamation. Persons entering or pro-
posing to enter separate sections or
fractional parts of sections, OF desert
lands may associate together in the con-
stsuction of canals and bitches for irrr-
eating and retaining all of said tracts,
and may file a joint map or maps showing
their plan Of internal Improvements.
Sec. 5. That no land shall be pat
ented to any person under this act unless
he or his ass;gnors shall have expended in
the necessary irrigation. reclamation and
cultivation thereof. by means of main
canals and branch bitches, and in per-
manent improvements upon the land. and
in the purchase of water rights for the
irrigation Of the same, at least SO per
acre of whole tract reclaimed and patented
In the manner following: Within one
year after making entry for such tract of
desert land as aforesaid the party so en-
tering shall expend not less than 81 per
acre for the purposes aforesaid; and he
shall IN like manner expend the sum of
81 per acre during the second and also
during the third year thereafter, until the
full sum of SO per acre is so expended.
Said party shall file during each year with
the register proof, by the affdavits of
two or more credible witnesses, that the
full sum of 81 per acre has been
expended in such necessary improvements
during such year, and the manner in
which expended, and at the expiration of
the third year a map or plan showing the
character and extent of such improve
ments. If any party who has made such
application shall tail during any year to
file the testimony aforesaid the lands shall
revert to the United States and the TWEEN
tv-ive cents advanced payment shall be
forfeited to the United States. and the
entry shall be cancelled. Nothing herein
contained shall prevent a claimant from
making his final entry and receiving his
patent at an earlier date than hereiubefore
prescribed. provided that he then makes
the required proof of reclamation of the
aggregate extent of So per acre: Provided,
That proof be further required of the cul-
tivation of one eighth OF the land.
Sec. 6, That THE act shall not affect
any valid rights heretofore accrued under
said act of March 8, 1877, but all bona
hde claims heretofore lawfully initiated
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