Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-15
Securing Land Titles.

There is nobody to whom this country Is
under greater obligations than to the pioneer
settler who braves the herdships of the from.
tier and builds up American civilization in
the wilderness. The farm that is promised
to such q settler when he shall have created
its value by his own exertions is small com.
pensation for the five years OF toll and isola-
tion, from human society, required to perfect a
claim. 1t is due to the pioneer that when he
has completed the hard conditions on which
his homestead Is promised to him he shall re-
ceive his reward without unnecessary trou BILE
or delay. The government means that this
shall be accomplished, but it's Intentions are
often better than its execution. The huge
mill of the general land office, with its
whirling maze of wheels within wheels, can
have no personal relations with individuals.
1t can deal only with facts of record, and it
deals with those by Wholesale. The govern
ment means. to do the tair thing b. honest
settlers, but how is 1t to know which are
honestl
That has been a hard question. In the dis
posal OF the public lands, more than IN al
most any other part of its work, the govern
ment has been the prey of swindlers. IL has
been robbed by spectators OF hundreds OF
millions of acres that it meant to reserve for
settlers. And so in self defense it has been
compelled to adopt the rule Of treating every
man as u rascal until he has proven himself
honest. 49, GA
This gives the simple homesteador q rather
rough road to travel. Ifea meddling or ma
licious neighbor chooses to question the good
faith of his location on his land, the progress
OF his claim comes to u stop IN the general
land office and 1t takes a. iskilled Washington
attorney to start it forward But how is the
pioneer In his cabin among the sequoias OF
the Sierras or In his duGout on the blizzard
swept plains OF North Dakota to know where
to look for a skilled Washington attorney,
and especially for one who is trustworthy
and reasonable IN his chargesi The case OF
u settler who inds his claim blocked through
some .echnicality that threatens the loss OF
his home offers the strongest possible appeal
to public sympathy. If there is any way of
helping such n settler therei ought TO be no
hesitation in making use.pftt.
The Bee Bureau OF Chains was organized
to afford assistance in iuSt such cases. IL
places the Inhabitants ofIthe remotest valley
OF the west on All equality with the resident
OF Washington. 1t assures every man who
has honestly complied with the land laws OF
tho United States prompt attention to his
claim on the part of the authorities, and in
almost every case q favorable decision. II
does all this for a fec which an ordinary
would charge for merely giving adj
vice, and asks no payment until the patent Is
actually issued. 1t gives advice free, whether
ing an opinion is under any obligations to
put his case IN It's hands. 1t examines every
claim submitted TO IL, and when 1T considers
one without merit II frankly says so ana de-
clines to handle IL. rF
TnE BEE Bureau of Claims has already
saved thousands of settlers from tho OK
actions OF irresponsible aud INSCRIPTIONS
claim agents. IL is doing a work of human
ity, The western homes In which peace ana
security have supplanted uncertainty and
apprehension are the best witnesses TO tho
value OF Its services.