The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-27

1919, tho annexation of the republic of
Texas in 1915. the Gadsden purchase from
Mexico III 1853, and that OF Alaska from
Russia in 1867. there you have an epitone
of the history and how we cana to have 30
much real estate. Perhaps Cuba or Can
ada will be joined to us next. Our pur-
chases cost us SSS.O coo, 0J0, being five and
one-tenth cents an acre. You see that we
got it cheap, From II speculative point of
view the investment was a geod one.
"Ihe settled policy of the government is
to dispose of the public land to actual set
tiers only-bona fde tillers of the soil, or
those who develop its mineral resources.
The only deviation from this rule has
been the grants Of land by congress to
states and corporations to aid great works
of recognized public utility. For example,
there have been granted i'll aid of railroad
enterprises 1888, 600. 900 acres, although a
considerable part of this has been forfeited
by failure on ths part of the 20 operations
to fulfill the conditions. and has teen ra-
stored to the Eubllc domain. In tho early
days large areas fell into the hands of
Spectators, but this resulted in such great
evils that the policy now pursued was
adopted. 1t is no doubt true that now and
then. in these later days, the government
has been made the victim of condolences
games, generally upon a small scale,
in land matters, but now every
transaction is go closely scfutinized
buNG LIE toElp1oA !6 " Pa Htb. ~
of Thorn are successful. Most of them are
detected sooner or later. Last year about
10, 900. 600 acres were transferred to enter
prising and industrious settlers-a domain
nearly equal to the aggregate area of the
states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island and Now Jer-
sey. All this will soon be under more or
loss cultiva ton, adding to the wealth and
dsyelepment of the country
''In what way may land be obtained by a
citizen of thu United Stntss?"
Title to public lands may be acquired
by purchase as public sale. by private entry
or by virtue Of the presumption, home
Rteed, timber culture or other laws.
Lands may be- purchased at public
auction when offered pursuant to pro-
clamation of the president or under due
notice in accordance with directions from
the land oiice. Lands which, having
been offered at public sale, roman unsold,
arc open to private entry. No land is sold
at either public or private sale nj lens than
$1.25 per acre, this being the minimum
price. Lands held for sale at that tigut 9
are called minimum lands A person wish
ing to purchase land for cash can do SO by
applying to the register for the district in
which it il situated. By virtue Of d receut
law, no land can b0 uuirsd-exc ut under
certain limited conditions-by any person
not a citizen of tbs United States, or who
has not declared his intention to become
HuCl, OF ny ally AliGu COI pCIRLlOu. military
bounty land warrants may be located upon
any vacant lands that are subject to private
entry
will Won explain tho difference between
pre- smptions and homssteaday'
"Pre-emption is the exercise of a right b,
q person who has the necessary qealitica
items to secure she title to a tract not OK,
ceedinp 1G0 acres by purchase at the nrlc,
fixed therefor. A pts-emptor must be tn,
head of a family or q slngle person aboy'
the age of y years. He can have no RICH
of re-emption if he already owns $40 acre
in any state or territory, or if ne abandon
residence on his own land for that purpose
Land for the lsndless is the spirit and pur
pose of the presumption laws. The pre-
emptor must go upon the land in person a
an actual settler and begin substantial i'm
provements. Then he. must make his AZ
pllcation, and by complying with tbs regu
latlons secure his title.
"under the benefcent homestead Law