Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-02-16
Important Amendment to the Public
Land Laws.

important Amendment to the Public
Land Laws.
That an act entitled "An act to repeal
the timber.culturs laws, and for other pur-
poses," approved March 3, 1891, be, and
the same is hereby amended by adding
thereto the following provision: "And pro.
vided further. That any person who has
made entry oiany public land OF the United
States under the timber.culture laws, and
| who has heretofore for q period OF eight
years in good faith attempted to comply
,, with the provisions OF said laws, and who
at the time OF making the entry wss a bona
fide resident OF the state or territory in
which said land is located, or residing
within five miles OF the boundary
OF such state or territory,
and where there WAS no pend.
ing contest on March 8. 1891, shall be en-.
titled to make final proof thereto and &C.
quire title to tho same by payment OF the
customary fee for final proofs in home.
stead entries: Provided, That any person
who has made entry upon any public
lands OF the United States under the tim.
Der culture laws aud who has for a period
OF four years in good faith compiled with
the provisions OF said laws, shall be entitl.
ed to make final proof thereof and acquire
title to the same by the payment OF one
dollar and 25 cents per acre for such tract.
under such rules and regulations as shall
be prescribed by the secretary of the inter.
ior, and registers and receivers shall be al.
lowed the same fees and compensation for
final proofs in timber culture entries as are
now allowed by law in homestead entries.
That section twenty. four OF an act entitl-
cd IAN act to repeal the timber. culture
laws, and for other purposes" approved
thereto the following words:
And he may, when deemed e1pedient,
vacate any such reservation or any por-
ton thereof, and by like proclamation re-
store the same to the public domain, sub.
ject to disposition under the land laws Of
the United States.'
That whenever any person has initiated,
in good faith, by settlement or otherwise, q |
claim to any OF the public lands OF the |
United States, which shall afterwards be
selected and withdrawn as permanent site |
Tor reservoir under any act OF congress, |
said person 30 Initiating said claim may
nevertheless make final proofand payment |
for said land, and receive patent therefore:
Provided. however, That in all such cases
contain reservation in favor OF
tho United States without any claim
for cost or damages OF any kind against
the United States, its grantees or assigns,
reserving the right to use 80 much OF said |
land as may be found necessary for the
purpose OF constructing reservoir there
on.
That Whenever any settler upon lands
which have been selected for reservoir sites
under any act OF congress shall file in any
United States land Office an affidavit, cor.
rodorated by at least two witnesses resid-
Ing in the vicinity OF tho land, setting forth
that the lands so selected as aforesaid are
not suitable for reservoir purposes. and
can not be used for such purposes practi-
cabIy, the commissioner OF the general
land Office shall order q hearing to
be held to determine whether it is
Practicable topermanently reserve the said
lands Tor the purpose contemplated by
law, which said hearing shall be held ns
other hearings ordered by the commission.
er arc held, and should it finally be deter.
mined in favor OF the settler the land set.
lied upon shall be held subject to entry by
him in accordance with the settlement
laws Tor thirty days from notice OF the de-
:ision which shall be given by the land OF.
dee tcr the proper land district.
That the agents appointed by the depart.
nent OF the interior to investigate caime
Under the swamp-land act, approved Sep
sember 20. 1850, shall have the power to
administer oaths and to compel the at.
.endanee OF witnesses both on behalf OF the
tate and OF the United States, and witness.
,es swearing falsely before them shall be
ieemed guilty OF perjury, and shall on con-
'iction, be punished as now prescribed bv
law. -