Arizona republican., 1895-01-30
MORE HOMES.
Military Lands Open for
Settlement.
Not Less Than 10000
Acres in Arizona.
TIE Laws by Which They are
to Be Distributed.
Full Instructions Concerning the
Land Officers.

There are about 10000 acres Of
choice land in Arizona now open for
settlement. This vast area has gen.
orally been overlooked by settlers, who
in many instances have been ignorant
OF the fact that the land had been re-
linqlished by the government for pur-
poses of settlement.
A few weeks ago Governor Hugh es
sent series of inquiries to the general
land office concerning these abandoned
military reservations and the operation
OF the two acts of congress under which
they are thrown open to settlers. A
few days since he received the following
reply:
Department OF the Interior, General
Land Office, Washington, D. c.,
Jan. 8, 1885.
Hon. l.. G. Hughes, governor of Afi-
zona, Phoenix, Ariz.-Sir: | am in re-
ceipt, by departmental reference, of
your letter of Decem Der 8th, 1894. in
which you ask for information in the
following language:
"Under the act to provide for ihe
opening of certrin abandoned military
reservations and for other purposes.
approved August %, 1894, what pro-
| ceedings are necessary to obtain title
by settlers or those desiring to take up
| lands within such reservations
Are these lands now open to settle
ment under the public land laws OF the
| United States, or is it necessary that
| an order should first be made hy the
department declaring the same?"
"Again, are those lands open to
desert as well as homestead entry and
can title be obtained for the same Price
and by the same mode of procedure az
for other public lands p"
What abandoned military rese1va-
tions in Arizona come under the PES
visions of the aforesaid act of coa-
gress ?"
In reply I have the honor to state
that the following reservations in ARR
zona have been relirquished on the
dates named after each for disposal
under the act of July 5, 1884, viz:
Camp Crittenden. July %, 1884;
Camp Goodwin, July %, 1894; old
Camp Grant, July %, 1884; Fort Lew
ell, February "a, 1891 Camp Mcdowell,
February IA, 1891; Fort Thomas, Ne
vember %, 1892; Whipple Barracks,
climber reserve) July ~, 1884; Fort
Verde, garden tractl July 22, 1884 !;
Fort Verde, (post) October 2, 1890 ;
Camp Bowie, November 5. 1894.
OF the above mentioned reservations
the following, relinquished prior to the
approval of the act of August %, 1894,
whose area exceed 5000 acres, viii, in
nv opini IN, fall under the provis ms
of said act, viz: Fort Lowell, Camp Nc
Dowell, Fort Thomas and Fort Verde
(post.)
1t is also possible that the Fort Verde
garden tract may also be Included
} among tn,a,, but the ques iuu 40 ie
whether the post and garden tract are
) to be considered as one reservation, has
) been submitted to the secretary of the
, interior, and he has not yet rendered q
decision thereon.
The Camp Crlttenden, Camp Good
win, Old Camp Grant and Whipple
> Barracks reservations, although re-
= linquished prior to the approval of the
, act of August %, 1894, yet each con.
tanned less than 5000 acres, and they
, are not su bject to the provisions of the
, said act, but to those of the act of July
5, 1884.
The Camp Bowie reservation contain
,, ing about 23,040 acres and relinquishes
November 5, 1894, subsequent to th,
passage of the act of August %, 1894
also falls within the provisions of th,
act of July 5, 1884.
The lands of those reservations which
: come under the provisions Of said act 0i
: August %, 1894, are now subject to sci
tlement under the public land laws q
the United States.
Your attention is called to the circn-
= lar of December 1, 1894, copy enclosed,
. which contains instructions to the loca
: officers in regard to the operations O.
= the act in question. Very respectfully
EDWARD A. BOwERs,
Asst Commissioner