St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-23
MAY CUT DEAD PINE,
Text Of the Bill Which Has
Just Been Made a
Law.
IT IS LIBERAL TO SETTLERS
In the Region Devastated by
Last Summers Forest
Fires.
MORE TIME FOR FINAL PROOF
Is Granted, and Concession7
20 Those Who Would
Prove Up.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-The bill in
troduced by Representative Lynch. OF
Wisconsin, for the relief of the fire sui
ferers in the states of Michigan, Mime
sofa aud Wisconsin,, has been approved
by the president and is now law. 1t
deals very literally with the settlers
who lost so much by the disastrous fires
of last summer, giving them the follow
ing privileges:
First-Two years additional time in
which 10 make their final proofs. and
allowing absence from claims for any
length of time within the coming two
wears to be regarded as constructive
possession.
Second - Allowing persons whose
property was destroyed, or their heirs,
to make proof showing compliance with
the law until the fire, and giving them
the privilege of gaining title at once,
upon the payment of the smallest price
of government lands under the present
laws.
Third-Allowing the sufferers upon
claims on which the timber was de-
stroyed to cut an equivalent amount on
other government lands.
In view of the great Importance of
this law to the settlers of Pine county
as we'll as Of those in districts not so
seriously affected, the full text of the
bill is given here, emitting only the
preamble, which narrates the causes for
the passage OF the measure. ItfollOWs:
Section l. That all persons actually
occupying homesteads in said states of
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan at
the time Of such fires, upon claims un-
der the laws of the United States, on
lands of the United States, whose prop
erty and buildings were destroyed by
such fires, and the heirs of all such Der
sons who persisted by such fires. and all
persons who by reason OF such fires and
loss of property we're obliged to leave
their homesteadS, are hereby granted
two years additional time in which to
make final proof. And temporary alb
sence for any period within two years
from the date of this act shall be
deemed constructive possession and
residence, but shall not be deducted
from the time required to make final
proof.
Sec. 3 That all persons whose prop
erty was destroyed by such fires, and
the heirs of all persons who were actual
occupants of the h0meSteadS at the time
of the fire, and who lost their lives III
and by that fire, may, by proving such
actual occupancy at the date OF such
fires, make proof showing compliance
with the law up to the date of the fire
nd m I.
mum price under existing statutes, il
the same manner as if such claimants
were alive, and upon receipt OF such
proof of loss of property by such fires,
or death Of the claimant, heirs surviv.
ing, and upon payment as aforesaid, {
patent shall he issued TO such claimant
or his or her heirs.
Sec. 3. That the claimant upon ally
hon eStead, who, by reason Of not hav'
ing lived thereon the necessary length
Of time to enable him to commute undeI
Sec 2,30l Of the Revised Statutes. al
amelded by the act of March 3, 1891, HI
heirs, executor, administrator, OF guar
dian of his minor heirs, may, when thu
quantity Of timber destroyed upon hi
or her homestead shall rot exceed IS, 00
feet OF merchantable green timber, fill
an estimate in the land Office where sucl
Homestead was entered, with sucl
reasonable proofs as the commissions
of public lands may prescribe, as to tn
quantity Of timber destroyed upon an.
sectional subdivision, and thereupon tn
register and receiver may, under TIL
direction of the commissioner of publ
lands, issue permit or license to Gu
the burned timber Oh any homestead o
sectional fraction thereof, upon pay
meut of the Sum of 81 Ok NOR acre fO
sectional subdivision, and the govern
ment shall issue patent for the sam
to the claimant or his or her heirs.