The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-09-11
soLIvIA'S RUBBER TREE LAW.

-
It Has Forty-Two Provisions War
ranted to Confuse Any Prospector.
The law regulating the control of rub
Der trees in the republic of Bolivia was
promulgated a year and a half ago, and
consists of "a articles warranted to per-
pick and confuse the most astute citizen
CT North, South, or Central America
Article /. declares that all rubber trees
which may grow in forests or unclaimed
land are the property of the govern
ment. The right to explore the public
forests for rubber trees is limited, by
article IL, to all natives or foreigners.
Nc previous license is required, and
such explorations may be made by any
number of persons at the same time"
A person residing for five years in q
community in Bolivia is considered tho
proprietor of the land, provided 'theares
of thelandd oesnot exceed rs hectares"
All persons or companies to whom ex-
pioration privileges are granted shall
pay IS bolivianos for each estrada, and
the payments are to be made on INSTALL
ments "of one boliviano a year." At the
expiration of that period presumably
the period of a year, "the grantees have
absolute right to the ownership of the
land without taxation, and also the
right to 25 hectares for every hundred
estradas which they had previously re-
ceived." To enjoy this right the grantee
must prove that he has paid all INSTALL
ments, but those who, "either by dona-
ton, purchase, permium, or by contract
with the government, acquire posses
sion of public lands" are obliged, under
article XII, to pay $50 bolivianos for the
rubber trees standing on the land.
A petitioner for such grants must ap-
pear before the national delegates in
''the regions in which they exercise
their jurisdiction" He must state his
name, domicile and profession, title
which he intends to give to the portion
of the forest land claimed, the area and
boundaries of it and "the names Of his
nearest neighbors." The petitioner is
also to present a map of the ground.
The notary of the treasury, as the re-
cording officer is called in Bolivia, files
the application and directs the publica-
ton of the petition in the newspapers
of the neighborhood three times conse-
cutively every 20 days. At the end of
60 days the petitioner, if unopposed by
his neighbors and others, gets a decree
to the land, provided the verification Of
the territory is witnessed and approved
by two experts, one appointed by the
petitioner and the other appointed by
government. The fees and travelling *
penses of the experts, their sustenance
and entertainment are paid for by the
petitioner. When all these formalities
are attended to. the petitioner, under
article XIII, must Immediately take
possession and go to work, for if three
months elapse before he does so (unless
through some impeachment or insuper.
able obstacle) he shall forfeit all claims
and rights which he has secured
He must also stipulate as a
condition of occupancy to per.
nit the free introduction of groc-
cries into the community where he re-
sides-groceries, with the exception Of
Liquors. The fine for violation of this
provision is from so to 200 boliyianos,
and, altogether, it would seem a good
deal as if the prospector for rubber
trees in Bolivia should be well supplied
with bolivianos to meet the various
contingencies arising under the laws of
that South American republic as en-
forced by the local oficials.-N. Y. Sun.