Evening journal., 1897-11-01
BoLIvlA's RUBBER Tree Law.

IL Has Forty-THvO Provisions War.
ranted to Confuse Any ProsDectOr.
The law regulating the control of rub.
Der trees in the republic of Bolivia was
promulgated a year and half ago, and
consists of "a articles warranted to peri
plex and confuse the most astute citizeI
Of North, South, or Central America
Article I. declares that all rubber tree
which may grow in forests or unclaimed
land are the property of the govern
ment. The right to explore the publ
forests for rubber trees is limited, bj
article L., to oil natives or foreigners
Nc previous license is required, and
such explorations may be made by AM
number of persons at the same time.
A person residing for five years IN
community IN Bolivia is considered tn.
proprietor of land provided ''theare;
Of theland doesn exceed IS hectares.
All persons or companies to whom ez
pioration privileges are granted sha
pay IS bolivianos for each estrada, an
the payments are to be made on install
ments ',of one boliviano year" At th'
expiration Of that period (presumabl.
the period of year) 1.-THE grantees hay'
absolute right 90 the ownership Of tn
land without taxation, and also thI
right to 25 hectares for every hundre
cstradas which they had previously re
ceived." To enjoy this right the granite
must prove that he hes paid al iisstal
ments, but those who, ''either by dons
tion, purchase, pcrmium, or by contrae
with the government, acquire posses
sion Of public lands" are Obliged. unde
article xI., to pay 7.5O bolivianos for th
rubber trees standing on the land.
A petitioner for such grants must an
pear before the national delegates Il
1.-THE regions in which they exercis
their jurisdiction" lie must state hi
name. domicile and profession, titl
which he intends to give to the portioI
of the forest land claimed, the area an
boundaries of It and "the names Of hi
nearest neighbors." The petitioner
also to present @ map of the grouno
The notary of the treasury. as the re
cording officer is called in Bolivia. file
the application and directs the public
ton of the petition in the newspaper
of the neighborhood three times conse
cutively every 20 days. At the end c
co days the petitioner, if unopposed b.
his neighbors and others, gets u deere
TO the land, provided the verifcation G
the territory is witnessed and approve
by two experts, one appointed by tn
petitioner and the other appointed b
government. The fees and travelling e2
penses of the experts, their sustenanc
Z and entertainment are paid for by th
petitioner. When oil these formalitic
Hre attended to, the petitioner, undy
article XXI, must Immediately TAX
possession and go to work, for if thre
months elapse before he does so (unles
through some impediment or insupes
able obstacle) he shall forfeit all claim
and rights which he has secure,
He must also stipulate as
condition Of occupancy TO pc
NIT the free introduction of gro'
cries into the community where he II
sides--gToceries, with the exception {
liquors. The fine for violation of tn
provision IS from 80 to 200 boliviano
and. altogether, it would seem a GOO
deal as if the prospector for rubb'
trees in Bolivia should be well supple
with bolivianos to meet the variol
contingencies arising under the laws
that South American republic as el
forced by the local oficials.-N. Y. Su