Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-12
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Abuse of Homestead Law.

During the past year and half the
timbered lands of the United States
have been subjected to the most per-
nicious system of plundering conceiv-
able. The act Of congress approved
June 4, 1899, provided among other
things that settlers within what is now
known rs the Black Hills forest reserve
may have the option Of exchanging
lands occupied by them for lands else.
where on the public domain. The gov.
ernment did not issue script in such
cases, but the process was by what is
known as "lieu selections" During the
early eighties q number of townships
along the foothills were surveyed and
su5divided and opened for settlement !;
these lands were very largely entered
under the homestead and old pre-emp-
tion laws, large majority of them be-
ing proved up on by commutaten. This
was for the purpose OF procuring the
timber with which these lands were
covered and in the course Of events the
timber was cut and removed, leaving
the lands absolutely denuded and prac.
tically valueless. BY the local construc-
tion or Interpretation Of the act of June
1, 1897, a man who had such a tract Of
land could, by furnishing dn abstract of
title, showing the title reverting to the
government, a warranty deed, in cases
OF patented lands, leaving the grantee
blank, a certificate of q county treas
urer, Of no taxes due, and certificate
Of ali Official Of the land office that the
tract is within the forest reserve. sell
and transfer this tract through script
brokers to :he syndicate of sawmill men
in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Michigan, who in turn would relnquish
the worthless tract in the Black Hills
forest reserve to the government and
take in lieu thereof like acreage Of fine
virgin timber land in those districts or
elsewhere.
The act Of congress approved March 8.
1899, provided for entering Of lands by
settlers within the forest reserve under
the homestead law has brought to the
surface more dishonest practices and
abuse Of the homestead privileges than
have come to light in many day. Dur.
ing the past summer several hundred
homestead entries have been made with.
in the surveyed townships Of the Black
Hills forest rcserye, large number Of
which have gone to final entry. IL is
alleged that many persons having
meagre claims, and some having no
rights at all, have entered lands in this
way. This pernicious business of de-
frauding the government has been car.
ried to such an extent that the general
land Office has ordered a thorough in
vestigation. For this purpose, Mr.. AL.
bert r Greene, one Of the oldest land
Office inspectors in the service, a man
whose reputation is above reproach, as
sisted by Edgar L. Hills, another land
Office inspector who has just entered the
service, have been at Rapid City the
past week prosecuting this inyestiga
ton. 1t is most vigorous and thorough,
penetrating to the very foundation Of
the transactions. In this connection it
may be well to state that Mr.. Greene
has recently been appointed chief Of
the forestry bureau of the department
of the interior, a position Of RESPONSE
bility he has merited by many years of
faithful, devoted service to the govern.
ment.
We are informed that this inyestiga-
ton will not work hardship to, nor in
any way deprive, honest settlers Of their
privileges the investigation is sweeping
and suspends practically all ofthe home.
stead entries made in the districts re
ferred to, but those honestly entitled to
their lands will obtain it ultimately
Pioneer-Times.