The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-14
HANssRoueH's BILL.
Introduced in the Senate for Repeal Of
Desert Land Laws.

bureau OF Inc LetueI,
141S G. St, N. W.
Washington, D. c., Dec 14-Sena-
tor Hansbrough has introduced a bill
in the senate to repeal an act for the
sale Of desert land" and also to re-
peal an act ito cal the timber cul-
ture laws" leu of those laws the
Hansbrough provides tlfat any
free born or naturalized American cit /
izen upon payment of twenty-five
cents per acre, may file a declaration,
under oath, with the register and re-
ceiver Of the land district in which
any desert land is situated, that he in
tends to reclaim a tract Of desert land,
not exceeding one hundred and sixty
acres, by conducting water upon the
same for irrigation purposes within
the period of three years thereafter.
provided, however, that the right to
the use OF water by the person so con-
ducting the same on any tract Of des-
ert land of one hundred and sixty
acres, as aforesaid, shall depend upon
bona fide prior appropriation; and
such right shall not exceed the amount
OF water actually appropriated and
necessarily used for the purpose Of ir-
rigation and reclamation; and all sur
plus water over and above such actual
appropriation and use, together with
the water of All lakes, rivers, and
other sources of water supply upon
the public lands, and not navigable,
shall remain and be held free for the
appropriation and use Of the public
for irrigation, mining and manufactur-
ing purposes subject to existing
rights. Said declaration shall describe
particularly said section of land, if
surveyed, and If unsurveyed shall de-
scribe the same as nearly as possible
without a survey. At any time within
the period Of three years after filing
said declaration, upon making salts
factory proof to the register and re-
ceiver Of the reclamation of said tract
of land in the manner aforesaid, and
upon the payment to he receiver Of
the additional sum Of one dollar per
acre for a tract of land not exceeding
one hundred and sixty acres to any
one person, a patent for the same
shall be issued to him: Provided,
That no person shall be permitted to
enter more than one tract of land,
and not Il, exceed one hundred and
sixty acres, which shall be in compact
form"
''At any time after filing the declara-
ton and within the period of four
years thereafter, upon making salts.
factory proof to the register and re-
ceiver of the reclamation and culti-
walton of said land to the extent and
cost and in the manner aforesaid, and
substantially in accordance with the
plans herein provided for, and that he
or she is a citizen Of the United
States, and upon payment to the re
ceiver of the additional sum Of one
dollar per acre for said land, patent
shall issue therefor to the applicant:
Provided, however, That additional
proofs may be required at any time
within the period prescribed by law
and that the claims or entries made
under this or any preceding act shall
be subject to contest, as provided by
the law relating to homestead cases
for illegal inception, abandonment, ol
failure to comply with the require
ments of law, and upon satisfactory
proof thereof shall be Cancelled, and
the lands and moneys paid therefor
shall be forfeited to the Unitel
States"