The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-21
MICHIGAN
MANY UP IN THE AIR
Land Department Interprets the
Word Speculation in Tim /.
Der and Stone Law.
Thousands Of Entries Affected-New
Rule Helpful to the Big
Lumber Firms.
Spsc ial to The Journal.

Special to Tho Journal.
Escanaba, Mich, Oct 21.-Much interest
has been caused in the upper peninsula
by the announcement that the general
land office has given new interpreta7E
ton to the word speculation in the TIM
Der and stone act that affects practically
every entry of land under the law in
Michigan, in common with other timbered
sections. as well as the great bulk Of fill p
ings made in the past. ID eE
1t is held that any one who takes up /
piece Of timbered land expecting at.
some future time to sell it at a profit is
Spectator" within the meaning OF the {
act and is not qualified to purchase the
tract entered upon. s.s-5.; -, ~. - 2.
/ The only persons permitted to purchase
under the new ruling are those who will
| swear that they have land in the vicinity
of the tract sought to be bought from
the government, and that they desire the
timber Tor personal uses. s--= -
/ The, act has been in effect for twenty
| five years, during which time the govern
| ment has parted with many millions OF
acres under it's provisions. In all cases
the entrymen has sworn that II do not
apply to purchase the land above de-
Escribed on speculation. but in good faith
| and to appropriate it to my own personal
use and benefit; and that I have not,
directly or indirectly, made any agree
ment or contract in any way or manner
|
by which the title may acquire from
! the United States may inure in whole in
! part to the benefit Of any person except
| myself . - 80 49,. =. p. -
Now it.. is held by the general land
office that the words exclusive Use and
! the benefit of his claim at some future
. time by disposing Of his holdings at
! profit. By the new construction an entry
man would: have to use the timber in
his own building operations or else build
a sawmill and cut it into lumber, and
then by q strict construction he would
be prevented from selling the lumber. :,
1t is a. wen-known fact that with but
few exceptions persons who have taken up
land under. the act have done so with
the express purpose of disposing of it
| later, after having acquired title at $1.25
an acre. and if these "speculators" are
to DO barred in the future, the question
naturally arises whether entries made IN
the past have been invalidated and
whether the government will institute
court proceedings. :. r
! Many Michigan residents have recently
I filed on Michigan land under the timber
and stone act, as we'll as on land In west
ern states, who were actuated solely by
speculative motives = It would appear that
these, entries are, Illegal under the new
ruling and will be thrown out at least
pending the result of an appeal from the
departments decision, which. it Is under
! stood, has been presented in the Califor-
MIA courts.
On the contrary, it appears that the
l general land office has formulated no rule
: to prevent the scripter from placing his
script on this same land Withdrawn from
the individual purchaser of $50 acres, but
/ allows the scripter to make from 200 to
! GOO per cent on his purchase. This fact
has caused some speculation as to the
motive of the department. If the new
: rule Is upheld by the courts it would
seem that within few months every
acre Of the government lands would be
appropriated by wealthy lumber firms and
script holders generally. -