Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1906-06-23
RESERVE SETTLERS BILL.
Forest Rangers Receive Instruction in
Regarc. &c the Application and
Enforcement OF the
New Law,

AS uuHOuuCtu III ldSJ week lbRON-
IcLE, the Forest Reserve Settlers Bill
has become law and the rangers on
the reservation will be instructed by
circular in regard to its enforcement.
At the time of the setting apart of the
reservation a number of settlers had al.
ready been located within the boundar-
les of the reserve and there were a great
many others who came to the reserve
about the same time that it was set
apart. The position of these latter in
regard to getting titles for their land,
has always been one of doubt, but the
came to the reserve on or before Janu-
airy !, 1906, to obtain title TO the lands
upon which they are located. In Law
renee and Pennington counties there
will be no more land opened for agricul-
tural entry, but in Custer county loca-
tlons can be made and title acquired to
land under certain conditions as laid
down in the instructions to rangers
which are given below in full. The
mining interests of the Black Hills are
carefully protected by several provi'
sions, one Of which provides that titles
acquired in this say shall not have in.
cuded in them any water rights and
that all land set apart as agricultural
land shall be subject to the quartz and
lode mining laws of the United States
The following will be issued to rang
ers and foresters as the official interpre.
tation of the new law:
United States Department of Agricul-
tUre, Forest Service, Washington,
Office of the Forester. Forest Reserve
Order No. AZ. instructions on Agri-
cultural settlement Bill in Advance Of
Its Enactment into Law.
To Forest Officers in Charge;
A copy of the agricultural settlement
bill as it passed both houses of congress
is attached. 1t is now before confer
ence committee, and probably become a
law very soon. In order that you may
he prepared to perform your duties un-
der it, you will please notice:
J. That the secretary of agriculture
may use his discretion about examining
and listing lands under the proposed
law.
. Only lands chiefly valuable for ag-
rculture and not needed for administra.
tive purposes by the forest service. or
for some other public use will be classi-
fed and listed under this bill
. md novaral ri,b n p,nrcbo 20 "a a
growth of timber will not be declared
agricultural, except upon the strongest
evidence of its value for agricultural pur
poses, both as to production and accessi-
bility to a market.
4. Areas known to have been occupi-
ed by actual settlers prior to January /,
1906, will be examined first, and when
such areas are found chiefly valuable for
agriculture they will be listed in order
that the occupants may make entry un-
der the act The mere fact that a man
has settled upon land viii, however, not
influence the decision with respect to its
agricultural character
s. Any one who was bona fide set.
tier on land within a forest reserve be
fore January /, 1906, but who has al
ready exercised or lost his homestead
privilege, may, if otherwise qualified,
make homestead entry under the pro-
vision of the proposed law, but must
pay 81 80 per acre for any lands entered.
g. The first preference right to enter
lands classified and listed under the act
will be given to persons who settled up
on such lands prior to January |, 1906.
The second preference right to enter any
particular listed tract will be given TO
persons who apply to have the classif-
cation made, but this latter class should
not apply for the classification of tract
occupied by settler before that date
otherwise, they might lose their prefer
ence right.
Z. Supervisors are often absent from
their headquarters, and so cannot be
reached at all times with equal certainty
by all applicants. To avoid any undue
advantage of one applicant over another
this act must be forwarded by mail to
the Forester, Washington, d. c., by the
applicants.
s. Applications dated and mailed be-
fore the bill has become law will have
no value and the Forester will return
them at once, notifying the sender that
he may apply after the act has been
signed by the president
9. All applications received in Wash
ington in the same mail for the examin
alton of the same tract will be treated as
simultaneous, and simultaneous appl.
cants will be notified similar notice
viii be given to the later of two appli-
cants for the examination of the same
tract.
10. No examination of more than one
quarter.section will be ordered upon the
application of the same person, but if an
application is Withdrawn or rejected a
second application will be received for
other land.
IL. All applications must give the
name of the forest reserve and describe
the land, examination of which is re-
qnested, bv legal subdivisions, section,
township and range, if surveyed, and il
not surveyed, by reference to natural
objects, streams, or improvements with
sufficient accuracy TO identify the land.
II. Forest officers must not make APP
plications for the examination and list
ing of lands under this act.
13. Instructions governing the allow
ance of entries 10 be made under the
act after the listing will be issTed by the
Interior department.
IA. Notice will be given to the super.
visors by wire when the bill becomes a
law and those in California will be in
formed whether the bill as finally ap'
proved affects reserves in that state.
10. When notified that the bill has
become law the supervisors should in
form the public as fully as practicable.
Is. Printed copies of the act with iu-
structions will be sent to the supervisors
when it is signed by the president.
CLIFFORD PINCHoT,
Forester.
Settlers Must be Patient.
j. f. Smith, forest supervisor has re-
ceived communication from the in
terror department in charge of the forest
reserves of the United States, calling at