Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1906-03-03

The Much Desired Relief Secured 1t At
fords Ample Protection to all
Interests Concerned.

Interests Concerned.
In an interview with Senator Hanley,
who has just returned home from his
trip TO Washington, where he went sew
eral weeks ago for tie purpose of in
fiuencing federal legislation in the inter
est Of settlers in the forest reserve, We
were pleased to learn, and the people Of
Custer county will be glad to know, that
he was successful in securing the de-
sired relief for the citizens Of this coun-
! ty All settlers without homestead
rights, who were located in that portion
Of Custer county included in the Black
Hills Forest Reserve, have been without
any means of securing title to their
homes since the establishment of the
reserve in 1895
The settlers with homestead rights
have been unable to exercise them since
1908, and only few of those who at.
tempted to secure title prior to that date
| have been successful on account of the
red tape, and the defective machinery
for carrying into effect the provisions of
an unsatisfactory, indefinite and imper-
fectly understood law. In most in
stances where proof has been made and
patent issued under the old law the
claimant has been forced to take his
land by legal subdivisions, instead Of
a metes and bounds survey, thereby
compelling him to accept land which he
did not want, and at the same time caus-
ing him to conflict with the reserve, and
with the rights Of the miner, a condition
which was not satisfactory to himself,
the government, or to the mining inter
ests.
The bill which is now proposed, and
to which there seems to be no opposi-
ton, provides for law which clearly
defines the rights of, and affords ample
protection to all interests concerned.
The agrculturist may make home.
stead entry upon one hundred and sixty
acres OF purely agricultural land under
the supervision Of the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, and subject to the quartz min
ing laws of the United States, and the
laws and regulations permitting the To-
cation, appropriation, and use of water
within the reserve for mining, irrigation
and other purposes.
All homesteaders located in the re-
serve prior 10 January lst, 1906, may
under the proposed bill secure title to
their homes under the homestead law.
Al settlers who located in the reserve
prior to January LIST, 1906 and who had
lie exhausted, or had availed themselves OF
the benefits of their homestead rights
prior to such location, but are otherwise
competent to enter lands under the
homestead law, are granted an addition
al homestead right for the purpose OF
securing title to their homes, but they
will be required to pay two dollars and
fifty cents per acre for it, the same as
they would have been compelled TO pay
had they been permitted to make proof
under the placer act.
After provision has been made for the
two classes above mentioned, then new
settlement may he made under the
homestead law in Custer county. After
the purely agricultural land has been
ascertained, surveyed and listed by the
proper governmental department, any
qualified homesteader may make entry.
The boundary lines to be described by
metes and bounds or otherwise so as to
include land only that is chiefly valuable
for agriculture.
The serious conditions with which the
citizens of this county have been con-
fronted have, by the ability and energy
and the untiring efforts of Senator Han.
ley been removed, and while he is to be
complimented, the people whom he
represented are to be congratulated up
on the result of his endeayor. 1t will
benefit not only the settlers in the re,
serve who will be able TO secure title to
their homes, but the entire population
of the county. The early settlers were
obliged to tax themselves heavily, and
burden themselves with large indebt.
edness in order that they might erect
necessary public buildings, more suit
able roads, build churches and schoo
houses, as well as to provide for the in.
evitabe current expense.
J The forest reserve was created at 8
! time when South Dakota was on The
eve of period of her greatest prosper
ity, and while the state has forged tC
) the front within the past eight years
this county has been forced to remain al
standstill, by reason of the restrictions
placed upon its development by the rule:
governing the reserve, in the absence o
proper law for the protection of vested
rights. Had it not been for this interfer
, ence Custer county would have shared
in the general prosperity of the state
| Had such a law existed as the one o
| which We are now assured, the popula
, tion as we'll as the assessed valuation
would have largely increased, and in the
> same proportion the burden Of taxation
would have decreased.
Senator Hanley was very much pleased
with the disposition shown by the South
Dakota delegation, and their willingness
to assist in securing legislation of such 8
e character as to give necessary relief ,C
b. the people of this county. The Senator
{ maintained that an emergency existeC
9 and insisted that immediate relief wa:
necessary.
The bill has been approved by thu
: forestry department, endorsed by thu
: Secretary of Agriculture, and the merits
of the measure were discussed by Sena
tor Hanley before the congressiona
; committee on public lands, which seem
n ed interested, and pleased TO learn tn,
D facts, and they seemed inclined to en-
courage legislation in conformity with
, the policy Of the government which is