Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-16


applications have accumulated in the gen
eral land Office. The order is based on
President Roosevelts recent action making
easier the process of proving up" under
the law. 1t directs the commissioner Of
the land office Ito take up for action all
locations, selections and entries upon which
final certificate has been Issued, and If the
proof is found regular and complete and
there is no pending protest or objection
the same will be passed TO patent in the
regular order"
The local officers will proceed in accord
ance with the circular OF December Z, 1905,
governing the manner OF giving notice of
final proofs and the action taken. thereon.
You Will furnish them maps defining the
mineral areas within their respective dis
tricts as soon as they are provided by the
geological survey
All locations. selections and entries of
lands in nonmineral areas will be considered
by the local officers Under the above cir
cular with a view to final action by them
and the issuance Of final certificate in the
locations selections and entries for lands
in the mineral areas may be made under
existing rules, but shall not pass to lnal
port OF field officer.
Duty to Aid Settlers.
You will instruct local officers that II is
equally their duty TO facilitate the issuance
OF final certificates to bona fide. settlers,
the government in preventing Illegal en-
tries, and that In the performance OF their
duties they viii be held to strict account
for the exercise of sound discretion and
good judgment. II is. expected that regis
ters and receivers in their respective dis
tricts will obtain knowledge of the general
character and quality OF the public land
over which their Jurisdiction extends and
In the disposition OF cases before these off,
GERS they should make use OF such knowl-
edge, either in aiding the entrymen or in
may be.
We have had you win at once take such
action as Is necessary so to organize your
neld and Office force, either by way OF re
distribution or concentration as viii make
II possible to most effectually carry out
the order Of the president.
All regulations or instructions in conflict
herewith are revoked.
GarneId Explains Order.
In discussing this order Secretary Gar
field said
This order Is one Of unusual Importance
70 the citizens Of the public land states.
involving as II does about 5000 entries
and large number Of locations and selec-
lions which have accumulated In the gen
| erpl land ofiice pending examination be-
| iSfe the issuance Of natents. Included ~
these are about @.o0o homesteads, 1000
tlm1er ana stone and other cash entries
made under specific law 1000 desert land
and 300 mineral entries
TO bring the work up to date the clerical
overtime and will be employed fully ten
The order does not AFFECT coal land areas
/ but these VIII be covered Immediately by
subsequent orders and directions
! Because Of the failure OF congress 10 pro-
vide an aaditional appropriation for the
/ necessary field inspections the work cannot
! proceed as rapidly as desired, but the force
and means nov, available VIII he used tC
/ the utmost limit 70 expedite the patenting
OF lands where the entrvrnen have com.
/ piled with the law In good faith