The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-04
CROWDS RUSH TO
LAND OFFICES
Both State and Federal De-
partments Kept Busy by
Eager HomeseekerS.
FILE MANY APPLICATIONS
PAYMENT CAN BE MADE ON IN
STALLMENT PLAN.

| Applications for the selection of 100 900
acres of state land We're received by the
state board of land commissioners yes
terday.
As early as 5 O'Clock in the morning
| the applicants began to line UP in front
of the office of the board in the Joint
building, and when the office opened at
| 3 O'Clock there were sixty-eight persons
waiting their turns.
The occasion was the opening of 600 900
acres of land for selection, which has
been given the state by the federal gov
eminent in lieu of the unsurveyed school
| lands included in the forest reserves.
| When President Roosevelt made his
sweeping order designating forest re-
serves in the spring of 1867. the boundar-
les took in approximately 100000 acres of
land given to the state for school pur-
poses.
The state board of land commission
ers made a vigorous protest to this ac-
| ton, claiming that the state en-
titled to other lands in place of those
segregated within the reserves. The pro-
test was considerede by James r. Gar
field. secretary of the interior. who last
| April decided that the state was entitled
to other lands in place of those absorbed
in the reserves. Consequently an order
was made that on Monday, August 3, the
board would begin to receive applica-
tons for this land from any one who de-
sired to buy. This was the occasion for
the gathering OF yesterday, when one
sixth of the land was taken up
Land on Time Payment Plan.
The price of the land is 81 so an acre. and
the purchaser can pay for it on the in
stallment plan, % cents per acre down
and the balance within ten years. One
can purchase as much as he desires and
can take possession Immediately. al
though the selection may not be formally
approved by the federal land office for
two or three years.
Thus if man desires to buy 160 acres
he must pay down $40, when he will Sc
cure a title and the right of posses
sion.
The land is located in all sections of
the state, and, although none of it is
irrigated yet. many sections which are
admirably suited for dry farming pur-
poses are open. The purchaser is allowed
to select his own land, the only restric-
ton being that il be an unoccupied por-
ton Of the public domain and nOn-mineral
in character. The term mineral also APP
plies to coal
1t is expected that before another week
is ended nearly all the apportionment of
100000 acres will have been selected, as
there are many Throughout the state who
have been awaiting this opportunity.
Federal Officers Busy.
Not for many months has the United
States land office in Salt Lake been
caHeu upon 10 attend 10 the NOlufne Oh
business which came to its counters yes
terday. The extraordinary increase in bus
mess, it is said, is due to the fact that
the state board yesterday began to re-
ceive filings, and that many people. de-
string to forestall the state selections,
which are made through the federal land
office, made entry directly through that
office
An important item in the conduct of
the business of the federal land office
yesterday was the receipt of the approval
of the Oasis company's proposition to
furnish water for more than 40000 acres
of fertile lands IL Willard county. I'M |
der the Carey act. These lands will be
sold by the state, but the water will |
be supplied by the Oasis company.
Today there will be meeting, or, rath- |
er, a conference between the officials |
of the state land board and the Oasis |
company, at which time terms for water |
rates and other matters of a like nature |
will be agreed upon.
One of the innovations proposed by the |
Oasis company is the setting of white |
posts at every quarter section corner, let |
tered in black, showing the exact area
within which the interested person has
rights.