The Dickinson press., 1910-09-03
HoMEsIEApERs CAN ACT
CONDITIONS EXPLAINED


eminent land inspector, writes letter
explaining carefully the conditions with
reference to the recent coal land with
drawal. The letter follows:
1t has been decided to allow homes
stead entries to be made in the alleged
coal districts, subject, however. to the
withdrawal. If it appears before proof
is made or any time before patent is
issued that there is no underlying coal
then the unrestricted patent will issue
even though the entry was made subject
to the withdrawal. In all of the sus-
pended entries in North Dakota notice
has been sent to the respective district
offices to call upon the entrymen to file
a coal election if they wish to avoid de-
lay and whe these are received the
cases will receive immediate attention.
It has been decided not to await classi-
6cation in cases where an election has
been filed, but to proceed to consider the
case at once. No person will have the
right to enter upon any of the land
covered by these restricted patents or
prospect or mine coal and remove the
same therefrom, without the previous
consent of the owner under such patent,
except upon such conditions as to Sc
curity for and payment of all damages
to such owner caused thereby as may be
determined by competent court.
provided also, that the owner under such
patent shall have the right to mine the
coal for use on the land for domestic
purposes prior to the disposal by the
United States of the coal deposited.
The entryman, selector or locator, are
entitled to hearing for the purpose of
determing the character of the land,
entered, located or selected by him, and
it is also provided that unless al the
time of final proof showing good faith
and satisfactory compliance with the
law under which his land is claimed.
he shall be entitled to an unrestricted
patent unless it is shown that the land
is chiefly valuable for coal. So that
any one who cares to make the fight.
where he has had this hearing, he is in
good shape to do it. but if there is no
coal the reservation means nothing and
the settler had better take it than to
bother about it.
If he has good coal mine the man
who wants it will pay roundly for the
land rather than trust to the courts to
assess damages.
The assistant commissioner told Mr..
Norton that there were no states having
congressman who were taking care of
the interests of their constituents better
than North Dakota and South Dakota
congressman. When the offic ce was not
looking after the interests of South Da-
kota people at the request of Mr.. Charles
H. Burke. or other members of congress
from South Dakota, 1t was looking after
the interests of North Dakota at the re-
quest of Messrs. Hanna and Gronna that
they knew how to get the information
desired and usually got what they want
ed.
After the North and South Dakota de-
legations visited the general land office,
every available clerk was put to work to
get out the proper notices to the entry
men as to their rights under the coal
land withdrawal. and do not think there
will now be any serious interruptions in
the land Office business It is now up
to the entrymen to accept the coal reser-
walton and up to the companies and the
banks to accept the security.
Governor Vessey was here from South
Dakota in connection with the coal with
drawal matter. and Secretary of State
elect Norton, on behalf of North Dakota.
Governor Burke's telegram and the
activity of Senator McCumber and Con-
eressmen Hanna and Gronna, has set the
wheels agoing before the arrival of the
delegation. but the speed was un-
questionably accelerated by the call.
The several congressman had also been
heard from. There is nothing like
adding fuel and stirring things when
you want action. The Dakotas konw
how to get action.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was president it
was an easy matter to get modification
OF the coal withdrawal. He knew from
personal observation what could be done
with North Dakota coal and what could
not. The present administration did
not have the same information.
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.