Year: 1878

This is Decoration day. It will be
observed in all cities in the north.


The. Impeachment trial Of Judge
Sherman Page seems to progress slow.
". The Senate con vened on the 2cnd.
The time was occupied in settling pre-
liminaries until Monday afternoon,
when the frst witness was placed on
the stand and two were examined dur
ing the afternoon. Over one hundred
witnesses have been summoned and
their pay fixed by the Senate at 81 so
per day and four cents milage. It is
not very profitable business to anybody.


Timber Culture Law.


The bill before congress has not yet
become law and has been materially
changed and somewhat improved. We
give, below, sections two, and seven
which contain the gist Of the thing.
It may be still further changed. It is
probable that the number of trees re.
quired to enable the claimant to get
patent will be reduced to 300 to the
acre, instead of 900 as the bill stands
at present.


Sec. 2, That the person applying
for the benefits of this act shall, upon
application to the register Of the land
district in which he Of she is to make
such entry, make affidavit before the
register or receiver, or the clerk Of
some court of record, or officer author
lied to administer oaths in the district
where the land is situated; which afi-
davit shall be as follows, to wit;


"I---having filed my ap.
lplcation, number, for an entry
under the provisions Of an act entitled
"An act to encourage the growth Of
timber on the western prairics,'" ap-
proved--1S7-do solemnly
swear Cor afirm) that I am the head
of family Cor over twenty one years
of age) and a citizen of the United
States Cor have declared my intentions
of becoming such;) that the section of
land specified in my said application is
composed exclusively Of prairie lands,
naturally devoid Of timber; that this
fling and entry is made for the culti-
vation of timber and for my own ex-
elusive use and benefit; that I have
made the said application in good faith,
and not for the purpose Of speculation
or directly or indirectly for the benefit
of any other person or persons whom
soever; that l intend to hold and cul-
tivate the land and to fully comply
with the provisions Of this said act, and
that have not heretofore made an
entry under this act or the acts of
which this is amcndatory."


Aud upon filing said affidavit with
said register and said receiver. and on
payment Of $40. he or she shall be
thereupon permitted to en.er the
quantity of land specified; and the
p rty making an entry of quarter
section under the provisions Of this act
shall be required to break or plow Eve
acres covered thereby the first year,
FIVE acres tie second year, ard to cult.
vate to crop or otherwise the five acres
broken or plowed the first year; the
third year he or she shall cultivate to
crop or otherwise the FIVE acres broken
the second year and to plant in timber,
sec d., or cuttings the five acres first
broken or plowed and to cultivate to
crop or otherwise the remaining FIVE
acres, aud fourth year to plant in tim
Der, seeds, or cuttings the remaining
five acres. A party making an entry
of eighty acres shall break or p|ow and
plant at the times hereinbefore pre-
scribed one half Of the quantity requir-
cd Of a party who enters quarter sec.
tion and party making an entry OF
forty acres shall break or plow and
plant, at the times hereinbefore pre-.
scribed, one quarter Of the quantity re-
quircd section, or proportionate
quantity for any smaller fractional sub
division: Provided, however, That in
in case such trees, seeds. or cuttings
shall be destroyed by grssshoppers, or
BY extreme or unusual drought for any
year or term Of years. the time for
planting such trees seeds, or cuttings
shall be extended one year for every
such year that they are destroyed:
Provided, That the party making such
entry shall, before he or she shall be
entitled to such extension of time, file |
with the register and the receiver Of
the proper land Office an affidavit, cor.
roborated by two witnesses, setting
forth the destruction Of such destruct
ion he or she IS compelled to ask % |
extension Of time. in accordance with |
the provisions of this act: And pro.
vided further, That no final certificate
shall be given or patent issued for the
land so entered until the expiration of
eight years from the date Of such entry;
and if at the expiration Of such time, |
or at any time within five years there.
after, the person making such entry. or. |
if he or she be dead, his or her heirs |
or legal representatives, shall prove BY
two credible witnesses that he she or |
they have planted, and for not less |
then eight years, have cultivated and
protected such quantity ana character
of timber its aforesaid, that not less |
then twenty-seyen hundred trees were
planted on each acre, and that at the