367] The Condition of tlie Western Farmer. 89 



town were the property of the railroad at the time our inter- 

 est in the land begins, and since the two sections sixteen and 

 thirty-six belonged to the state, there were only sixteen 

 square miles in the township subject to entry under the fed- 

 eral laws. We have so frequently to make use of this class- 

 ification of the lands that the classes are referred to respec- 

 tively as " railroad land," " school land," and " government 

 land." 



There were various ways in which the settler could acquire 

 lands on which to begin his farming operations. If he desired 

 to take government land, he had during most of the time 

 choice of pre-emption, homestead, or timber-claim The pre- 

 emptor had to improve his land and actually reside upon it; 

 he was allowed thirty-three months in which to make final 

 proof in compliance with the law, and pay the $2.50 an acre 

 which the government charged him for the land. The 

 "homesteader" had to reside on his land for five years 

 before he could make final proof and gain full title. But he 

 was allowed, if he so desired, to " commute his entry " after 

 six months residence, by paying the full legal price for the 

 land. This latter provision meant practically that his home- 

 stead was changed into a pre-emption. A timber-culture 

 entry gave the claimant title to the land after eight years, on 

 condition that he plant on it and keep in good condition a 

 certain number of acres in timber. 



In 1872 one could pre-empt one hundred and sixty acres 

 of land within the township, or could homestead eighty acres. 

 By the act of March 3, 1873, he could take in addition one 

 hundred and sixty acres as a timber claim. Two years later, 

 the soldiers 5 additional homestead act of March 3, 1875, gave 

 former soldiers the right to homestead one hundred and 

 sixty acres, which right was extended to all persons capable 

 of taking land at all, on July I, 1879. 



If, owing to arrival in later years or for any other reason, 

 the settler wished to purchase railroad land, he had to pay for 

 it in most cases from four to six dollars an acre, but was 

 given long time, usually ten years, the principal to be paid 

 up in yearly instalments. 



