USA > Nebraska > History of Nebraska > Part 7
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9,000
Mower, hay-rake, wagon, plow, saddles, ranche build- ings, etc. 1,000
100 bulls, fair to fine grades, bought in the Northi, at an average price of $50 each. 5,000
$100,700
Interest at 10 per cent. for one year.
10,070
Amount of investment at the end of one year. $110,770
Expenses six months' herding, etc., to Oct. 1, 1879. 4,500
Interest half year, at 10 per cent. 5,763
$121,033
October 1, 1879, net returns for sale of 2,465 beef steers, averaging 1,100 pounds each, at 3c per pound. $81,345
200 old cows, averaging 900 pounds each, at 3c per pound 5,400 86,745
$ 34,288
STOCK INVENTORY AFTER SALES, OCTOBER 1879.
Beef steers
400
Cows. 1,710
Heifers, two-year-olds. 955
Calves
1,528
Bulls
100
4,693
OCTOBER 1,1SS0.
Expenses one year $ 7,039
One year's interest at 10 per cent. 4,132
Bought 50 bulls, at $50 each. 2,500 $ 13,671
$ 47,959
SALES ACCOUNT IN OCTOBER, 1880.
388 beef steers, averaging 1,100 pounds each, at 3c per pound. $12,804 400 old cows, averaging 900 pounds each, at 3c per pound. 10,800 23,604
Net capital account.
$24,355
92
JOHNSON'S IIISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
STOCK INVENTORY AFTER SALES OCTOBER, 1880.
Cows (926 last year's two-year-olds) 2,185
Yearlings. 1,482
Calves 2,068
Bulls 150
5,885
OCTOBER 1, 1881.
Expenses one year $8,827
One year's interest at 10 per cent. 3,318 $ 12,145
$36,500
SALES ACCOUNT IN OCTOBER, 1881.
500 old cows, averaging 900 pounds each, at 3c per fb .... $13,500
Net capital account. $23,000
INVENTORY OF STOCK AND APPURTENANCES AFTER SALES IN OCT., 1881.
30 horses, worth at least $30 each. $ 900 Wagons, mower, hay rake, plows, saddles, ranche buildings, etc. 1,000
GRADED STOCK.
1,619 cows, valued at $27 each. 43,713
719 two-year-old heifers, valued at $16 each .. 11,504
719 two-year-old steers, valued at $16 each 11,504
1,003 yearling steers, valued at $10 each. 10,030
1,003 yearling heifers, valued at $10 each 10,030
1,695 calves, valued at $5 each 8,475
150 bulls, valued at $50 each. 7,500
$104,656
Deduct outstanding capital account. 23,000
Balance to profit, exclusive of 10 per cent. interest ... .$ 81,656
This makes an admirable exhibit and will be encouraging to those who think of investing their money in cattle; but to succeed one must have patience, shrewdness and self-reliance, with any amount of energy and capacity.
The plains of Nebraska have been the natural grazing grounds through untold ages of millions of buffalo and other grass-feeding animals, and they are rapidly becoming the great meat producing lands of the nation. In a few years it will be a difficult matter to find a vacant range in the State suitable or capable of sustaining 5,000 head of cattle. The rivers and creeks are all being rapidly taken up by small herders or branches of large herds.
CHAPTER V.
PUBLIC LANDS.
LANDS RECEIVED FROM THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT-STATE UNI- VERSITY LANDS-COMMON SCHOOL LANDS -- SALINE LANDS- PENITENTIARY LANDS-PUBLIC BUILDING LANDS-STATE NORMAL SCHOOL ENDOWMENT LANDS-UNION PACIFIC R. R. LANDS-BURLINGTON & MISSOURI RIVER R. R. LANDS -GOVERNMENT LANDS-THE HOMESTEAD LAW-PRE-EMP- TION LAW-TIMBER CULTURE ACT.
As stated in another portion of this work, the State of Nebraska contains an area of 75,995 square miles, or over 48,500,- 000 acres of land, and it is the purpose of the writer to show in this Chapter, as nearly as possible, what portion of this vast domain has been disposed of, and for what purposes, as also what remains undisposed of, at the commencement of the year 1879.
The State of Nebraska has received from the General Government grants of lands amounting in the aggregate to upwards of 3,370,000 acres, as follows:
For Internal Improvement. 500,000
Agricultural College. 90,000
" University. 46,080
66 Public Buildings 12,800
" Penitentiary. 32,000
Saline purposes. 46,080
For Common School purposes, sections 16 and 36 in every township, which will amount in the aggregate, as estimated, to .2,643,080
Making the total grant to the State
.3,370,040
XCIII
94
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
The 500,000 acres for internal improvement purposes, were granted to the State upon its admission to the Union, under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved September 4th, 1841. These lands were selected through agents appointed for that purpose, and disposed of in pursuance of the provisions of an Act of the Legislature, approved February 15th 1869.
The following exhibit is taken from the report of the Com- missioner of Public Lands, as published for the year 1878. It shows when these lands were received from the General Govern- ment, the amount, and how they were disposed of:
ACCOUNT OF LANDS RECEIVED FROM THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
March 29th, 1870, received. 359,708.06 acres.
October 13th 1871 94,232.96 "
June 17th, 1872,
18,441.22
May 27th, 1873,
22,213.01
January 7th, 1874,
S80.00
February 24th, 1874
S,656.61
Making a total of. .504,131.86 acres
Deduct from the above the difference between short and full sections-short sections being charged in the above list as full sections. . . 3,319.86 acres
Which leaves a real total of ...... .500,812.00 acres
HOW DISPOSED OF-TO WHOM.
Deeded to Saline County for Bridges 1,000.00 acres
Deeded to Gage County for Bridges. 1,000.00
Deeded to Elkhorn & Mo. Valley R. R 100,030.32
Deeded to Midland Pacific R. R .. .100,384.08
Decded to Brownville & Fort Kearney R. R. . . 19,989.12
Deeded to Burlington & Missouri River R. R. . 50,104.77
Deeded to Sioux City & Pacific R. R. 47,327.10 66
Deeded to Omaha & Southwestern R. R. 100,010.00
Deeded to Omaha & Northwestern R. R. S0,416.24
Deeded to Burlington & Southwestern R. R. 20,000.00
Deeded to Atchison & Nebraska R. R. 12,841.54
533,103,17 acres
Disposed of in excess of grant. 32,291.17 acres The amount deeded in excess of grant occurred in deeding the same parcel of lands to the Burlington & Southwestern
95
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
on June 20th, 1870, that were deeded to the Omaha & Southi- western Road on October 10th, 1862, viz .: 20,000 acres. There are, however, 12,291 acres that was deeded in excess of the 500,000 acres as granted by the Act of Congress referred to, that ar note accounted for in the above statement.
STATE UNIVERSITY LANDS.
By an Act of Congress, approved April 19th, 1864, seventy- two sections of the unappropriated lands in the State of Nebraska were donated to the State for the use and support of a State University. The selection of these lands was made by the author- ized agents of the State, which were confirmed by the Interior Department, on the 17th of February, 1874. The lands were located as follows:
County. No. of Acres.
County.
No. of Acres.
Webster
.17,803.48
Knox.
4,800.00
Nuckolls
4,916.68
Dakota
320.00
Cedar
1,600.00
Dixon
640.00
Pierce.
3,197.67
Holt.
8,322.10
Madison
2,240.00
Antelope. . .1,280.00
45,119.93
Total amount donated by Congress.
46,080.00
Amount due from the United States
960.07
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LANDS.
Under an Act of Congress, approved July 2d, 1862, donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide Colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, military tactics, etc., a tract of land equal to thirty thousand acres for each Senator and Representative in Congress, to which Nebraska was entitled by the apportionment under the census of 1860, was selected by the State, and confirmed by the Interior Department as follows:
September 20th, 1871, selections made and con-
firmed for.
11,504.96 acres.
December 8th, 1871, selections made and con- . 77,947.82 firmed for
Making a total of. .89,452.78 acres
Located as follows:
96
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
County. Amount of Land.
County.
Amount of Land.
Knox. .33,490.64
Stanton
.320.00
Cedar
27,677.96
Burt. .640.00
Wayne.
15,648.98
Dixon
2240.00
Pierce
7,835.20
Cuming
960.00
Dakota
640.00
Total selections.
Amount donated by Congress
90,000.00
Amount due from the U. S.
547.22
COMMON SCHOOL LANDS.
The following statement shows the number of acres of Com- mon School lands belonging to the State on the 30th day of November, 1878, and the Counties in which such lands are located:
County.
Acres.
County.
Acres.
Adams
20,000
Lancaster
.27,891
Antelope
31,400
Madison
.24,311.88
Boone
.23,040
Merrick. .15,033.53
Burt
16,997.88
Nuckolls 20,440
Buffalo
29,700.59
Nemaha 10,801.11
Butler.
.21,480
Otoe 19,986.88
Cuming 19,740
Pawnee. 16,610
Colfax
. 14,225.28
Pierce 19,200
Clay
. 21,040
Phelps 20,247.85
Cass . 16,242.18
Platte .24,029.08
Cedar 27,499.14
Polk 16,508.94
Dakota
5,989.14
Red Willow 25,574.01
Dixon
. 15,689
Richardson 8,830
Dodge
.16,408.83
Saline 18,349
Sarpy.
7,087.65
Saunders
25,253.25
Franklin
20,471.85
Furnas
24,654.15
Sherman. .20,752.20
Hamilton .20,480
Stanton
14,730
Hall
.19,635.26
Thayer. 20,036.72
Harlan .20,433.93
Howard.
23,299.30
Gage .22,028.31
Washington .12,300.26
Webster 20,480
Jefferson
14,419.53
York 20,480
Johnson .12,138
Pawnee * 2,240
Kearney
. 16,830.70
Lancaster.
320
Knox.
26,238.82
Total. 1,026,067.68
* Deeded to the State by A. J. Cropsey.
Valley. 20,484
Wayne
15,360
Douglas 8,444.72
Filmore .20,308.51
Seward. 19,350
Greeley. 20,555.20
Esther L. Warren.
S9,452.78
97
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Estimated number of acres of Common School land in Counties established but not organized, as also in Counties organized, but not having a complete record of their lands, and the amount of indemnity school lands therein:
COUNTIES.
ESTIMATED NO OF ACRES
INO. OF ACRES OF INDEM- NITY LAND.
TOTAL.
Lincoln
92,160
1,172.70
93,332.70
Cheyenne
211,200
5,853.20
217,053.20
Gosper
15.360
. .
15,360
Hitchcock.
25,600
.
25,600
Keith
71,680
1,012.03
72,692.03
Dawson.
35,840
1,162.40
37,002.40
Frontier
35,840
35,840
Holt
81.920
. .
30,600
Dundy
15,360
.......
92,160
Wheeler
20.480
. . .
. .
25.600
Hayes Sioux
126,720
. . ... .
126,720
Total
880,520
9,200,33
889,720.33
Estimated number of acres of Common School lands in the unorganized territory of the State on the 30th of November, 1878. .. 527,360 Making a grand total of two million, four hundred and forty- three thousand, one hundred and forty-eight acres of Common School land owned by the State at the close of the year 1878.
Number of acres of Common School lands sold prior to January 1st, 1877. . 110,362.08
Number of acres leased prior to 1877. 80,381.79
Number of acres of indemnity land in the State 25,845.21
Number of acres of Common School land deeded during 1877 and 1878. 6,770.83
Number of acres of Common School land sold on time during 1877 and 1878. 26,819.16
Number of acres of Common School land leased during the years 1877 and 1878. 100,918
SALINE LANDS.
By an Act of Congress, approved April 19th, 1864, seventy- two sections of land were granted to Nebraska for Saline purposes. These lands were selected by the agents of the State and con- firmed by the Interior Department, as follows: 7
...
81,920
Chase
30,600
15,360
Custer
92,160
. ... . .
20,480
25.600
. ......
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Dec. 23d, 1872, selections made and confirmed for. .. . 35,849.91 acres
7,663.34
June 21st, 1873.
April 12th, 1878 "
1,880.13
Deduct error in selecting same land.
280.00
Total confirmed to date.
. 45,113.38
Amount awaiting confirmation.
966.62
Amount of grant .. 46,080.00 ¥
Amount of Saline lands reserved for State Normal School (confirmed).
12,722.36
Amount of Saline Lands reserved for Model Farm .. 1,115.35
Asylum. 154.51
sold
17,516.16
66
unsold 13,605.00
45,113.38
All unsold Saline lands are located in Lancaster County. PENITENTIARY LANDS.
By an Aet of Congress, approved April 19th, 1864, fifty sec- tions of land were donated to Nebraska for a penitentiary or State prison. The land was selected by the State and confirmed by the Interior Department, as follows:
February 17th, 1870, selections made and confirmed for. . 32,044,01 acres.
PUBLIC BUILDING LANDS.
By the act of Congress above cited, twenty sections of land were granted the State for the erection of Public Buildings. This land was selected by the agents of the State, and, by Act of the Legisla- ture, approved February 10th, 1871, was trans- ferred to the Penitentiary lands, and are included in that account. The Interior Department has confirmed list of Public Building lands dated February 17th, 1870, for twenty sections or .... .. 12,751.05 acres
Total public building and Penitentiary lands. 44,795.06
Amount sold.
43,438.35
unsold.
1,356.71-44.795.06
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL-ENDOWMENT LANDS.
Under an Act of the State Legislature, approved June 20th,
45,393.38
99
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
1867, twenty sections of the Saline lands were selected and set apart for the purpose of endowing the State Normal School, at Peru, in Nemaha County, which are reported as follows:
Set apart for endowment of State Normal School, 20 sections 12,800 acres.
Sold and deeded of the above lands ... 3,200
Remaining unsold at the close of the year 1878. 9,602 36
Excess in survey. 2.36
12,802 36
The unsold Normal School lands are all located in Lancaster County.
RECAPITULATION.
Amount received by the State for inter-
nal improvements.
500,812
Amount deeded by the State.
533,103 17
Error in deeding same lands
32,291 17
Agricultural College grant. .
90,000 acres.
None of this land has been disposed of.
State University grant.
46,080
Amount sold of the above
1,270 97
44,809 03
Saline grant.
46,080
Amount sold.
17,516 16
Reserved for State purposes and unsold.
28,563 84
Penitentiary grant (amount received). .
32,044 01
Public buildings (amount received). ...
12,751 05
44,795 06
Amount sold.
43,438 35
Amount unsold.
1,356 71
164,729 58
Common School lands belonging to the State, December 1, 1878
2,443,148 01
Total
2,607,877 59
THE UNION PACIFIC LAND GRANT.
The aggregate amount of lands in Nebraska, received by the Union Pacific Railway from the Government, was 5,926,400 acres, of which about 4,000,000 acres are unsold. All are contiguous to their line of road, being distributed through the following Coun- ties.
100
JOHNSON'S INISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Counties.
Acres.
Counties.
Acres.
Douglas and Sarpy
5,000
Buffalo.
200,000
Washington.
5,000
Hamilton
75,000
Dodge
20,000
York.
20,000
Colfax
25,000
Adams
15,000
Saunders
25,000
Kearney
40,000
Butler
20,000
Phelps
100,000
Polk
25,000
Gosper
250,000
Platte.
80,000
Sherman
9,000
Merrick
40,000
Dawson
225,000
Hall
120,000
Lincoln
690,000
Howard
80,000
About 2,000,000 acres of the above mentioned lands are in the Platte Valley, nearly 1,000,000 acres being in Eastern Nebraska, and hence are among the best lands of the State, for grain and fruits. So much has been said and written about the beautiful and fertile valley of the Platte, that it seems unnecessary in these pages to say more than that it is all the human heart could desire, for he that could desire more in the way of soil, climate and water, would exhibit a most inexcusable ingratitude to his Creator, who spoke into existence such a gardenlike section of country for his children. A few years ago this beautiful valley, extending west- ward from the Missouri River through the entire length of the State, was the home of the Indian and the trapper, while a little later it became the great overland trail to the Pacific. To-day it is the richest agricultural district to be found in the West. The soil has been proved, as have also the climate and water, and nothing has been found wanting. To such as may contemplate buying homes in the West, the Author-who, as stated in another portion of this work, has been a citizen of this State for the past twenty-five years-can conscientiously say, no better lands, on more advantageous terms, can be obtained in any other portion of the Union than in the great Platte Valley of Nebraska.
The Union Pacific lands are all placed at prices, and on terms that bring them within the means of any man who is possessed of energy and industry, and desires to secure a home. The range of prices for these lands are wide in the extreme, and are fixed according to location, quality and soil, water and general surround- ings. The buyer can find lands as low as $2, $3, $4, $5, or even up to $10 per acre. To illustrate: in Douglas, Washington,
·
101
JOIINSON'S IIISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
Saunders, Hamilton and Kearney Counties, at from $5 to $10 per acre, while in most of the other Counties it ranges from $2 to $10. Considering their location, relating to railway and market facilities and school and church privileges, these lands are certainly selling at a low price.
The lands are sold on ten years' time, with one tenth down, and the remainder in annual payments, at six per cent. interest, and where parties prefer to pay cash down, a discount of ten per cent. is made. A large per cent. of the lands sold by the Company are now under a good state of cultivation, and in many instances the products of the soil has paid for the lands, leaving the purchaser a large margin for his labor. The Company extend the most liberal facilities to all who desire to examine their lands. Land exploring tickets are sold at greatly reduced rates, while the actual buyer is transported free of charge. Liberal reductions are also made in the transportation of freight for settlers. Immigrant houses, as they are called, are provided at a moderate cost, to such as are not able to immediately settle on their purchases.
THE BURLINGTON & MISSOURI RIVER R. R. LANDS.
This Company received from the Government a land grant in Nebraska amounting to 2,382,208 acres; they received from the State of Nebraska, 50,104 acres, and when they took possession of the Omaha & Southwestern Road they acquired the land grant made to that line by the State, of 100,010 acres, making their total land possessions in Nebraska, originally, 2,532,322 acres. Of this amount 1,423,598 acres have been sold up to June, 1879, leaving over a million acres yet to be disposed of, and which are offered at such low figures and reasonable terms as to place them within the reach of all persons of moderate means desiring farms in the West.
The B. & M. Lands are situated chiefly in the north-central and south-central portions of the State, and are designated as the "North Platte " and "South Platte " lands. They are sold for cash, or on the two, six or, ten years' credit plan.
On the Ten Years' Credit Plan, only the interest, at six per cent. is required at the time of purchase. At the commence-
102
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
ment of the second, third and fourth years, the same payment is required, and not until the beginning of the fifth year is any part of the principal to be paid. At this time one-seventh part of the principal is required, with interest at six per cent. on the balance, and one-seventh with interest on the balance each year thereafter, until the whole is paid.
On the Six Years' Credit Plan, a discount of twenty per cent. is allowed, and only the interest at six per cent. for the first three years required, after which equal yearly payments of prin- cipal, with interest at six per cent.
On the Two Years' Credit Plan, a discount of 322 per cent. is allowed, one-third of the principal being paid down and the balance in equal payments the second and third years, with inter- est at six per cent.
On the Cash Plan, a discount of thirty-five per cent. is given.
In the South Platte Country the B. & M. Company has remaining for sale about 350,000 acres of choice prairie lands, situated in one of the best settled portions of the State, where towns, churches, schools, railroads, bridges, orchards, etc., are already established.
The following is a list of the Counties in which these lands are located, as also the number of aeres in each, and price per acre:
Counties.
Acres.
Price per Acre.
Adams.
10,000
$ 2.00 to $ 7.00
Clay ...
5,000
4.00 to
8.00
Cass. .
25,000
7.00 to
10.00
Franklin
50,000
2.00 to
5.00
Fillmore.
5,000
5.00 to
9.00
Gage.
9,000
5.00 to
8.00
Hamilton
8,000
4.00 to
7.00
Jefferson .
5,000
5.00 to
8.00
Kearney:
10,000
2.00 to
6.00
Lancaster
75,000
4.00 to
10.00
Otoe
10,000
6.00 to
10.00
Saline
40,000
4.00 to
10.00
Seward
40,000
5.00 to
10.00
Saunders
10,000
3.00 to
7.00
Webster
10,000
2.00 to
5.00
York.
30,000
4.00 to
8.00
-
The North Platte lands, comprising over 650,000 acres, well
103
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
adapted to farming and stock purposes, are located in the following Counties, with the amount in each and price:
Counties.
Acres.
Price per Acre.
Antelope.
90,000
$1.50 to $6.00
Boone.
150,000
2.00 to 6.00
Cedar.
12,000
1.25 to 6.00
Dixon.
12,000
1.25 to
6.00
Dakota.
5,000
1.25 to
6.00
Greeley
130,000
1.00 to
5.00
Howard.
40,000
2.00 to
4.00
Madison
60,000
2.00 to
6.00
Platte
10,000
1.25 to
6.00
Pierce
13,000
1.25 to
6.00
Sherman.
80,000
1.00 to
5.00
Valley
120,000
1.00 to
5.00
Wayne .
20,000
1.25 to
6.00
The B. & M. land sales during the year 1878, were 511,609 acres, for which they realized $2,616,870; or, in other words, their land sales for 1878 averaged about 42,000 acres per month, at an average price of $5.11 per acre. These lands were sold to 4,000 purchasers, who are rapidly improving them.
The land grants to other railroads in the State are very small compared to the grants made to the Union Pacific and the Bur- lington & Missouri roads. These lands are located mostly in the northeastern and southeastern portions of the State, and are now nearly all sold, the unsold being in the market at prices corre- sponding with other railroad land of those sections.
The lands of the Pawnee Reserve-now embraced by Nance County-which contained 288,000 acres, have been appraised for sale, and are now on the market at from $2.50 to $10.00 per acre. The terms of sale are one-third down and the balance in two deferred payments.
The west half of the Otoe Reserve, in the southeastern part of the State, has also been appraised for sale, and is now open to buyers, at prices ranging from $2.50 to $10.00 per acre, the terms of sale being the same as in the Pawnee lands.
The Indian reserve lands in the State amount in the aggregate to several hundred thousand acres, all of which is admirably adapted to farm and stock purposes.
A large per cent. of the wild lands in the eastern and older
104
JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
settled Counties of the State, is owned by speculators and non-resi - dents, who hold it merely for speculative purposes. Owing to the stringency of the times, however, much of this land has been forced upon the market within the past few years, and may be purchased at from $4.00 to $12.00 per acre, the price varying according to location, quality of the soil and general surroundings.
GOVERNMENT LANDS.
To the immigrant and all those seeking homes in the West, Nebraska undoubtedly offers the most inviting field for the location of homestead, pre-emption and timber culture claims, it having the largest acreage of desirable Government lands now untaken of any State or Territory in the Union, the amount being estimated in round numbers, at 24,000,000 acres.
The NORTH PLATTE Land Office, in Lincoln County, having jurisdiction over the Counties of Lincoln, Cheyenne, Keith, Dawson, Chase, Dundy, Hitchcock, and portions of Buffalo, Phelps, Gosper and Frontier, also a large portion of unorganized territory of the State, has upwards of 20,000,000 acres yet unclaimed and subject to entry under the homestead, pre-emption and timber culture laws.
The NIOBRARA Land Office, at Niobrara, in Knox County, has about 900,000 acres within its jurisdiction subject to entry, which are located mainly in the northeastern portion of the State.
The NORFOLK Land Office, at Norfolk, in Madison County, has some 500,000 acres within its jurisdiction yet unclaimed, which are located chiefly in the Counties of Madison, Stanton, Antelope, Pierce, Boone and Wheeler.
The GRAND ISLAND Land Office, at Grand Island, Hall County, has upwards of 1,000,000 acres of Government land yet unclaimed, which is situated mostly in the Counties of Hall, Howard, Merrick, Platte, Wheeler, Greeley, Valley, Custer, Sherman, Buffalo and Dawson.
The BLOOMINGTON Land Office, at Bloomington, Franklin County, having jurisdiction over Government land in the southwestern part of the State, has about 1,000,000 acres yet of unclaimed land.
The LINCOLN and BEATRICE Land Offices have disposed of nearly all the desirable land under their jurisdiction.
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JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
THE HOMESTEAD LAW.
Under the provisions of the Homestead Law every person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twen - ty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who has filed his declaration to become such; any soldier or sailor who served ninety days, or upwards in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, and the widow or orphan children of any soldier or sailor is entitled to 160 acres of unappropriated public lands anywhere outside of the limits of a railroad land grant. Soldiers and sailors of the Union Army, or their widows and orphan child- ren, however, are entitled to a full quarter section within the limits of a railroad land grant, all other parties being entitled to only eighty acres therein. Six months' time is allowed from the date of filing a homestead claim in which to begin actual settle- ment; and five years' continuous occupation and improvement of a homestead entitles the claimant to a patent therefor. Soldiers and sailors of the late war may have the period of their service in the army or navy deducted from the five years' occupation required to perfect title; but no patent will be issued to any homestead settler who has not resided upon, improved and cultivated his homestead for a period of at least one year from the date of begin- ning said improvements.
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