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Show THE LAND BILL. Washington, D. C, Feb. 27 The coeferees on the bill for the repeal of the timberkculture law, and amendatory at the land laws generally, have practically practi-cally reached an agreement on an entirely entire-ly new bill, which will i.e brought forward at the first opportunity, The subject matter of the bill has for the past two Congresses been in dispute between the House and Senate, and for along time the conferees during this Congress fail-e fail-e l to come to an understanding. The bill ag reed upon will change the general land system of the government. The bill first repeals the timber culture-act, culture-act, with a reservation in favor of bona fide claims heretofore initiated. In computing com-puting the period of cultivation on claims already accruing, it is provided the time shall run from the dale of th6 entire necessary acts of cultivation performed within the proper time. The prepasation of the land and the planting of the trees will be construed as acts of cultivation. Persons who have complied with the provisions pro-visions cf the limber culture lor four years may prove up their claims by pay ing $1 25 an acre. fne desert land act is amended by requiring re-quiring the filling of a map showing the proposed method of reclimauon, ;and no prson shall receive pflKntsfTPtiun' ler this act unless he has expended in th work of reclamation at least 3 per acre, t to be expended within each year. Afttrfour years title may be sec-. sec-. ured by the payment of Jt per acre. Section 12288 of the revised statutes is amended so that any bona fide settler may have the rigot to transfer any portion por-tion of his claim lor a right of way for irrigation ir-rigation purposes as well as for church, 1 cemeterv,r railroad or school i puryeses. The preemption law is also repealed . (icepv as to claims heretofore initiated and except as to pre-emptions by counties coun-ties under special law. Section 2289 is amenden so that persons per-sons already holding 160 acres of land, or who have abanboned their residence on their own laud, shall not have the right to make homestead. Entries may be suspended for correction of clerical errors United States is estopped from the vacation of any patent on claims heretofore tnitiated.unless suit is brought within five years and on future claims within six years. Provided that in Col-orjdo.Montans, Col-orjdo.Montans, North and South Dakota, Wyoming and the silver legions ol fvnved.i and Utah it shall be sufficient defense of any prosecution for trespass to show thnt timber is cut for agricultural, agricultur-al, mi'iing. mannfrcturing or domestic puiposes and not transported out of the sta This provision, however, is not to apply to railroads. Provision is made for townsite entry in Alaska and for the acquisition there of lands necessary for trade or manufacturing manufact-uring purposes. Towns and cities, tt is declared, may make townsite entries on mineral lands, but this right shall not interfere in-terfere with the working of underground mineral, clames. Provision is made for grants of right of way for irrigation purposes, pur-poses, but reservoir sites are not to contain con-tain any land not necessary for construction construc-tion and maintanance. The maximum amount of land which any person may aquire is limited to three hundred and twenty acres. The Piesident is given the right to set apart and reserve in any territory forest laud as public reservation not subject to be entered upon. This will meet the principal aim of what is known as tne Yellowstone park bill. |