Page:Pacific Monthly volumes 9 and 10.djvu/129



teen months the land is often purchased under the commutation clause of the homestead law for $1,25 per acre. When the final proof is made, witnesses will be found who will perjure themselves in return for a like favor in their own cases. Such a homesteader, in offering final proof, once swore that he had an eight-rail fence on his place. Upon investigation it was found that he had eight rails in a row in front of his cabin. The land offices have re- ceived final proofs in hundreds of such cases, and made no investigation, un- less someone appeared to contest the ajjplicaiit's rit^ht tr> the land.

A p^reat many persons who have en- deavored to use the rights g^ranted them hy the land laws have been swindled hv dishonest locators. Such a cruiser, who has not taken the trou- ble to find unappropriated land?- of some value, will state to his victim that lie has discovered a few valuable claims that have been overlooked, or for some reason were not taken when neighbor- ing^ sections were filed on. He will then lake the applicant to a township section that is well tmibered* but al- ready purchased by another iKTSon. and, misrepresenting the location, tell him that he is on a section that, m reality, may be from one to six miles away, and without a tree on it. The applicant will be satisfied with the tim- ber shown him, will see from the map or learn fnmi the land office that the

A LOO THAT WILL (IT by Dnrius Kinscy, Sc iro-li'oollcy. Hush.