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T» to PC of fil Oi be th Si4 ot fir si( or Th sh Til wl Ml di< en b« rig re mi 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X J 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X lils du difier jn« lage Th« copy filmad h«r« hat b««n r«produc«d thanks to tha ganarosity ot: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha baat quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. L'axamplaira filmi fut raproduit grica k la gAniroait* da: Librury Division Provincial Archives of British Coluntbia Laa imagaa suivantas ont 4ti raproduitaa avac la plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da l'axamplaira filmA. at an conformity avac laa conditions du contrat da filmaga. Original copias in printad papar covars ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion. or tha back covar whan appropriata. 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Maps, platas. charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga to ba antiraly includad In ona axposura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to right and top to bottom, as many framas as raquirad. Tha following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartas, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux da reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film* A partir da Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Las diagrammas suivants illustrent la mAthoda. rrata o selure, 1 A □ 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■ ■ ■ . ■ I '- 1 tub; LAND PR0SPECT(;R'8 MANUAL & FIELD-BOOK K(»K The Use of Intending Settlers taking up Lund$ in Manitoba, and the North West 'I etriiortes of Canada J!V OAPT. (J. W. A J. J. EN. I'iJrtlx Edit! oxx. f «bUA'.hca Uii .lutUovitii of thv -rion. ihf 'Biiibtrv of the ^/ntcviur. UITAWA: rfiiNTH) uv Rhown Cham»kiu,in, Printkh to the Qukkn's Mo^t Exckllknt Majkstv, 1889. ■. ^• I : .;.. ■ • f ^ < I ,, 7 *', .>. - / .- ■._#'■> ' ^ • ■■' 1 ' ■ ' ■ ■ , ; ■ '• ■,_ ^ - , " • V ' ■ » ■ ■ ■» ' ■ ' '•'.'■ ^ ^ T ' ■'»»■- ■. -.. . k ■ ■ * ■» ^ ■ ' ' ■'■ s , > ^ '■''"■' " ^ 1 /-' • . , -■;■■' '';%.,'""^'-'/-i.r " ^ " '" ! • ■ ■.i> ■ • '"• -; • . ■; Ky. ■ -. :■■ ■■ : t '.■■•• 1 ' » ', ^' .■ ■'■::■■- ..'■ V V i " ',.'■* '•■'■"" ' '' ■■ - Cr'-; -"a '^, . ■ ■ '" ' , -. ,. "hd -'.i , .„ ; ■ ■■ . ' :^ '"-:;■>'■ ... ■ ^''>* ^.' ' u. 1-. \ ... ' :-i J. ,. • i/ • ••' ■^. • ■J ■f ■' > .-•,* ■'■ ^ , •■ V . 'I- " . I 7 ^ t TUBS LAND PROSPECTOR'S MANUAL & FIELD-BOOK FOR The Use of Intending Settlers taking up Lands in Manitoba, and the J^orth=- West Territories of Canada^ BY CAPT. 0. W. ALLEN. X*irtlx SSclitxo] JuMii^lttd tjtj aulhotitjj of thu i^on, the piuij&tct: of the gntctiot OTTAWA : PSINTBD BT BbOWN ChaMBBRLIN, FrINTBB TO THB QubBM'S MoST ExOBLLBNT MaJISTT. Ib89. .1 A4ZS 166^ ^ CcWechc CONTENTS. I9art I. HOW TO PROSPECT FOR I.AND. Composition of the Party Suggestions as to Outfit Essential Information ... How to find a particular Section ... How to locate Comers on Unsurveyed I. .ines ••• «•• ••• ••« PACK 7 7 9 II II THE SYSTEM OF SL^RVEY. Townships and Ranges Sections ... - •■• ••• Subdivision of Sections Legal Subdivisions of a Section The Order of Survey "* ,,, "" How Survey Lines are marked on the'cround The Old System of Survey ... Limits of the Different Systems" 13 H 15 i6 i6 i6 20 20 I i PAG 8 ••• 22 Part HL SYNOPSIS OF THE DOMINION LANDS LAW, &. Homesteads, Pre-emptions, and Wood Lots Purchase and Lease of Lands Importance of a Legal Entry ... 23 The Position of Squatters 23 Cancellation and Forfeiture ". 24 Various Reserves ' '" 25 Useful Hints to Land Prospector... *" ... " 25 26* Correspondence with Officials ^Hppcnlifi. ••• «•• ••• ••« 31 I I F^K.T I. I HOW TO PROSPECT FOR LAND. COMPOSITION OF THE PARTY— SUGGESTIONS AS TO OUTFIT— ESSENTIAL INF0R.\fATI0N-HOW TO FIND ANY PARTICULAR SECTION— A SIMPLE METHOD OF LOCATING CORNERS ON VNSURVEYED LINES. Composition of the TARTYi Suggestions as to Outfit. Thr object of a trip on the prairie, for the purpose of selecting lands to homesteafl or purchase, can be iittained with much more satisfaction and success by the ori^aniitjition of a small party composed of from two tt) four persons. If the number exceeds the latter figure, disputes arc apt to arise, through conflict of interests, when the choice of locations has to be arrived at. Two companions may get along very well ; but, in following up lines, setting off right angles, and in some other situations, the presence o\. i at least three persons will be found to facilitate operations. In case of a break-down, getting "stuck" in a swamp or coulee, or the occurrence of any other contingency of prairie travel, it will be found that •'many hands make light work" in overcoming the 'it five fee' Ic b.: sharpenec ron-shod if cor: o.ss-stafT may It but one of il • ook, and is le- ng. The lengt cetd six oreigh: inimals will no: to graze, and 1: ible in findin;: e "bluffs" b: for each animal ; 50 feet of one-inch rope ; a spade ; strong cord ; nails and screws. N.B. — A coal-oil stove * will be found very useful in a prairie region absolutely destitute of wood. It should, however, be en- closed in a small box that will preserve it from injury while travelling, and protect it frona the wind when in use. Groccrifs and Provisions. — Flou , tea or coffee, sugar, pepper, salt, mustard, molasses, dried apples, bacon, potatoes or beans, biscuits, coal-oil, matches, soap, candles, and baking powder. Personal Reaiou.'s. — Each member o'' the party should supply imnself with a copy of the *' 'iHE Land Pkospf'-'-or's Manual and FiELd-Book ;" also a knife, fork, and spoon, a tin plate, and a pint drinking- cup ; a change of shirt, drawers, and socks ; mosquito bars ; a waterproof coat, poncho, or sheet ; long boots ;t a black lead (or indelible) pencil, and a blue-and- red pencil. Early in spring, or late in the fall, a buffalo robe will be found very desirable. One or two guns among the party would provide, during the proper seasons, variety for the bill of fare. Essential Information. When the Prospectors have made up their minds as to the particular part of the country they will • A stove of this kind w ill be found invaluable by a settler's wife during the preliminary stages of establishing a home on the prairie, as. owing to its non-radiation of heat, it can be used inside of a shanty having no partitions, without causing dis- conilurt, where any other kind of stove would be found in- tolerable. + These will be found very comfortable for wear in the early morning, when the long grass is heavy with dew. They may be discarded Uter in the day. explore in search of farms to suit their requirements, they should ascertain in which Land District the locality is situate, and proceed to the office of the " Local Agent " in charge, who is the official repre- sentative of the Dominion Lands Branch of the Dtj^i 'ment of the Interior. Here they will bi: .urnished, free of cost, with all the information the ■)Ooks contain calculated to assi.st the would-be • itler < r purchaser in making his selection with the .ast possible difficulty and loss of time.* The following suggestions are offered as indicating the general inforuution that should be obtained of a Local Agent. 1. As to the most pro.nising localities the District contains, having regard to the primary requisites, \'\l.^ rich land, sufficiency of timber, and good water. 2. Should all of these desiderata not be attainable in any locality that appears attractive, it would be important to ascertain what prospect there would be of making up any particular deficiency. P^or instance, whether wood -lots would be obtainable if the country it is purposed to locate in should be open prairie, or what results would be likely to attend the sinking of wells, if there be no permanent fresh water lakes, ponds, or streams in the locality. • One or more " land gnides '^ are attached to each Do- minion Lands Office to assist intending sc'tlcrs to find the localities they wish to inspect ; but their services are chiefly re- quired for conducting large parties of immigrants arriving tVom Europe. With the assistance of this M.\.nual, small paitie>, composed of men of ordinary intelligence and perseverance, can carry out their purpose more satisfactorily "on their own hook." i 10 3- Present facilities for reaching the townships under enquiry should be ascertained, and the prospects of securing improved means of transportation and com- munication in the near future might also be taken into consideration. After deciding in what particular townships they will pursue their search, the Prospectors should obtain the following specific information in regard to them :— 1. As to which quarter-sections have already been entered for by other parties, all of which should be carefully crossed off on one of the blank township diagrams in the Appendix. These being closed against further entry (unless in case of cancellation on account of non-fulfilment of conditions), the unmarked quarter-sections will sh«w at a glance all the lands in the township that it is necessary to examine. The diagram itself exhibits in blank the even-numbered sections, which are the sections available for home- steading or -^re-emption, the remainder being only obtainable by purchase — from the Government, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Hudson's Uay Company, or private proprietors. 2. As to the characteristics of the locality. The Local Agent, on request, will show to an applicant a copy of the official map of the survey of any particular township, drawn on a scale of two inches to the mile. From this the Prospector may note upon a blank section-diagram (also in the Appendix) any features distinguishing the quarter-sections still open for entry. The points to be specially observed and marked down are as follow : — (fl) The qualK/ of the soil (JS) Whether the land is prairie, timbered, wet, or swampy. {c) The course of any creek, and the position of any lake or pond (fresh, salt, or alkaline), not exhibite/tii') in blue. 'Ana ground) by (s) by dotting in arnt over {lig^ii ver with red. J them in with them in witli ven above are graphy of sucli e at any Land J Having thus noted the principal features on the blank diagrams of their field-books, the Prospectors should finally seek information as to the best trail to follow, in order to reach the townships they purpose i examining, and this should be sketched down on the ! general map. How TO FIND A PARTICULAR SECTION. Upon nearing the locality to be explored, the party should keep on the look-out for a "mound." So soon as one is perceived, an examination of the marks upon the post in its centre (See Diagram No.V.) will acquaint the Prospectors with the exact situation in which they then stand. Any person who comprehends the mean* ing of the inscriptions on township or section corner* posts cannot possibly get lost within the surveyed districts of the North-West, and, with or without the aid of a compass, he should experience little difficulty in keeping on the course he wibhes to follow. Having at last reached such a mound in immediate proximity to one of the sections it is desired to ex- amine, in order to find the actual place it is only necessary to follow up one of the surveyed lines lead- ing in the proper direction, which may be reaiHIy lone by the following method: Let two memljers of the party be designated " A " and " B." Let A plant 'he cross-staff against the post in the centre of the mound, and, by use of the pocket-compass and allow- ing for the variation, set one of the grooves in the direction of north and south. Then lot R, on horse- back, start ofT ii; the required direction (whether north, sruth, cast, or west), A directing him hy motions, so that he i)roceel5 on a correct course. When he has gone about hali-a-mile, he shuulu be alik- lu ImkI the mound erected at the quarter section corner (marked with the sign "i" only). Here he may plant his Hag. Two points being thus absolutely established, by plac- ing the cross-staff on either of them, and aligning one of its grooves on the flag planted upon the other, lines can be set off, either north-and-south or east-and- west, with almost perfect accuracy. All that is neces- sary is for A to glance through the groove pointing in the particular direction required for him to be able to direct B upon a true course any distance within the range of his sight. How TO LOCATE CORNERS ON UNSURVEYED LINES. To ascertain the true centre of any section, or the position of a section or quarter-section corner on any unsurveyed line, is a very simple matter with the aid of the cross-staff, by adopting the following method : — To find the centre of Section 14 ; I^t B plant one flag on the mound at a, and another on that at /'; and let A plant the cross-staff at <■, aligning one of the grooves on the Hag at b. Then let B plant a third flag a few chains west of c, being directed by A through the groove pointing in that direction; and call this fresh point from tlie mounds most convenient. In order to determine the relative position of any of the corners of sections occurring on the unsurveyed limit of a road allowance, the most ready plan is to plant the cross-stafT at the post in the mound imme- diately opposite the point it is desired to ascertain, and align one of its grooves upon a flag erected on sonT? adjacent mound. The corner to be located may theu be measured, in the direction of the other gmove, at i distance of one chain. Referring to the diagram, anJ supposing it is required to locate the ii"ilh-we:t corner of the S.W. \ of Section 23 : Let B plant a flag on the mound at k. A, taking his position b} the mound at h, having aligned the cross-staff on this flag, will direct B where to plant a second flag a: rather more than a chain's length towards the east, by means of the groove pointing in that direction. All that now remains is to measure one chain, from h to /, and drive in a picket. «3 e beariiu^s n of aTiyof insurveyed plan is tT jnd imme- ertain, an I d on soiTi'? [ may thei! move, at J igram, an J n'>ith-\ve:t B plant a osilion h) aff on this nd flag a: f the east. lion. All om h to /, • F^E^T TI. THE SYSTEM OF SURVEY. TOWNSHIPS AND RANGES-SECTIONS-SUBDIVISION OF SECTIONS-TIIE ORDER OP SURVEY— now SURVEYED LINKS ARE MARKED ON THE GROUND— THE OLD SYSTEAf OF SURVEY —LIMITS OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. The System of Survey. Under the improved system of survey, now in force, Dominion lands in the North- We >t Territories are laid off in four-sided "townships," almost square in form, bounded on the east and west sides by lines which are tnie meridians of longitude (i.e. radli.ting from the North Pole), and on the north and south sides by lines which are chords of the circular parallels of latitude intersecting such meridians. Townships and Ranges. A township measures on its east and west sides, from centre to centre of the road allowances which form its actual boundaries, exactly 483 chains, and on its north and south sides 486 chains, more or less, subject to the deficiency resulting from the con- vergence or divergence of the meridians, as the case may be, caused by the curvature of the surface of the globe. Townships are numbered in regular order north- wards from the 49th parallel of north latitude, which forms the International Boundary line between the territories of Canada and those of the United States (See Diagram No. I. ), and they lie in " ranges " which are numbered in regular succession westward of certain standard north-and-south lines first esta- blished, under the name of "principal meridians," which are distinctly set down on all Government maps.* There are also certain ranges lying (and numbered) east of the First Principal Meridi.an, and likewise some townships lying (and numbered) south of the 49th parallel ; but these latter are situate east of the Lake of the Woods. • The First Principal Meridian runs northward froir a point on the International Boundary about eleven miles wost of the town of Emerson. The Second Principal Meridian is estab- lished upon the 102nd meridi-an of west longitude, passing about thirty miles west of Fort Ellice. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Principal Meridians are identical with the io6th, iioth, and 114th meridians of longitude respectively. 14 Sections. Each townsliip is sub-divided into thirty-six *' sections " of 640 acres, or one square mile, more or less (the exact area being, like that of the township itself, subject to the convergence or divergence of meridians), together with certain road allowances, having a width of one chain, on each section line running north-and-south, and on every aUemate sec- tion line running east-and-west. The sections are laid out of the precise width of eighty chains (or eighty-one chains, including the contiguous road allowance) on certain lines running eastand-west, called '* base lines ; " and the meridians bounding sections are drawn thence, northward and southward, to the depth of two townships, to certain " correction lines." (See Diagram No. I.) All sections south of a base line will accordingly have their northern and southern boundary lines rather more than eighty chains, while the northern and situlhern boundaries of sections in the townships laid olT north of the same base line will correspond- ingly measure somewhat less than the normal dimen- sion of eighty chains. The following diagram serves to exhibit the discre- pancies arising from the convergence or divergence of ihe meridians, though in an exaggerated degree for the purpose of distinct illustration. It will be readily seen that the area of the sections into which the township surveyed north of the base line A B is subdivided, decrease in area the farther from such base line they are situate, while in the case of the sections in the township laid off upon the same base line, but to the sontb of It, the very reverse is the case.* i • Though the above particulars are given in explana'ion of the system of survey, the discrepancies resulting within the latitudes bounding the Fertile Belt are practically inappre- ciable to the settler, the difference between the length of the northern and southern boundanes of a township being ictuallf only a few links more or less than a chain, accordinc tj tho particular township in question ; or the diiference is only 4bout half a foot between the northern and s Ltl.^raboundaiiei of A quarter section, a distance of half \ mile. i >s B J4 mappre- of the actually t'j tho ly «boul i«» o( A The survey upon each base line* is carried, north- ward and southward, for two tiers of townships only. Thus, as four tiers in all are surveyed from each several base line, the meridians forming the eastern and western boundaries of the sections necessarily ap- proach, though they do not exactly meet, each other at a distance of two townships from such base lines. Terminating upon opposite sides of the road allow- ance, they produce what is technically known as the "jog"' resulting from their want of parallelism, which is shown upon the correction linesf already spoken of, and also exhibited in Diagram No. I. The accom- ]>anying figure shows in an exaggerated degree how the irregular width of the road allowance on all cor- rection lines results from the same cause. ^.^ 6 5 432 I Road Ai.u, w 31 ANCE 32 33 ON A CoKRU 34 CTION 35 Line. 36 I • The First H.ise Line is identical with the 49th parallel of rnrth Intitule (the Iiiturnatiuiuil iJounJary). I'hi: Second Hase Line runs east and west between Townships 4 and 5 ; the I'hird between Townships 8 and 9; id so on, nortlxrly, in regular succession, at intervals of every four tiers of townships. + iiic First Correction Line is between Townships 3 and 3; the Second, between Townships 6 and 7; the Third, be- tween Towni^hinn 10 and 11 ; and so on, in regular succession, «t intervals of lour townships. Subdivision of Sections. Each section of a township is subdivided into *' nuarter-sections," containing 160 acres each (l)eiiu; half a mile square, more or less), as shown in tlfc acconijianying diagram ; and they are referred to res- pectively as the N.E. J, tlie N.W. ^, the S.E. 1^, or the S. W. \ of the section of which they form part. N Quarit.r-Sections. The terms " half-quartcr-section " and " quarter- quarler-seclion" arc legal designations, expressing the quantity of 80 or 40 acres respectively; but, to facili- tate the description for letters patent of less than a half-quarter-section, the quarter-sections comprising every separate section are, in accordance with the boundaries of the same as planted in the original survey, supposed to be further subdivided each into four quarter-quarter-sections (of 40 acres each), and i6 1 \ these may bf referred to by the numbers as shown on llie following diagram of a section so cut up into '' legal subdivisions." N W 13 14 15 16 12 II 10 9 5 6 7 ^ A 5 2 - 8 "Legal Subdivisions" of a Section. The entry-certificates and letters patent describing wood-lots disposed of by the Government to settlers designate such particular small parcels of land by referring to them as legal subdivisions, numbered as above shown. Wood-lots are generally rectangular, having a narrow front upon a section line. The Order of Survey. Previous, to the subdivision of Dominion lands into townships, sections, and quarter-sections, the portion of the country to be so surveyed is laid off in " blocks " of sixteen townships each, by projecting the several base lines and meridian lines which are required to form the boundaries of each block. These block surveys are specially arranged for by the Government in advance of immediate requirements for subdivision into townships, and by this means a general know- ledge of the features of the country is first obtained. The outlines of the townships included within such a block are next surveyed by a different surveyor, whose report extends the knowledge of the locality already in possession of the Department. Lastly, the townships whose outlines have been thus already defined are subdivided, upon contract, by a third surveyor, who is required to plant upo»i the ground all the interior posts or other monuments shown in Diagram No. IL, and also to set down in his field-notes all facts necessary to a complete topo- graphical report of the country. The returns of these contract surveyors, the accuracy of which is ensured by a system of inspection, constitute a valuable fund of intelligence regarding the soil and general resources of the North-West, which is available for statesmen, investors, or settlers interested in the progress and development of the country. When the survey of townships progresses so far west that a fresh principal meridian is reached, the fractional townships resulting from the "jog" on the correction lines are not absorbed into the adjoining ranges, bu» they are allowed to constitute a range of such broker, townships. (See Range XXX., Diagram No. 1.) How Survey Lines are marked on thk Ground. The course of every line surveyed in the North- West is marked upon the ground by the planting or erection of such posts, stones, mounds, or other monuments as will serve the temporary purpose uf wmmm «7 subdivision eral know- obtained, within such t surveyor, ihe locality have been n contract, plant upon monuments :t down in plete topo- Tis of these is ensurc'l Liable fun'l 1 resources statesmen, )gress and RO far west fractional correction uiires, bu^ :h broken I.) < THK e North- anting or or other irpose of {juiding Prospectors through the country, and which also constitute permanent landmarks to establish the \e^a\ Ijoundaries of lands held by different i^roprietors.* Only a single row of posts (or other monuments) to indicate the corners of townships, sections, or quarter- scciious, is placed on the ground to show the line surveyed, except in the case of correction lines. Such posts (cr other monuments) are invariably planted along the 7t>esirn limit of the road allowance on all lines rnnnini north-and-south, and in the southern limit of th road allowance on all lines running east-and-wes . It follows, accordingly, that . V., the letters " a " and ♦' b " showing the positi t in which iron posts would be planted. ) The letters, marks, and figures on posts and trees are distinctly cut in with a knife or scribing iron ; those on iron posts and stone comers, with a cold chisel. Quarter-section comer posts are simply marked with the conventional sign "1/4" to indicate their character, and bear no inscription showing to whaJ township or range they belong. Posts or stone monuments indicating all other corners bear sufficient marks to thoroughly indicate the position they are intended to legally establish ; and must always be read from the top of the post down- wards. On township corners, the upper figure on either side of the post indicates the number of the township which that side of the post faces, and the next figure indicates the range. (See Fig. 4, Diagram No. V. for the corner between Townships 5 and 6, Ranges- Ill, and IV.) On all other section corners, whether on township lines or in tlie interior of a township, the numbers of the sections only are to be found on the corresponding faces of three sides of the post ; but, in addition to the section number, the number of the township and that I 19 thern angle s the usual correction *! are built nts of the the centre the road >. v., the in which and trees )ing iron ; ith a cold y marked cate their I to wha? all other indicate lish ; and >st dovjtt- itherside township ;xt figure No. V. Ranges ownship rsofthe ing faces to the md that « of the range appear on the fourth face, which is in- variably the south-west one. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 7, I)iagram No. V. for the northerly corner between Sections 34 and 35, Township 5, Range IV.; for the easterly corner between Sections 24 and 25, Town- ship 6, Range IV. ; and for the corner between Sections 15, 16, 21, and 22, Township 6, Range VI.) The posts planted along the correction lines simply exliibit marks to show the numbers of the township* and sections the boundaries of which they form respectively. Tcavnship corners have the number of the section shown on the west side of the post, and tlic numbers of township and range on its north side, •T cases where the posts stand in the northern limit c.f the road allowance, the letter "R" for "road" alone being marked on the other two sides. (See Fig. II, Diagram No. V., for the south-east corner of Township 3, Range X.) A correspondingly opposite plan will be found to have been adopted in marking the township corner-posts in the southern limit of the road allowance on correction lines. (See Fig. 10, Diagram No, 5. for the north-east corner of Township 6, Range V.) Section corner-posts on correction lines have the numbers of the sections on their cast and west sides, the letter "R" on the side facing the roadway, and on the fourth side the number of the township and range. (See Figs. 12 ^v: 13, Diagram No. v., for the southerly corner between Sections 3 and 4, Township 7, Range V'lL, and for the northerly rnrner between Sections 32 and 33, Township 2, Range VI.) In ranges numbered from the First Principal Meridian, the letters "E" or "Ware marked on the post after the number of the range, to denote thai it is east or west of that meridian. (See Figs. 8 and o. Diagram No. V., for the township corner between Townships 5 and 6, Ranges III. and IV., east of the First Principal Meridian, and for the corner between Sections 10, 11, 14, and 15, Township 6, Range IV., west of the First Principal Meridian.) In 1882 theeurveyH were pushed far into th« prairie regions where no supply of wood for posts existed. and It, therefore, became necessary to furnish the sab-dlvlslon surveyors with suitable material for monuments In place of wooden posts. Land hunters will accordingly find In such districts an Iron tube inserted in corner section mounds. Thla Iron tube carries a square often marked in manner corres- ponding with the Inscriptions placed on. posts in other localities. All that is necessary to an accurate reading of the marks is first by consulting a pocket compass to so turn the plate that the inscription of township and rantre Is towards the south-west. Two examples will suffice. Fig- 1- Fig. 2. In Fig. 1 is given a representation of the marks on the plate at the easterly corner between Rectlons 21 and 2.5, Township 6, Range 13 west of the — Meridian. It will be observed that ou the south-west side of the .70 plate are the numbers of the township and range, and the figures arc to be road downwards In the fol- lowing ordor, viz : section, township and ranfce. Fig. 2 Hhows how a plate would be marked to Indicate the north-east corner of Township 0, Range 5, on a cor- rection line. The Old System of Survey. The system of survey in use previous to the season of l88i is illustrated by Diagram No. III. It will be observed that a township surveyed on this plan has three roads running east-and-west beyond the number contained in a township surveyed according to the modern system. (See Diagram No. II.) _ The number of surveyed lines in such a township is accordingly three more than the number run in a township surveyed on the new system, which fact has a special interest for the Land Prospector, inasmuch as there is a difference in the number of mounds to guide him in identifying the position of the particular quarter-section he may be in search of. A further difference in the two systems, having less practical interest for the land hunter, is that, whereas m the new system the deficiency or surplus .".rising from the convergence or divergence of meridians is distributed among all the sections of a ^ownshij», under the old system such deficiency or surplus was left in the tier of quarter-sections .idjoining tlie western boundary of "the township, the remaining quarier-sections having their four sides of equal dimen- sions, viz., forty chains. To accomplish this result the meridians dividing the sections and quarter-sections were laid out parallel with that forming the eastern boundary of the township — the (unsurveyed) meridian forming the eastern limit of the road allowance dividing the township in question from the next one west being assumed to be parallel to the surveyed line forming the western Hmit, and thus a solitary exception. Lastly, the road allowances under the old system were I chain 50 links wide, instead of I chain only, as fixed under the system according to which lands are now surveyed in the North-West.* Limits of the Different Systems. The operation of the system of survey in use pre- vious to the season of i88i is restricted to the area bounded as follows, viz.: — To the south — By the International Boundary Line. To the west — By the Second Principal Meridian, so far as the Eighth Cor- rection Line ; by said correction line, so far as the meridian between Ranges XXVIII. and XXIX. wes.t • It is estim.ited that the reduction of the width of the road allowances inaugurated under the modern system of survey, to- gether with the diminution of the number of mads running east- and-west by three in each township, will result in a practical saving of 3,500,000 acres of hands to the public, besides the cost to municipalities of keeping in order SD much unnece^s.^ry road- way, and to the Government of surveying three lines (amounting to eiglueen miles) in every township It is also calculated to discourage the growth of weeds often arising from the high- ways being of excessive width. A further advantage is involved in the decreased amount of fencing required by each settler. The legislation to effect such ar, important economic innovation was carried through Parliament by the Minister of the Interior during the session of i83i. '^'ItSl ! ai ) meridian allowance ! next one veyed line exception. lid system in only, as lands are :ms. 1 use pre- the area —By the t— Ry the ghth Cor- r as the IX. webt of the road survey, to« ining east- practical les the cost 'sary roaj- amoiinting Iculated to the high- is involved ch settler, innovation le Interior of the First Principal Meridian ; by said meridian between Ranges XXVIII. and XXIX. so ^ir as the Seventh Correction Line ; liy said correction line so far as the meridian between Ranges IV, and V. west of the First Principal Meridian ; by said meridian between Ranges IV. and V. so far as the Sixth Cor- rection Line ; by the said correction line so far as the meridian between Ranges X. and XI. east of the P'irst Principal Meridian ; by the said meridian be- tween Ranges X. and XI. so far as the Third Correc- tion Line ; by the said correction line so far as the meridian between Ranges XXX. and XXXI. east of the First Principal Meridian ; and by said meridian between Ranges XXX. and XXXI. so far as the International Boundary Line. The old system was also followed in the survey of the following lands west of the Second Principal Meridian, viz. : — Township 44, Range XXI. ; Town- ship 45, Ranges XXL, XXII., XXVI., XXVIL, and XXVIIL; Townships 46 and 47, Ranges XXV., XXVL, XXVIL, and XXVIIL; and Township 48, in Ranges XXIV. and XXV. West of the Third Principal Meridian, the same system has been adopted for Townships 42 to 47 inclusive. Range I. ; and for Townships 43 and 44, Ranges 11. and III. In some of the townships west of the Second Principal Meridian there are also road allowances of I chain 50 links on every township and sec- tion line, though the deficiency or surplus resulting from the convergence or divergence of meridians is distributed as under the present system. In these town- ships all section lines are surveyed and posted as under the old system proper. This mixed system of survey is restricted to the following lands, all being west of ihe Second Principal Meridian : — Townships I and 2, Ranges I. to \'I1I. inclusive; Townships 19 to 30. Ranges I. to XII. inclusive; and Town- ships 27 to 30, Ranges XIII. to XVI. inclusive. Vherevcr .i " gore " occurs between two adjoining townships or ranges surveyed according to ditilerent systems, and when the number of the fractional town- ship or range is the same as the adjoining one sur- veyed previously, such township or range is designated by its number followed by the letter "A," as for instance— " Township 19, A," for the gore between Townships 18 and 19 west of the Second Principal Meridian; and "Range XXL, .\," for the gore between Ranges XX. and XXI. west of the Second Principal Meridian. N.IJ. — The line between two parts of the country surveyed according to different systems is always marked on the ground in the same manner as a cor- rection ii'^e; that is to say, mounds and posts are placed '-.. lx)th sides of the road allowance on such line, each row governing the position of the section and quarter-section corners on its own side. The road allowance in such case is always 1 cbaii> 50 links. I 22 Fj^K;T III. SYNOrSIS OF THE DOMINION LANDS LAW. AUTHORITIES—HOMESTEADS, PRE-EMPTIONS, AND WOOD'LOTS-PURCIIASE AND LEASE OF DOMINION LANDS-COLONIZATION FACILITIES-IMPORTANCE OF A TIMELY ENTRY- LEGAL POSITION OF '' SQUATTERS"— CANCELLATION AND FORFEITURE— VARIOUS RESERVES— USEFUL HINTS TO LAND PROSPECTORS. Canadian public lands in Manitoba and the North- West Territories may be acquired either by home- steading (as a free grant) or by purchase on the terms set forth in the official Regulations issued by the Department of the Interior. The information con- tained in this and subsequent pages has been sum- marized from the Consolidated Dominion Lands Act, 1S79, and the amendments thereto of 1S80 and 18S1 (43 Vict., Chap. 26, and 44 Vict., Chap. 16) ; the Kegulalions for disposing of Dominion lands now in force; amended In accordance with the further legislation of 18»;, 1884, 18^5, lb80 and ISS^. Homesteads, PRE-EMrTioNs, and Wood-Lots. A "homestead," which is limited in quantity to a fiirm of 160 acres, is a free gift from the Government at the expiration of three years' actual residence and cultivation ; but a "pre-emption" entry, giving the right of priority of purchase at a future period, of an additional tract of 160 acres is also allowed to each homestead settler. lie may occupy and cultivate the whole 320 acres for three years without any payment whatever except the entry fees, subject, however, to the fulfilment of the conditions attaching to the home- stead grant.* Only the fven-numhered sections of a township can be taken up as homesteads and pre-emp- tions. The price to be ultimately paid for pre-emptions, accortling to class, which may be found in the latest offi- cial Regulations, has only to be paid, without In* terest, after tho right to claim patent for homestead hfi'^ boou earned. (See Appendix as to legislation of 1886.) • Settlers in townships where wood is scarce, or altogether wanting, are allowed to purchase "wood- lots," not exceeding twenty acres in size, out of timbered land in some adjacent locality reserved foi the purpose. The price of wood-lots is five dollars per acre. (See also Regulations, for cutting timber under permit, in the Appendix.) Settlers are strictly forbidden to dispose of wood from off their homesteads, pre-emptions, or wood-lots (previous to issue of patent) to saw-mill proprietors or • A settler must commence residence within six months after entry, and may not absent himself Ironi his homestead for a longer period than six niontlis without special leave from the Minister of the Interior, to obtain which tlie application should set forth the grounds upon which such indulgence is asked. The affidavit of the applicant would lend weight to his representa- tion of the circumstances. 23 EASE OF ENTR y— VARIOUS dions of a d pre-emp- ;-emptions, 2 latest offi- rithout in" homestead ;iBlation of scarce, or se "wood' se, out ot eserved foi ive dollars ng timber of wood wood-lots prietors or onths after mestead for ive from the tion should asked. The represents- Willie he faithfully performs the homestead condi- tions, a settler enjoys the full rights of proprietorship, even previous to receiving patent. Non-fullilment of conditions, however, in any particular renders the entries for homestead, pre-emption, and wood-lot sui)ject to cancellation, the right to hold the two latter claims being entirely contingent on actual perform- ance of homestead obligations. On cancellation, all improvements become forfeited to the Crown, and the ex-holdci is prohibited from making a second homestead eritry. The title of all lands remains with the Crown till after the patent is issued. Unpatented lands are consequently not liable to seizure for debt, nor do they afford any security for obtaining credit or loans. In case a settler dies, the law allows his executors to fulfil the deceased's homestead obligations, that the estate mr be secured to his heirs. Any lu.m over eighteen years, or any woman who is the sole head of a family, may take up a homestead. If the citizen of a foreign country, such settler is required to become a British .subject, by naturaliza- tion, previous to issue of patent, which can be done under the law on completion of his or her three years' residence on the homestead. No individual who has already received patent from the Crown for a homestead, is permitted to enter for such free grant of land a second time. Purchase and Lease of Lands. Lands may be purchased direct from the Govern- ment under the Regulations for the time being ; but only in the odd-numbered sections of a township. Ordinarv ourchases must be made at the office of the Local A;^ent, and in lawful money of Cinadn. unless by military or police bounty-warrants, or scrip. Land ottices being usually established in positions in advance of banking facilities, cheques cannot be ac- cepted by the Agent without personal risk and incon- venience. Money-order offices not ordinarily existing in such localities, remittances by post should be sent in registered letters. Noindividual person maypurcha.se of the Government, except under the "Colonization" regulations, more thar. a single section (640 acres) of Dominion lands. Pasturage, mineral, and timber lands may be leased frorr. the iJeparlmcnt of the Interior on terms .set furlh in departmental regulations. (See Appendix.) Colonization Facilities. Special facilities are afforded for the cultivation or colonization of large tracts of land, a choice bein^ offered of two distinct plans lor acquiring such. (See Regulations.) iMrORTANCE OF A LEGAL ENTRY. All who seek to acquire Dominion lands m the North-West, whether by homesteading or purchase, should secure an entry * for the .same, with the least possii)le delay, at the office of the Local Agent in whose district such lands may be, because the law provides that every entry-receipt or certificate issued by an Agent of Dominion Lands shall, unless such entry shall have been subsequently cancelled, entitle • An office fee of ten dots, is charged for each entry-certi- ficate. The entry must be personally apfilied f>r, except in tlie case of agents duly aiithorized upon the requisition of persons intending; to becom-: settlers. the person to wh m the same has been granted to take DOSsess5on of \ he land described in it. The Position of "Squatters/ No entry can, of course, be made for lands still unsurveyed or (even if surveyed) not yet officially in the hands of a Local Agent for disposal. A settler therefore who makes improvements under such cir- cumstances does so entirely at his own risk, and must look solely to actual continuous residence and prac- tical cultivation as the grounds upon which to establish an equitalile right to hold his claim. No Miiio should be lost by such a settler, however, in asserting his claim at the earliest moment when such can eflectual'y be done. A settler who has taken up land in advance of the surveys * should keep a bright look-out for the arrival, sooner or later, of the surveyors in his locality. In addition to furnishing all necessary verbal informa- tion, he should be particular to make before the Do.-ninion Land Surveyor at the head of the party an affidavit after the following form, to be forwarded to Ottawa with the other ofliciai returns of the survey: — • Such setiler would act wisely in driving in pickets to mark' the Itor.nd.irics of the land he desires to hold as a homestead. These buuiidHrie* should be laid off east-and-west and north- and-south, as near as may be, a distance of 40 chains (half a iiiile) on each side. Upon every picket the claimant should cut in his naniu in reail.ililc (.haracters. STATUTORY DECLARATION OF OCCUPATION. I, formerly of in the tiolemnly declare :— That I first entered into occupation of and began continuous residence upon the quarter of Section in Township No. Range on the day of 18 That I have also cultivated the said quarter-section to the ex- tent each season, since that date, of That I am not aware of any oti-'-r claimant to the said quarter section. Declared before me this day of 38 . [S ig;iiature .) \Signature D. L. S. In the event of a dispute between two or more squatters as to the right to hold lands taken up in fdvance of the surveys, the law declares that the homestead right shall belong to him who made the first settlement on the land in question. _ In cases, however, where it is shown that the contendin|r parties have each made valuable improvements on the dis- puted claim, the Miiiister of the Interior has power, on the survey of the township in which the lands are situate taking place, to order a division of the same so as to preserve to the rival claimants, so far as practicable, their own several improvements ; and he has authority further to direct that whatever the land thus apportioned to each such claimant may be deficient of the conventional area of a homestead (160 acres) may be maile up to him out of unoccupied quarter-section.? ndjoinnig. 2=; XUPATION. cgan continuous Range 18 icction to the ex- the said quarter ignature two or more taken up in ires that the lo made the In cases, ndinp parties on the dis- has power, the lands are of the same s, so far as ;nts ; and he ver the land nt may be nestead (160 unoccupied No claim for a homestead entry upon odd-numbered sections, or upon Hudson's Bay Company, School, or Indian lands, has the least chance of being admitted. CANCELT.ATIOX AND FORFEITURR. The following paragraphs embody the spirit of the law in regard to cancellation of entries for home- steads, for non-fulfiiment of conditions:— In case it is proved to the satisfaction of -the Minister of the Interior that the settler has voluntarily reliiK'uished his claim, or has been absent from the land entered by him tnr more than six months in any one year without leave of absence from the Minister of the Interior, then the right to such land shall be liable to forfeiture, and may be cancelled tiy tlie said Minister, and the settler so relinquishing or abandoning his claim sIi.tII not, except in special cases in the discretion of the Minister, be permitted to make a second entry. The Minister of the Interior may at any time order an in- spection of any homestead or homesteads in reference to w hich there may be reason t believe the foregoing provisions, as re- ijarJs settlement and cultivation, have not been or are not being carrieid out, and may, on report of the facts, cancel the entry of such homestead or homesteads. And in the case of a cancelled homestead, with or without improvements thereon, the same shall not be considered as of riglit open for fresh entry, but may be held for sale of the land and of the imj rovenunts, or of the improvements thereon, in connection witii a fresh homestead entry therec", at the discre- tion of tlie Minister of the Interior. Forms of application for the cancellation of entries respecting which the homestead conditions ha\e not been fuliilled may be obtained of any Loc.-d Agent. Legal proofs (;>., the affidavit of the applicant, svipported by those of ''wo credil)le witnesses) must accom'iany application. On the requisite documenis bemg tiled with him, the Agent gives the party con- cerned notice to appear, personally or by representa- tive, at the Land Oltice within thirty days, to disprove the allegations in the aitidavits, or otherwise sliow cause why his entry should not be cancelled. At the end of that period the matter is referred to superior authority for decision. The law contains necessaty provisions for the annulling of entries or praents issued erroneously, illegally, or through the perpetration of fraud Various Reserves. Hudson'' s Bay Lands : — According to Article V. of the terms and conditions in the deed of surrender from the Hudson's Bay Company to the Canadian Govern- ment of their claims upon the lands of the North- West, the Company are allowed one-twentieth of all lands surveyed into townships within what is de- signated as the " Fertile I'elt." This apportionment has been fulfilled by setting apart two entire sections in every fifth township, and one section and three-fourths of a section in all other townships, within the territory referred to. Thus, in every township numbered 5, 10, 1 5, 20, 25, and so on, in regular succession, northerly from the International Boundary, the whole of Sections 8 and 26 are so apportioned ; but, in all townships not so numl)ered, the lands set apart for the Company are the whole of Section 8, and the south half and the north-west quarter of Section 26. These lands may be purchased from the Company on easy terms. ^(■'hool Lands : — The Government, under the authority of Parliament, has appropriated Sections 1 1 and 29 in every township as an enciowment in aid of public education, These "School Lands," as they are commonly called, are held by the Minister of the Interior, m trust, for the purposes of their appro- ])rialion. From time to time they will be placed in the market at an upset price, and sold at auction. 20 TJ'c Settlement Bt Us : — Certain lands lying within a distal. ce of two m*; es on either side of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, within the Province of Manitoba, and known as the " Settlement Eelts " * were reserved from general disposal on Canada assuming the government of the country. Subsequently an ad- diiional two miles was set apart to satisfy a claim for "hay privilege." The lands are nearly all now patented to the occupants settled previous to the transfer, or to their assigns. Half-breed Lands : — In fulfilment of the terms upon which Manitoba became a Province of the Dominion, 1,400,000 acres of land in Manitoba were reserved for the children of the half-breed heads of families, in extinguishment of any title they might set up by virtue of their partial Indian descent. This reserve haspow been distributed in allotments of 240 acres to each claimant in the various parishes. Such claims may bt ,:i' 'chased of the original grantees, or of any person to whom they have assigned their rights. Canadian Paiific Raihvay Lands. — The Canadian Pacific Railway Company have been granted all the lands contained within the odd-numbered sections of townships lying within twenty-four miles on either side of the line. These may be purchased on liberal terms from the Company. Miscellaneous. — Under parliamentary authority, various reserves have been made for the use of the Indians and of the Mounted Police, and for the occupation, in communities, of special classes of immi- • Other "settlement" claims— situate at St. Laurent and Oak Point (on Lake Man,toba), Westbourne, Lorette, and i'ointe de Chonc, in Manitoba ; and on the Saskatchewan, at Princ« .\'.bert, N.W.T.— came into the same catrjory. grants, sucn as the Mennonites and Icelanders. The Government has power to set apart any lands required to aid the construction of railways ; and also such as may be needed for town-sites, water-powers, grazing, mining, lumbering, or other special purposes. Useful Hints to Land Prospectors. Strangers going to the North- West should be ex- tremely cautious in purchasing the " abandonment " of any one's homestead claim, as all assignments and transfers of the homestead right (until recommended for patent) are absolutely invalid, though, so far ag the party assigning is concerned, such assignment may be deemed by the Dominion Lands authorities as evidence of voluntary abandonment. Any person, however, whose homestead has been recommended by the Local Agent for letters patent (proofs of fulfilment of conditions having, of course, been filed with him), may If illy convey, assign, and transfer his right, title, and interest therein. There is a book kept in the Department of the Interior for the registration, at the option of the parties interested, on payment of a fee of two dollars, of any such assign- ment of legally assignable rights (proof of which must accompany the application to register) ; and the law holds every assignment so registered as valid against any other assignment unregistered or sub- sequently registered, even if previously made. Every assignment must, for the purposes of registration, be entirely unconditional. Bounty land warrants, whether issued to men who have served in the North- West Mounted Police or in the militia force formerly performing garrison duty in Mnnitoba, are accepted in payment for any Dominion t L "ir-»»«»iw« ■pp" 27 inders. The inds required tid also such A'ers, grazing, )ses. ACTORS. lould be ex* donment " of jnments and scommended ;h, so far as assignment s authorities ad has been etters patent , of course, assign, and ti. There is erior for the terested, on uch assign- which must and the as valid •i(\ or sub- e. Every tration, be men who 'olice or in on duty in Dominion t^ lands to the extent of the value they represent, viz., the equivalent of l6o acres at one dollar per acifr , Land scrip, whether that issued to half-breed heads of families or of the kin 1 granted to "old settlers" :n the Settlement Belts to extinguish certain claims, is of the same value as cash to the dearer, in any purchase of Dominion lands, for the amount repre- iented on its face. Intending gettlers should understand that the privilege of homestead and pre-emption entry can be exercised only In respoct of surveyed agricultural lands. No person is entitled to such entry for land ■peclally valuable for its timber or hay, or for land on which there Is a stone or marble quarry, or coal, or other mineral of commercial value; nor yet for land whereon there is water power suitable for driv- ing machinery, or which, by reason of Its position- such as being the 8h« re of an important harbour, a bridge site or canal site or an actual or prospective railway terminus or station— It may be In the public Interest to retain for other disposition . Land Prospectors will act wisely in making sure that the land they propose to enter for is not already claimed in any way by a prior occupant. As a general rule, it will be found safer to take up land to which no legal or equitable claim is likely to he asserted than to go into disputed possession of a superior location. In the one case, the settler can confidently proceed with his improvements ; in the other, he will be hindered by the delay and uncertainty involved in obtaining a decision. * The right to transfer the right, title, and interest in home- stead, as mentioned above, is contingent not only on the recom* mendation of the I-ocal Agent for patent, but that such lecom- mendation be signed by the Dominion Lands Commissioner or •ome officer acting foi biin. Purchasers of land already patented in Manitoba and the North-West Territories should never pay any portion of the price agreed upon without satisfy- ing themselves, by obtaining an abstract of title from the Registry Office for the registration district in which the lands are situate, that no agreements, mortgages, judgments, or other incumbrances are recorded against it ; also, that no arrears of taxes are due upon such pro- perty. It should also be remembered that, as the law attaches the greatest possible importance to priority of registration, no delay should be allowed to inter- vene between the signing of a deed and seeing that it is duly registered. Persons travelling in the North-West are required to be particularly careful to extinguish their camp fires before leaving them, so that the destructive con- sequences of a prairie fire may be prevented. Both in Manitoba and the Territories legislation has provided adequate penalties for the punishment of criminal negligence in this respect. Should it happen, hoW' ever, that a party of Prospectors are threatened by a prairie fire approaching them, and no other . leans of escape are available, the danger may be effectual!/ overcome by setting fire to the prairie to leeward of the party, and moving the travellers, with their outfit^ on to the ground thus burnt over.* In case of Prospectors losing their animals while in camp in the summer time, it would be well to remem- ber that o.\en and horses invariably graze to windward, in order to avoid the flies as much as possible. When calculating itinerary distances on the map, it is only necessary to remember that a township is aVjout • There is a saving clause granting exemption frompeoalty to persons obliged so to act in cases of emergency. 28 six miles square ; by muUiplylng the number of town- ships to be passed over by six a fair idea of the dis- tance to be travelled may be arrived at. Land hunters who fail at first to find locations to suit them should push further west, to obtain a more ♦extensive choice. It will often happen, howevc, that, on their return journey, they will be surprised to find contented families and growing crops upon the very farms that they themselves rejected as unworthy of their selection only a few weeks previous. Lastly, manly Prospectors will not feel discouraged U they should be bitten by a mosquito, or be teased by a fly, during sultry weather. Experience shows that a ** tender-foot," as a new arrival in the North- West is called, invariably attracts the largest sliare of the attention of these pests, which it is comforting to know disappear as the settlement and cultivation of the country progress. ' I i t « »L«-'.H I •nvamwaiM iscouraged r be teased nee shows the North- st sliare of nforting to tivation of APPENDIX. HOMESTEAD CONDITIONS. Clause 38 of the Dominion Lands Act, and its various sub-clauses, specify the conditions to be fulfilled in order to entitle the applicant to receive a patent for his homestead anJ pre- emj)tion. The following sub-clause was added thereto during the session of IbSG :— 7. Any person claiming a patent under a homo- stead entry or under a homcHtead and pre-emption entry shall also be entitled thereto upon proving to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of uomlnlon Lands or the Dominion Lands Board:— (a.) That be perfected his homestead entry by commencing the cultlvj .Ion of the homestead with- in six months from the Jate of his homestead entry, or, If the entry was obi lined on or after the first day of September In any year, before the first day ol June following; (b.) That within the first year after the date of his homestead entry he broke and prepared for crop not less than five acresof his homestead Quarter section ; (c.) That within the second year ne cropped the said five acres, and broke and prepared for crop not It^ss than ten acres in addition, making not less than fifteen acres in all ; id.) That he erected a habitable house upon his homestead before the expiration of the second year after his homestead entry, and has bona fide resided therein and has cultivated the land for three years next nrlor to the date of hla application for hla patent: [e.) 1 hat at the commencement of the third year after the date of his homestead entry, or previously, he commenced the residence on his homestead re- quired by the next preceding paragraph of this sub- ciauso. 8. Every person who has obtained a homesteail entry, and who purposes to apply for a patent for such homestead, shall give six months' notice In writing to the Commissioner of Dominion Lands of his Intention to make such application, and shiili produce evidence to the oflJcer who Is authorized to receive the application, that such notice has becix duly given. PECUNIARY AID TO SETTLERS. The following is the law governing the grant- ing of pecuniary assistance to settlers upon the security of their homesteads : — 44. If any person or company shall be desirous of assistinK by advances in money Intending settlers toplace themselveson homestead lands in Maiiitoi>a or the North-West Territories, and of securing such advances, such person or company may make ap- plication to the Minister of the Interior, staling the plan or project Intended to be acted upon, the steps to be taken In furtherance thereof, and the amov.nt to be advanced to such settlern; and the Minister of the Interior may sanction and authorize such plan or project, or refuse his sanction and authority thereto; (or.) It such plan or project be so sanctioned, and such person or company shall thereupon place any settler upon a homest'-ad, a statement of the expense Incurred by such person or com pan j' in paying the actual bona ride cost of the )>a^8age and of providing for the subsistence of suoh settler and his family, ot erecting buildings on his h mestead (to which nur- Sose at least one-half of the advance made sluill e devoted^, and of providing horses, cattle, farm implements and seed grain tor him, together with an amount lu money sufflolPnt to cover the Interest on the amount advanced for a time to l)e agreed 30 upon, to enable such settler to obtain a return from the cultivation of such homestead, shall be fur- nished to him, and upon his approval thereof, shall be submittod with proper vouchers in support thereof to the local agent, who shall examine and verify the same both by such vouchers and by an examina- tion of such settler, and of such person or company, or their representative; and shall certify the re- sult of such verillcatlon by writing upon such state- ment signed by him, and thereupon such settler may make and execute an acknowledgement In writing of the amount so advanced to hlra, and may by such writing create a cliarge upon such home- stead for the amount of such advance, not exceeding the sum of six iiundred dollars, ami for the interest theroon, at a rate not exceeding eight percent, per annum. (6.) Such acknowledgment and charge shall be In the form of Schedule L, hereto appended, and a duplicate thereof siiall be deposited with the loeal agent, and thereafter the holder of such charge shall have the riglit to enforce payment of the amount so advanced and of the Interest thereon by ordinary legal prooeodings; provided always, that the time to bo fixed for the payment of the flrst instalment of Interest upon such advance shall not be earlier than the tlrst day of November in any year, nor shaU it be within less than two years from the eslablisment of such settler upon such homestead; and provided also, that such settler shall 'not be bound to pay the cnpital of such adv.mce or any part thereof within a It'ss period than live years from the date of his cstablislimeni upon such homestead; (c ) Upon such acknowledgment and charge being dul> executed and duly registered In tlie Registry Otlico lor the Tevrltorial Division in which such homestead sliall be situated, tlio same shall con- stitute and be and remain a tlrst charge upon such homestead after the Issue of the patent or certirtcate of natent lor such homestead, until duly satisfied and extinguished according to law. (d.) If such settler shall not perform the conditions of settlement required to entitle him to a patent for such homestead within the time and In the manner provided by the Dominion Lands Act, and shall thereby forfeit his right to obtain a patent, the holder r.f the charge created thereon may apply to the Minister of the Interior for a patent of such homestead, and upon establishing the facts to the satisfaction of the Minister shall receive a patent In his name therefor; and such patentee shall bo bound to place a bond fide settler on such homestead by the sale thereof to such settler or otherwise with- in two years from the date of such patent, and in default of so doing within the said period shall be be bound and obliged on demand to sell the said homestead to any person willing to become a bond jide settler thereon for such sum of money as shall be sufficient to pay the amount of such charge and Interest, and the expenses incurred by the patentee in obtaining such patent and in retaining the home- stead, on pain, In case of refusal, of an absolute forfeiture of the said property and of all claims thereon and of the patent or other title thereto. But if the settler has acquired a right to receive a patent for the land so charged and does not apply for the issue of the same, the holder of such charge may obtain such patent, or certificate for patent, in the name of the person entitled to receive the same or of his legal representatives, and thereafter the said charge shall become a statutory mortgage on such homestead. FORM L. AOKNOWLEDGMKNT AND CUARGK. I, the undersigned, A. B., holding as a homestead tlie quarter of Section Township , Range West of meridian, hereby acknowledge to have received from C. D. as an advance, under the provisions of the Dominion Lands Act. in aldof my establislimont upon the said homestead, the sum of dollars, as shown by the statement thereof, as hereto annexed, certified by the Ijocal Land Agent of the Government of Canada, which sum of money I un- dertake to pay to the said C. D., his representatives or assigns, within years from the date hereof with interest thereon at the rate of per cent, per tlrbtdaysof annum, payable half-yearly, on the and in « ""TJTJWHI 31 r apply to it of such cts to the patent in shall bo lomestead vise wlth- \i, and in 1 shall be the said le a bona. y as shall large and patentee .ho home- absolute ill claims reto. But 3 a patent ly for the irge may ^t, in the same or the said on such >mestead received sions of ishmoQt 8 hereto t of the ey I un- ntatives the date on the in fnch year, tlie first Instalment whereof will become due on the day of next, and as security for such payments, I hereby create a first raortjjasjo and (barge upon the said homestead according to tlie provisionn of the said Act. And r, E. F., tbe wife of tlie said A. B., hereby bar and relinquish my riyht of dower upon the said homestead in favor of the said C. D. In witness whereof, the parties hereto have exe- cuted these presents in duplicate this day of CORRESPONDENCE WITH OFFICIALS. Observance of the followin)2; hint« for con- ducting correspondence with otficers connected with the Depai-tment of the Interior will save time and trouble to the ofKcial staff, facilitate the submission of applications for decision, and, consequently, tend to diminish the period in which replies may be looked for: — 1. Do not address letters on official business by namu to the Minister, or any one else connected witli the iJL'partnient, as letters so personally ad- dressed may be deemed private correspoiidonce, and, In the possible absence of the person to u iiom they are directed, remain unopened till his return. '2. All letters to the authorities at Ottawa on land matters should he addresseJ, in a plain hand, to The Secretary Department of the Interior, Ottawa. No stamp is required for letters directed to the head othce at Ottawa, such communications being •' free." 3 In correspondence with any of the outside Offices, a letter should be addressed as follows : The Dominion Lands Commissioner, Wmnipej. The Local Agent, Dominion Lands Office, Thr.'o (•flit Stuinj) In these cases the ordinary i)ostage rules apply. 4. Write In a concise and (Miurteous manner, upon foolscap paper, on one side of the paper only, leaving a margin at least an inch on the left hand side. 5. In the right-hand top corner of the fir>t page write distinc'ly the official name of the post office to whlcli a reply Is to be addressed, together with the date of your letter. If the matter occupies mofi than one page, see that the pages are numbered; and be sure tliat your signature is legihla. t>. Never deal with more than (jno subject in a single communication ; but write a separate letter fo"- each. 7. On receiving a reply, If you respond to it, do not fall to quote the reference number of the official til •, which you will observe In the left hami top corner of the first paete, (t. e.), at the head of your letter put —In reply to No ) 8. Keep copies of all your correspondence with the Department or Local Offices. 9. All remittances to pay for Dominion lands should be made In lawful money of Canada, by registered letter. A Dominion Lands Officer is not bound to accept any one's cheque. >4 I J., u 'Xlf Q)ua//Yfjji y"i fWi/rn* f'«in,Ti(r,)> J.jfir ~\~r' V i i — L- /AJT£'f?/S/A T/0/\//lL 'Vjsbou/vdAry 'J'/h' i(/)fH'(' AItt/} .s/nt/i.s- //le /'r/tl /if'f /H>\if.to/t of f/tl J///.sr Jj/jhv nut/ f/oj/)'//iii/i JjIii".s ; I 1 I 1 — 1 1 - - 1 \'^ I 1 _j ( 1 i ._ ]^ J) /(////■////> .V'/I. ^ ^ > \ V N 1^ s ■U <^ \ -.^ r-^r'fr r ! ) I i^ K B y^/ rfr// ff/jt .\yy//. _ . 1 _.: I. _ _J.. . 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