The law provides three methods of acquiring title to town property: First. Where the President of the United States has directed the reservation provided for by section 2380, Revised Statutes. Second. In cases where towns have already been established, or where parties desire to found a town; and Third. Under section 2387 of the Revised Statutes, the entry of land, settled and occupied as a town site, by the corporate authorities, if the town be incorporated, or, if unincorporated, by the county judge, for the use and benefit of the several occupants. The manner in which these entries are to be made is fully prescribed by the statute, and need not be mentioned here in detail. Under the provisions first mentioned, there is no limit prescribed by the law as to the area that shall be disposed of for the benefit of the town or its inhabitants, or of the quantity that may be purchased by any one person. Under the second method the town is to be surveyed into lots and blocks, and a plat thereof constructed, the exterior limits of which shall not describe an area of exceeding 640 acres. Under the third method the area that may be entered for the benefit of the town will depend upon the number of the occupants. Where title is to be acquired under either the first or second method, the patent will issue from the United States directly to the party purchasing or to his assignee. Where an entry has been made under the third method, which is, probably, the least expensive manner of acquiring title, the patent will be issued to the mayor or trustees of the town, if incorporated, or to the judge if not incorporated, who receive the title as trustees for the benefit of the several occupants of the town. This trust is to be executed in accordance with the laws of the State or Territory in which the town is located. The statutes referred to are the only general laws providing for the establishment and entry of town-sites upon the public domain. The act of May 26, 1824 (sec. 2286, R. S.), provided for the pre-emption, at the minimum price, of a quarter section of land in each county or parish, respectively, for the establishment of seats of justice therein. Under these provisions several entries for county seats have been made in recent years. The act of August 11, 1876 (19 Stats., p. 227), providing for the disposal of the Osage ceded lands in Kansas makes special provision for the disposal of lands for town sites and to town companies. But two applications have been presented under this law, namely, the towns of Parsons and Oswego, in the Independence land district. Besides these, and prior to the enactment of the general laws, many towns upon the public lands had been established by special laws of Congress. The act of March 3, 1863 (sec. 2380, R. S.), was for increasing the revenue by reservation and sale of town sites on public lands. The President was to reserve by proclamation town sites at points where his judgment might dictate, and the Secretary of the Interior was to cause the same to be surveyed into urban or suburban lots, be appraised, value fixed, and sold at public outcry to highest bidder; after this, to be held for private entry as Secretary should direct. Under this act, the register and receiver directed sales and made returns for the same, and the United States issued patent. ( (See Report Commissioner General Land Office, 1866.) Under this act but one town has been established. Under Sec. 2382 of the Revised Statutes six towns have filed the required plats, and the occupants have made entries as provided by law. Under the act of 1867 (sec. 2387, R. S.), many of the most flourishing towns in the West have been entered. List of town sites on the public lands, the date of entry, and area, and the act under which the entries were made, as shown by the town-site docket, General Land Office, to June 30, 1880. Padonia Plymouth. Palmyra ... November 23, 1860 September 12, 1857 August 15, 1856 June 17, 1858 August 16, 1858 Leroy Georgetown Falls City. Saint Joseph.. Table Rock Wilmington Waubaunsee Ponca Potosi ..do 320 Do. Nebraska. 160 Do. Kansas 320 Do. Iowa.. 240 Do. Young America Smith Centre Pleasant View. Pawnee City. Do. List of town sites on the public lands, the date of entry, and area, &c.—Continued. April 5, 1858. Lehi Kanosha Winona May 6, 1865... March 23, 1863. September 1, 1858 October 27, 1857 October 14, 1857 October 7, 1873 December 18, 1874. October 24, 1864 November 19, 1873.. October 26, 1869 June 25, 1873. July 1, 1865. July 7, 1875. July 25, 1865. Willow Springs.. Areata, or Union. Omaha. Monticello Moritzious Granada Middle Superior Golden City. Knight's Landing. Guadalupe. Salina Unionville Pioche. Denver Branciforte Phoenix. Clay Centre. Green City. Jenny Lind. Republic.. Belmont. Nevada City Tularosa. Palomas Silver City.. Do. do 320 Do. California. 120 Do. Iowa 240 Do. Kansas 320 Do. California 120 Do. Kansas 285.50 Do. Nebraska List of town sites on the public lands, the date of entry, area, &c.—Continued. San Luis Obispo Panoca Pine Grove May 2, 1871 Volcano May 30, 1871. February 27, 1873 June 23, 1869. June 24, 1869. Fountain Green. ...do Spring City ..do July 2, 1869 September 1, 1869 April 27, 1870 May 7, 1870 May 7, 1870 May 7, 1870 Heber City Oak City Fair View Midway ..do 1:20 Do. Ophir City. Lincoln Centre July 10, 1871 May 11, 1871 Do. July 11, 1871 May 11, 1871 May 15, 1871 May 25, 1871 Logan City ..do 2,521.50 Do. June 1, 1871 Kanara |