Settlers' land claims still at issue


"Settlers' land claims still at issue"
"Settlers' land claims still at issue" Saskatchewan Herald 8/23/1884 The Settler's Claims Mr. Pearce has come and gone. He has heard everything that claimants had to advance in support of their pretensions, and the result of his recommendations in the cases submitted to him will be anxiously looked for. From his remarks from time to time we gather the following points as to the rulings that may be looked for when the land office is opened here next spring: Settlers on odd sections who went on before survey will most likely get their claims, the only doubt being so far as the title thereto may have passed from the Crown prior to settlement thereon through the land grant to the Canadian Pacific Railway. But even supposing such should be the case, the claimants should be warranted in expecting the Government will do everything possible for them. What has happened in other settlements is encouraging to those in this. Speculative squatting is so completely hedged in that it can only be practiced by means of the foulest perjury, and must soon become a thing of the past. There is no loophole by which to escape. In the same way men who go on school sections will do so with the full knowledge that they are not acquiring any title to them by so doing, and may consider themselves lucky if they are not prosecuted as trespassers. With respect to squatting on the town site he gave the claimants distinctly to understand that legally they had no standing. As to the price of lots no very clear intimation was given, but we would infer that if it be left to Mr. Pearce prices somewhat similar to those at Fort MacLeod will be recommended, which were thirty dollars for ordinary and fifty dollars for corner lots. As stated in our last issue, it will take until next spring before the survey in this district is ready for entry, so that we need scarcely look for the opening of a land office before that time. The subject of this commission, however, will have been passed upon so far as it concerns the town plot, long before that date and as a matter of considerable importance to the town that lots should be put on market as soon as the Minister has given a decision on the points to be examined into.

"Settlers' land claims still at issue"

"Settlers' land claims still at issue"
Saskatchewan Herald
8/23/1884
The Settler's Claims
Mr. Pearce has come and gone. He has heard everything that claimants had to advance in support of their pretensions, and the result of his recommendations in the cases submitted to him will be anxiously looked for.
From his remarks from time to time we gather the following points as to the rulings that may be looked for when the land office is opened here next spring:
Settlers on odd sections who went on before survey will most likely get their claims, the only doubt being so far as the title thereto may have passed from the Crown prior to settlement thereon through the land grant to the Canadian Pacific Railway. But even supposing such should be the case, the claimants should be warranted in expecting the Government will do everything possible for them. What has happened in other settlements is encouraging to those in this.
Speculative squatting is so completely hedged in that it can only be practiced by means of the foulest perjury, and must soon become a thing of the past. There is no loophole by which to escape. In the same way men who go on school sections will do so with the full knowledge that they are not acquiring any title to them by so doing, and may consider themselves lucky if they are not prosecuted as trespassers.
With respect to squatting on the town site he gave the claimants distinctly to understand that legally they had no standing.
As to the price of lots no very clear intimation was given, but we would infer that if it be left to Mr. Pearce prices somewhat similar to those at Fort MacLeod will be recommended, which were thirty dollars for ordinary and fifty dollars for corner lots.
As stated in our last issue, it will take until next spring before the survey in this district is ready for entry, so that we need scarcely look for the opening of a land office before that time. The subject of this commission, however, will have been passed upon so far as it concerns the town plot, long before that date and as a matter of considerable importance to the town that lots should be put on market as soon as the Minister has given a decision on the points to be examined into.