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Land Laws


Life On Prairie Farms, EV Smalley,
The recurrent farm problems of the nineteenth century were usually described in political and economic terms, but there were also social difficulties imposed by the solitary nature of farm life. One attempt at a solution was the following proposal by journalist E. V. Smalley, who called for a complete reorganization of rural villages.

Smalley, E.V. "The Isolation of Life on Prairie Farms." The Atlantic Monthly. Vol. 63-88. N.p.: Atlantic Monthly Company, 1903. 378-81. Print.

What can be logically inferred about the laws for owning land in the Northwestern prairies?


Land can only be owned by those native to America.


Full ownership takes effect once a person lives on the same piece of land for at least five years.


Only families of three or more may make a claim on a piece of land.


One must be of a certain age in order to own land in the Northwestern prairies.