It is the duty of the city or town council of any city or town in this state situate upon public lands of the United States or lands, the legal and equitable title to which is in the United States of America, to enter at the proper land office of the United States such quantity of land as the inhabitants of any incorporated city or town may be entitled to claim, in the aggregate, according to their population, in the manner required by the laws of the United States and the regulations prescribed by the secretary of the interior of the United States, and by order entered upon their minutes and proceedings, at a regular meeting, to authorize and direct the mayor and clerk of such council, attested by the corporate seal, to make and sign all necessary declaratory statements, certificates, and affidavits, or other instruments requisite to carry into effect the intentions of this chapter and the intentions of the act of congress of the United States entitled "An act for the relief of the inhabitants of cities and towns upon the public lands," approved March 2, 1867, and all acts of congress amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, including section sixteen of an act of congress entitled "An act to repeal timber culture laws and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1891, and to make proof, when required, of the facts necessary to establish the claim of such inhabitants to the lands so granted by said acts of congress, and file in the proper United States land office a proper application in writing describing the tracts of land on which such city or town is situate, and make proof and payment for such tracts of land in the manner required by law.
[ 1909 c 231 § 1; RRS § 11485. Prior: 1888 c 124 pp 216-220.]