That stakeing out a claim and entering the same on our
Claim Book shall hold for one month.

_Resolved_ 4th. That $10, Monthly shall hold a claim thereafter.

_Resolved_ 5th. That no mans claim is valid unless he is an actual
settler here, or, has a family and has gone after them, in which case
he can have one month to go and back.

_Resolved_ 6th. That any person not living up to the requirements of
these laws shall forfeit their claim, and, any Actual Settler who
has no claim may settle on the same.

_Resolved_ 7th. That any person going on anothers claim that is valid,
shall be visited by a Com. of 3 from our club and informed of the
facts & and if such person persist in their pursuits regardless of the
Com or claimant they shall be put off the Claim by this Club.

_Resolved_ 8th. That the boundaries of these laws shall be 12 miles
each way from this place.

_Resolved_ 9th. That this club shall hold its meetings at least once
in each month.

_Resolved_ 10th. That the officers of this club shall consist of a
Chairman & Secty.

_Resolved_ 11th. That the duty of the Chairman is to call to order,
put all questions, give the casting vote when there is a tie, &c.
&c.

_Resolved_ 12th. That the duty of the sec. is to keep the minutes of
the meetings and read the same at the opening of each meeting and
have the book and papers in his charge.

_Resolved_ 13th. That any or all of the bye laws may be altered or
abolished by a majority vote at a regular meeting."

On the offense of "claim-jumping" the records of the Fort Dodge Club
contain this suggestive entry: "On Motion of Wm. R. Miller that if any
member of this Club finds his or any of his friends Clames has been
Jumpt that they inform this Club of the fact and that this Club
forthwith put them off of said clame without trobling the Sivel Law."

In the _Iowa News_ of March 28, 1838, was printed "The Constitution of
the Citizens of the North Fork of the Maquoketa, made and adopted this
17th day of February, A. D. 1838." It is a typical Squatter Constitution
of the Territorial period.

"Whereas, conflicting claims have arisen between some of the settlers
residing upon Government Lands, and whereas many individuals have much
larger claims than are necessary for common farming purposes,
Therefore, we, the subscribers, to preserve order, peace and harmony,
deem it expedient to form an association, and