It is the duty of the corporate authorities of any city or incorporated town, or a judge of the district court within any county in which is situated any unincorporated town, to enter at the proper land office of the United States such quantity of land as the inhabitants of such city or town may be entitled to claim, in the aggregate, according to the 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 make and sign all necessary declaratory statements, certificates and affidavits, or other instruments requisite to carry into effect this chapter and chapter 8 of title 32 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and to make proof, when required of the facts necessary to establish the claim of such inhabitants to the lands so granted by the laws of congress.