Any citizen of the United States, or any person having declared an intention to become such, over the age of 21 years, may make application, under oath, to the Water Resources Commission, upon forms prescribed by the commission, to enter any of the lands reclaimed under the provisions of ORS § 555.010 to 555.160, in an amount not to exceed 160 acres for any one person. Each application shall be accompanied by a contract, made and entered into by the applicant with the person who has undertaken the reclamation of the tract in question, which contract shall show that the applicant has made proper arrangement for purchase of the necessary water rights and the release of the construction lien. Each application to the commission shall in addition be accompanied by a payment of not less than $1 per acre for each acre included in the application, which payment shall be made by the contractor out of the first payment by the applicant, and shall be deposited by the commission with the State Treasurer, who shall credit it to the Oregon Irrigation Fund. If the application is not approved, the $1 payment shall be returned to the contractor.