The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-06-17
The Homestead Law.

Denent the many In taxing up homes un>
der the Homestead Law, taken from the
Duluth Morning Cal. It simpiiies that
subject SO as to1hring it within the reach
of all
/. What is homestead
It is farm given to any man or woman
who lives on it, and cultiyates FIVE years.
We say "givcn,' for the charges are only
about ten cents per acrc-that is, the cost
of surveying and recording, amounting /
in all, for one-fourth of square mile, to
SIS at most, and 81 lof this sum are not
payable for Eve years.
2. How large farm is a homestead
tits farm of 16o acres, except on tracts
one-half of which has been granted in aid
of railroads or other public improvements.
On such tracts the homestead is of no
more than half the usual size, unless the
homesteader has served at least ninety
days as soldier. In that case his home
stead is quarter section anywhere.
3. Who may become homesteader?
Any man or any woman-that is, any
native of a legal ago, and any foreigner
who has declared his intention to become
citizen, which any immigrant may do on
the very day he lands in America.
A. How does one become o home
steader7
He goes to any United States land
| Office, and there has free access to maps
showing all the vacant lots in the neigh
boring region. He then goes and picks
out the one he likes best, returns to the
land office, makes an application accord
! ing to the legal forms furnished by the
/ officer there, for that lot is a homestead,
leayes those forms for record, pays at
most fourteen dollars, and is henceforth
monarh of all he surveys on the farm OF
his choice But homesteader is not
obliged to go in person to the Govern
i ment Land Office. In most cases he can
ascertain from local agents or residents,
what lands are vacant, and then make
his application for the homestead he
wishes to occupy, before the clerk of the
court In the county where it lies, send
ing with it an affidavit, with his reason
for not appearing in person.
5. How soon must homestcadere be-
gin to occupy his land
At any time within SIX months after
his application is put on record, and he
may journey away from his land at will
if not absent more than half year al
once, and provided that he fixes his resi-
dence no where else.
5. Can q homesteader become full
owner of his farm sooner than at the end
of Eve years? s
Yes; after six months residence, h.
can, at any time, purchase his land BY
paying the Government price, the maxi
mum of which is So so, and the miui
/ mum half that sum per acre.
: Z. What If the homesteader Is ii
| debt?
, His homestead is exempt from liabilit'
e for any debt contracted previous to hi
5 perfecting his claim to the land and il
/. some States, it is not liable to attachmen
n for any subsequent debt
: s. How IS full title finally obtained
l : After homestcader has resided on hi
land, and titled it for five years, if at an
/, time within two years he proves that fac
to thesregister of the land office wher
/, his application was recorded, that office
d will obtain for him from Washington
/. full title to his land, charging him only
It fee of 81.
o 8. Is not one man as good as an
other?
Il sYes," said an sIrishman, ssand a grea
e deal better" So our last Congress er
3, acted that every soldier is equal to tw
d General Grant, July, Is, 1870. 1t pre-
IS vides that every person who has serve
l. loyalty for ninety days in the nation;
u army or navy is-entitled, on the tern
lei above planned !, TO enter and receive
N patent for one whole quarter section {
ID land" that is, 160 acres-where othe
lie men can only enter so, siofthe only alte
r. nate reserved sections along the lines
d any of the railroads wherever'public lant
have been granted by acts of Congress
d In order. to gain these privileges, the Sc
u dier must pursue the same routine an
d pay the same fees rs If he we're civilian
lie but he gets twice as pauch land
10