Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-07-08
The Homestead Law.

The following useful information will
benefit many in taking up homes under
the Homestead Law, as taken from the
San Francisco Morning Call. 1t simpli
fies that subject so as to bring it within
the reach of all.
l. What is homestead!
1t is farm given to any man or woman
who lives on it, and cultivates it for five
years. We say" given" for the charges
are only about ten cents per acre-that is
the cost of surveying and recording,
amounting in all, for one fourth of square
mile, to S1S ut most, and 81 Of this sun
are not payable for five years.
9. How large farm is homcstead2 ?
1t is a farm of 1G0 acres, except on
tracts onc.half of which has been granted
in aid of railroads or other public improve
ments. On such tracts the homestead is
of no more than half the usual size, unless
the homesteader has served at least ninety
days as a soldier. In that case his home
stead is a quarter section anywhere.
B. Who may become homesteader?
Any man or any woman-that is, any
native of legal age, and any foreigner who
has declared his intention to become q
citizen, which any immigrant may do on
the very day he lands in America.
1. How does be become homesteader
He goes to any United States land office
and there has free access to maps showing
all the vacant lots in the ncighborng re-
gion. lie then goes and picks out the
one he likes best, returns to the land of.
fee, makes an application according to the
legal forms furnished by the officers there
for that lot is homestead, leaves those
forms for record, pays at most fourteen
dollars, and is henceforth monarch Of all
he surveys on the farm of his choice. But
a homcsteader is not obliged to go in per.
son to the Government Land Office. In
most cases he can ascertain from local land
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, sending with it an affidavit, with his
reason for not appearing in person.
5. How soon must homesteadcr begin
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 at once,
and provided that he fixes his residence
nowhere else.
6. Can homesteader become full owner
of his farm sooner than at the end Of five
years
Yes; after six months residence, he
can, at any time, purchase his land by
paying the Government price, the maxi
mum of which is 81 so, aud the minimum
half that sum per acre.
I. What if the homesteadcr is in debt
His homestead is exempt from liability
for any debt contracted previous to his
pcrfecting his claim to the land; and, in
some States, it is not liable to attachment
for any subsequent debt.
8. low is full title finally obtained
After homesteader has resided on his
land, aud titled it for five years, if at any
time within two years he proves that fact
to the Register of the Land Office where
his application was recorded, that officer
will obtain for him from Washington a full
title to his land. charging him only fee
of 81.
.. Is not one man as good as another
eyes" said an Irishman, "and a great
deal better" So our last Congress enacted
that every soldier is equal to two other
men. That act was approved by General
Grant, July Is, 1870. Improves that every
person who has served loyalty for ninety
days in the national army or navy is en-
titled, on tho terms above explained, "to
enter and receive a patent for one whole
quarter section Of land'-that is, 16O acres
where other men can only enter so, " OF
the alternate reserved sections along the
lines of any Of the railroads wherever pub.
lie lands have been granted by acts Of
Congress-" In order to gain these privi-
lagos, the soldier must pursue the same
routine and pay the same fees as if he were
civilian; but he gets twice as much
land.