The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-06-28

every Instance it remained record
ed on the books Of the United
States land Office, and was no
longer open for entry to even q
bona fide settler and agricultural
If such a person had ever straved
into the wilds Of the pinev-woods.
Some two wears ago the de-
partment at Washington found
ont the abuses committed under
the color of" homestead entries,"
and give strict orders that no
homestead settler should be al.
lowed to cut single tree on his
land that was not actually used in
the construction of his homestead.
and this regulation has in q few
instances been enforced with such
severity that it has well nigh put
complete stop to the whole
business of settling.
The homestead law was in
tended TO benefit the poor man.
the mar who has not money
enough to buy q farm at private
sale in some eligible locality.
Imagine this poor man, whose
earthly riches consists Of q wife
and some children, a rifle, an axe.
a spade and hoe, some cooking
utensils and few sweet potatoes
for seed, locating in the midst OF
an unbroken pins forest on his
homestead claim of eighty or ono
hundred and sixty acres, aud
erecting, with infinite toll and bit
ter privations, a rongh log cabin
where those depending on him can
find at least shelter from the pelt-
ing rain and blazing sun.
Meanwhile his wife, Ii trusty
helpmate, has been spading up 3
little patch Of ground near the
cabin, and planted the few seeds
that they were able TO bring with
them. II is q hard life, but they
look forwarl with hopes to tho
future. They look forward to the
lime when they CAP have ten or
twenty acre field enclosed and
cultivated, q Aock OF sheep and
some pigs and cattle coming on,
and a patent to their farm from
the land Office in their pocket. All
this, they say. can be done In
about FIVE years, But to make
this possible, he must find some
immediate means OF living, some
way Of getting meat and corn
advanced to him, until he can
make his first crop Of potatoes,
snd that help he can only get at
the nearest saw-mill.
It's owner or his msrchant in
the nearest town IL willing to give
him -four, bacon, ooffse, salt. cali
co and shoes, tor those 6ne yellow
pine logs that stand on his homs-
stead, and that eneumber the very
ground where he wants to locats
his future field. He 10 bnt too
happy to make the bargain, and
with lusty arm lay low the mighty
monarcAs Of the forest. 90 that
they may be hauled by the pa-
tisat steer TO the nesrest landing,
aud hence RATED to the nsighbor-
ing mill. where they will be ont
into those precious boards that
|, be folks in far-0f Brazil. Mexico.
l,ubs and Hondnras must have.
But, 10 and behold! AT this very
the critical and all i'm
moment tor 0nr settler,
Ihe bene6celt arm OF Uncle Sam
Is stretched between him and hap
piness, and be is told
Touch but . single tree on
your farm, except the few small
ogs you need to build your cabin
With, and 10 jail you 60 for six
This is no fancy sksteh;
have seen with my own eyes
! h0mestsndsrs dragged to
,risoD for selling . few logs 10
,sw mills, while the weeping
v,yes and children, with the glare
i hunger IN their eyes, hangipg
q tLs bars of the jail windows.
weeping and sobbipg, while the
lnsbapd and father pressed in
'peechelsss agony bis feyered
WOW against tho iron rods, and
wondered, psrhsps, il this Was
,stetpal goyernmspt 10 hsd