The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-05-13


TAKE the liberty OF sending you the follow
inR. believing that the Information therein
contained VIII prove of great value % cx-soi-
oilers who have heretofore made homestead
entries or who mny contcm, late such action.
ard should bc widely disseminated.
The Commissioner ~ the General Land or
fce WINS asked; "Whcthcr, after soldier has
IN person or by agent made an entry for Ger
tain quarter section be may assign bis interest
therein 20 another before no has commenced
bis residence on ana Improvement Of the
iandy II the soldier should 50 vacatc
bis entry Or fan ~ appear within six months.
could he at somc future time enter upon other
landf'
the following Il copy Of the response
made w the Commissioner:
= In reply have 10 inform yon that sol
~ attorney Or agent. ~ ' may No 4 h,ms,
etco dc lafAtury statement b. agent lNc>iscd
Statutes See. .v'l. or. having made 4 home
steal entry prior " June z, ls.$' for less than
49, acres he may make an additional ently NE
Nisei statutes Sec 2NdI Tor such quantity Of
land ~ may bt necessary 70 aggregate with
his original homest' . a 10 acres, and this i'd
duly ausnori<ed s. power II attorney, and
cultivate inc land embraced ii such
s s' have en ep, Ir'', wi,h sna' cr ri
requirements rcspecI my his original entry. In
the event thar the original entry ~ a soldier
made prior 70 June *. ics% has been Cancelled
suchentry being less than 100 ncfcs--ih he party's
Right 70 nm additional cAtIy stiit cxl~.s =. but he
VIII be reluircd 20 reside upon and improve
the land embraced IN his additional entry the
same rs though The original entry had not
been initiated.
4 a soldier within the meaning Of this letter
n person who served during the war Of the
rebellion Tor ninety days ~ more in the army
Of the United States a "a who was honorahly
discharged thereirom- The sume privileges
nrc extended % persons who served a. above
IN the navy or marine corps aud received
honorable discharges.
.AnyperSon. sold er or citizen. who should
make ahomestead entry under existing laws
respecting residence and Improvements will
upnn the cancellation Of his or her entry hy
reason Of such failure. forfeit all rights under
the Homestead laws. and cannot thereafter
'Ihe ming Of q homestead dcclnratory
statement under section 1912 Revised Stat
utes secures e me party preference right e
upon within six months frOu the date ~ III
inE. should party who had made such Il
filing fail 20 make homestead entry for the
iuid iiltd upon. such failure would not
operate 70 defeat his right 20 make home
stead entry Tor such land II no adverse claim
for the same appears, o.. II the land nied upon
shall have been otherwise disposed or. he may
legally make homestead entry for any
other vacant unappropriased public land not
exceeding Ia area the MAXIMUM quantity a.
lowed by law"
The object Of the Commissioner in the
above letter was 10 clearly distinguish be-
tween nm actual homestead entry ana mere
declaration ~ intention 10 make such entry
The Hing 81 dcclaiaiory statement hy q
solder gives him no title 20 the land but
only serves 10 notify the world thai he intends
70 make entry OF the land filed upon. Ii he
fails 10 make entry Of the land within six
months from date Of filiug. his claim expires
BY statutory Limitation and his rights under
section 2,;p9 Revised statutes nrc exhausted.
and he cannot legally ilIc another dccara;ory
statement for homestead purposes. His right
20 make homestead entry remains intact.
however. AMI he may at any future time
make such entry for tine land filed upon IN
vacant or Tor o.hcr lana subject 10 disposal
under the Homestead laws with the same
privileges a though he had not filcd the de-
ciaratory statement
Many persons enormously suppose that NJ
Ing homestead deciaratory statement u
equivalent 70 mnkinG 4 homestead entry. and
that having made such filing nothing more Il
required OF them than 10 20 upon the land 10
reside. and nc the proper time make nnal
proof. 10 correct this false impression have
taken the trouble 10 write and send you tho
above hoping that Il may have the benefit Of
extensive circulation among soldiers. and
prove the means Of enabling them 70 better
know and protect their rights Washington
Cor. Chicago inter-occan.