The St. Johns herald., 1888-09-06
COPP'S LAND REVIEW.
Secretary'S DeciSiOnS-COnSiStency Therein-IntentiOn the FOuRda- tIon-EntrieS in Good and Bad Faith-IgnOrance Respecting Le- gal Requirements, etc.
Written for the St. Johns Herald.

AOA AtAc -ts SO44AAc AS-oAd-
 It would appear to the casual : reader of decisions by the Secretary of the Interior in cases of pre-emp- tion and commuted homestead en- tries, that very little regard to con- sistency, reason or logic is exercised in their preparation; but to the careful, analytical reader, it is quite evident that the decisions are the result of thorough examination of the smallest details and that every circumstance connected with each particular case is carefully weighed and has bearing upon the cOnclu- sion reached.
 q In some cases the greatest elem ency appears to be shown to per sons who have, as would appear from casual examination of the 3 proof offered, been absent from their claims for periods of great length, and whose improvements are of the most meagre character, In others, where absence from the claims have been of short duration and where improvements to the val ue of hundreds of dollars have been placed upon the land the de- cision seems very harsh and to go to the limit of the law in the sever ity of the requirements made.
 Take two such cases and exam , inc carefully the proof in each. It will be found that the intention of the entryman, as evidenced by his act and the circumstances in the cases respectively, is the foundation upon which the Secretafy's action rests. The intention to use the land for the actual purposes of a home is what constitutes faithful compliance with the spirit of the pre-emption and homestead laws, and the settler who because of pow erty, sickness or other misfortune !, isunable to place valuable improve  ments or be continuously person. ally present upon his claim, may -and generally does--have more earnest desire and honest intention to secure the land for and actual home for himself and family than the man well-to-do in the world who, by reason of his better financial cir cumstances, good health and other advantages, is able to place valu- able buildings upon and cultivate extensive acres of his claim, ghile he fits back and forth between some favorite resort and the land covered by his entry, as fancy die tates, having no actual, bona fde residence upon the claim, but still being personally present thereon q greater number of continuous days than his Gas the world secs them) Jess fortunate neighbor. One is struggling in the face of proverty, sickness and distress to acquire a little land which he may call his own, upon which his family may look as a home and cease to be wanderers upon the face of the earth, while the other is; endeavor- ing to secure title to a tract of pub - lie land for rurposcs of speculation that the fatness of his purse may become increased. The former can do but little in tue &ay Of improve ment, while the latter knoYs that fer every dollar he expends upon improving his claim he will receive three in the near future.
 The well-to-do are not the only class who attempt (oiten success 'frlly) to acquire title to pubiic land by mere compliance with the words of fthe. statute. while ignoring the >spris The poor and needy often go and do likewise; sometimes as private sPeculatieRs and again :, as the pail agents of rich men who profit by tireir unlawful practices.
 Ii isthis fefreting.out of inten- ;tioa and judging accordingly that trr1soes -f.A fla Laor.,forx.tc Iaotp1o,, q, n,