Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-20
OTHER FREE HOMES HERE.
Plenty of Land in Missouri for Settle
n1ent.

Kansas City Aug 15.-"Mssouri is
the only state in the union which sells
homesteads outright. There are $685.
900 acres of land in this state subject
to entry. The Dodge City, Kas.. land
office reports to ME it has 100000
acres Of land open to settlement Lit
tie of it is desirable. Arkansas offices
report about 100000 acres of land,
some of it, SO l have learned. as rich
as any land in the United States. The
Kingfisher, o. IT,, land office, under
date of August s. notifies me it has
100000 acres of land for homestead
ers. Eastern Kansas is devoid of
available sites, all having been pre-
empted. I believe Missouri offers the
most advantageous opportunity of any
state in the union. A man may take
up 100 acres by settling on it. or 800
acres if he cares to pay cash. He gets
the title the day he pays the $1.25 per
acre. We do not ask man to wait
five years, as all other states do"
So, said Major Bungardt, government
pension, agent. On learning that $780,
900 people wanted farms in Oklahoma,
and knowing that 145, 1000 OF them
would meet with disappointment, Ma
with every government land office in
Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklaho-
ma and Nebraska. The result of the
inquiry is astonishing in light Of the
fact that 10000 homeseekers risked
the odds of ten to one against them by
going to Oklahoma to participate in
the lottery. Il cannot see why these
Missouri farms were driven over and
left behind" exclaimed Major Bun
gardt, except that the people did not
know they are open to settlement. Far
and away better than any other state
offers, Missouri does not ask the
homesteader to wait five years for his
title. For 5000 cash it will give him a
clear title to 100 acres.'
From the information supplied him,
Major Bungardt has drawn up the fol-
lowing list by counties of lands in two
districts in Missouri, the figures show
ing the acreage in the different coun-
ties:
Barry, 1894; Christian, 1901; Dali
las. 1856; Douglas, 1926; Laclede, g.
165; Mcdonald, 1892; Ozark, 74,15O;
Pulaski, 2,16O; Stone, 17,SOS; fancy,
1886; Texas, 2,763; Webster, $50;
Wright, 1854; Bollinger, 1900; Butler,
100; Cape Girardeau, 40; Carter, $50;
Crawford, 1850; Dent, 1920; Howell,
$500; Iron, 1O,74Os Madison, 1850;
Oregon, 6,16o; Perry, 400; Phelps, H.
100; Pulaski, 1910; Reynolds, $3.50;
Ripley, $500; Shannon, $3.50; Texas,
1850; Washington, 2,540; Wayne,
CLIO; Benton, 5000; Camden, 10000;
Crawford, 500; Dallas, 1900; Hick-
DRY, 1900; Laclede, 10000; Maries, 81
coo; Miller, 1000; Morgan, 300;
Phelps, 1000; Pulaski, 100000; st.
Clair, 1900
Where in the above list the name of
a county appears twice, the county is
divided between two land offices, and
both acreages given must be added to
get the total for the county. Apple
lands are to be obtained for settle
ment, even in the billy Ozarks, where
sheep raising also pays well.
Not only does Missouri offer the
sale of its lands outright, but it does
not require the entryman to go to the
government land Office to file. The af-
4 fidavit can be sworn to before any
notary public If the following clause
is inserted
That because of the distance there
from, and the expense l would incur
going thereto, l do not appear at the
land Office to make this affidavit:
Major Bungardt says Missouri and
Arkansas offer the most advantages
advantages surprising all belief" he
added yesterday. 81 have seen some
lands recently which are as fine as
any in Kansas or Ohio. The climate
is against Arkansas perhaps, but Mis-
souri, cannot be surpassed. In yea1
the 200 cash entry can be wiped out
; on almost any farm man would open
We will have growth as result OF
the Oklahoma rush, believe, but Mis-
) souri, must take some means to make
; known its available lands,and its more
than liberal terms"