Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-10-27
TIE H0MESTEADLAW
WILLIAM e. sMYTHE WRITES OF
THE PATERNALlsM OF uN-
GLE SAM.
Points Out the Original Intent of the
Law and the Chances to Evade it,
Says That This Land Must Be Irri-
gated to Be Made Useful.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 26.-
For more than forty years the
phrase, homestead law has been
pleasantly familiar to American ears.
1t opened the way for millions of peo-
pie to get foothold upon the land.
The idea was that as long as there
was any portion of the public domain
fit for agriculture, and not otherwise
appropriated. any citizen, or even any
alien who had declared his intentio9
to become a citizen, might obtain lbf
| acres of it by fling his claim. ans
paying certain nominal fees, and seu
Ting upon it to make his home in goot
| faith.
| 1t was a beautiful act of paternal-
! isnl--Uncle sam, the rich and loving
| father, dividing his estate among all
| his children, natural and adopted
/ And the plan worked as beautifully as
! it sounded so long as there were farms
1 to be had in that part of the public
/ domain which receives a good natural
rainfall! Practically the last of such
/ land has now passed away from the
! government. There is 4 vast empire
4 yet ieft--an empire in which tens of
z millions Mill some time dwell--but ev-
/ cry acre of it must he irrigated before
it will be fit for homes. When this
/ is done one acre VIII be equal in pro-
ductive capacity to four acres depend
ing on rainfall.
To Build Home.
The central thought in the home
stead law as the name Implies. is that
iaiiiiis siea,u fso,,, the
ENJOY men. " M XWhan
4 y. p, !i-''S e 80. s,,,i..,,.s H. 10
!. IS USED 10. 'tlis oa,, ny, ps' 80
The law sought TO make sure of the
permanence of the settlers home by
MS - y - t1 .,.,,,, for f,,a
Sui..ss' -, ~. o,t;r,r tt,.,, ,,f,a n
80, 49, $3.50; 49,. >i,,,.rt,, ne
i. . $3.50 49,. 49,, II x,.n,,Ia
.ilae w. = -, -. t.,ts,ts,ea ma At
$500 1911 ~, ti,a ,.ia,v ~ no.
, ,aeilsa ~ 't' lace NO.. more
ny ,A ,..s t,o,, ar
s,oa.s fo it,,
sou" IL ,.,+;o- nr,,,sa ..o.s
but the .,,,af'. 49,, 10, r,,o,,isin.,
"a W .,a.,l e., ,,aa,-a,
" ..ie ~ ~ 49, ~, os,,t;yafsny 4
IJnf,a,N his rIa,,se title may mass to
the settler nj the end OF fourteen
months on navment of 81 % pc, acre
c, J.. Esd 4La I.n,
nj, n,,,,s,,,t.,+i.,r, SI,,,se iv entirely
=, NO sattiaI. ,chr, Intends
~ i'n,,,,1' =, ,,,,.saet eoaa fai,h with
~ 49,. "a i,it sc ~, l.o,,,aetaad
we ,si;, $50 80 ra,.
~ .'ti,.,t 80, ,,.ss et.as. awaited
, W sa '. 20 ~ $50 of shostarine
~. mas;,1e,,oa ,,,o, t,a Lana for a
NE r,,,,.,,+sa :, is fact hat the
49,, =, ,,,iat,,, ,saf,,, ~ thosa who
i,tesnou - 800, ~, raai ;,,ta,,t nf the
; Ia, 50 -
, ,,,, .. ,+ s,r,r,s,, fo,. 1a,,,
- go Z, ,Ss ,rast The
4 an,st;,,,,as ~ GROW, and with
/ - ,,a,,,,r,a e.. 80 ana n,utton.
NJ, -" r,,,1,1il r.,st,,,.s ayai,ahIa for i've
-. 49,, sr,n h,t bero,nes rela
:, ,i,.si,, lass S+ea,,,,,an sec the shadow
,f .,e,,,;,,.r .,,.,,,sa,. in la,,d laws when
~, ,,,i,i ~ ,anga,. he ahle 10 use
the raYs.a w;,ho,,t restrictions and
e ,,.it,n,,t n,4a Watnrallv enough thew
!. aas.i,.1, "a ,,,oi,. tbe,nseiyes sec,.,e in
, ~ l,,,s.l..,;n,, 40 - ,n,,cb gooa ,r4az
= I'M. land as ,oss;hle There is 4 way
IN MN ,h;s nay be 5ione and mis-
i. Nv ,,,a,ns of tns ho,,,este a1 law and
: ,eont.a,,ia,,t ..dpnn,ias,, ia make entries
J. ,,naa, Il
+ .t,,
1omesseaa ehtr.es o. iouay sey
Frauds. ~, ,,o.,aa,oa
AS the law REQUIRES actual residence
u Is uesiraoie rape 70 itaae s''e pasiaanee
lou 20 =, s,,,,i,. nnt,,;,'e, ,,,n,a man
d y .,h,nff,, A claim shanty is erected