Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1905-02-09
Questions and Answers Relat-
to the Reclamation Law and
it's Operations.

kkU0St1OAS d44O AuS"0SS xto4dL"
to the Reclamation Law and
its Operations.
Tho following questions and answers
have been prepared for conve nisnce in
replying to correspondents who are
seeking information concerning the
reclamation law and operations under it.
The questions given are such AZ are
asked by the majority Of correspon-
dents. The answers to these Questions
are in many Cases not to be considered
flna' or conclusive. but are based upon
present conceptions of the law and its
requirements. 1t is possible that in the
future the department will modify or
reverse some Of tho opinions here
given; but in view Of the importance OF
having some general rules for guidance,
these are prepared. They must be con.
sidered 90 suggestive ratehr than final:
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES.
Q. In what way can public land be
taken up under the reclamation lsw7
A. The only way in which land can
be taken up 10 under the terms Of the
homestead law. which requires settle.
ment and cultivation.
@. Can take up homestead under
the reclamation law. and obtain title
while l am earning living in = nearby
city?
Il. You cannot obtain a homestead
unless you live upon the land and mako
it your home. Occasional absence 10
allowable, if some good reason 10 given,
but you cannot live elsewhere aud
claim homestead.
Q. Is it necessary for inc to live on
the land more than once in six months?
=. A. Yes; actual and continuous resi-
dence is required by the law. aud you
must establish your home on the land
and live there for the full term required.
@. Must I move onto the land At
once?
A. You are given six months from
the time o: taking out your hrst papers
to establish 4 residence. aud before the
end OF that time you must be actually
living on the ground.
@. Ia it sufficient to erect an ordi.
nary claim shan.y with one door aud
one window?
A. No; the claim shanty and nomi'
nal residence which may have sutficed
under some conditions, will not be suffi.
cient on the irrieable land. An actual
home where you sleep and take your
meals habitually, will be required.
@. Can enter 100 acres and then
sell off part Of it?
A. You can obtain title to certain
piece of land only. which may be 40. 90
l2O, or 100 acres, and you cannot convey
any title to this, or to any portion Of it.
until you have lived on it Ut least fivt
years. You may be able to relinquist
or give up . portion Oft, and In thai
event some other person can make I
new homestead entry, but you can no
transfer to him any rights or privileges
and he must begin his term OF residence
from the time he makes his entry.
@. Must I live on tho land il tb'
/ water is not available?
A. Yes; after you make your home
stead entry you must comply with tn
terms Of the homestead law. No ex
cuse will be accep pied because OF lack o
water, and it is not desired that people
enter tho land until water is ready 10
their use: il lands are entered upol
before water is ready, there is pre-
sumption that the person" making tn
entry oses it for speculative purposes
rather than for an actual home.
@. How much land can enter q
first?
| A.. Uuder usual conditions there j
no law to prevent your entering IL
acres at first; but this entry 10 lnsrel
preliminary, and will be cut down to AZ
80. Or 12O acres, according to the plan
finally determined upon. The entr
will DO subject to certain Limitations
charges, and terms, which can not b
gwen until the contracts for construe
ton have been let.
@. What assurance lie there that tn
land which enter will be irrigated?
A. You can have no assurances thu
the land will be irrigated until publ
notice has been given. If you enter i
advance Of the pubic notice you max
a speculative entry, wholly at your owl
risk, and without any guarantee o
safeguard that water will be supplied
and with a reasonable probability thu
you may lose your homestesd right.
WATER Users ASSOCIATION.
@. What are the Water Users Asso
Citations?
A. These are associations OF indiyid
uals owning or having claims to waite
and lands to which water may DO sup
plied by the works constructed by tn
government.
@. Why are the associations formed
A. They are formed in order to az
sure the government that the lam
owners will apply the water from tn