Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-20
aga LETTER BOX.
soIutIon Tor sopd uIII, ProbIcy,.

solution for sand Hills Problem.
VALENTINE. Neb.. Nov. 15.-To the
Editor Of The Bee No one Of the several
writer's, whom I have read. suggesting a
plan for disposing OF the remainder Of the
public lands. have attempted TO frame
measure calculated to give effect TO his
ideas. Until some law Is enacted. how
ever, no substantial progress will have
been made in the direction OF settling the
anomalous conditions prevalent throughout
almost the entire area where public lands
have not been disposed Of Therefore,
while It requires some temerity to offer
at least suggestion Of a remedy where
so many conflicting interests require TO be
taken into account. and where so many
suggestions have failed Of accomplishment,
| have drawn a measure, which I hope
may prove a step in the right direction and
out Of which before long. a law will have
been enacted that will settle for a time
at least the status OF the several parties
seeking 70 occupy and control the same.
There are at present twenty-seven special
agents OF the land office department in
Cherry county, with surveyors, detecting
who has fence on government lands, ex-
aiming the homestead entries under the
original and the Kinkaid enactments, and
determining 20 what extent entrymen are
complying with their requirements. A
small ranchman may. in enclosing in one
enclosure the different tracts Of his own
land. find II almost imperative TO cross
small body of public land. yet in so doing
he is amenable TO the United States
court, and while no jury is likely to convict
upon statement Of conditions, yet the cost
and annoyance which threatens Is IN
welcome I'm the extreme.
The Kinkafd 64o-acre law, worked great
good to the holders Of small tracts in allow
ing them to enlarge and shape up their
holdings II also prompted large number
to file Offering so much land for a home.
However, I believe not more than 50 per
cent OF the entrymen will be found by the
inspectors to be making an attempt TO
comply with the law as to residence, and
as the result, these entrymen will be cited
to appear at the land ONCE and show
cause why their respective entries should
not be cancelled; and since they are likely
| to fail to make a showing the entries will
be cancelled, and the land become again
government land" The law will have
its principal good in demonstrating TO con-
gress that no matter what number of acres
may be given away for the actual living
on it. the remaining land cannot be dis
| posed Of in many years TO actual settlers.
In the Valentine district close to 1000,
OoO acres OF land was vacant when the
kinkaid law went into effect. Three thou
sand homestead entries since have re-
duced that about one-haif, but OF that
500 entries probably Loo and possibly
1900 will be cancelled for ''non-residence'
and non-improvement," and almost GER
tainly IL the general land office exacts
strict compliance with the law on the
part of the entrymen Therefore. there is
likely to be as much as 10000 acres in
/ the one district alone, over which no one
can gain a semblance of control under
existing laws, yielding no revenue to ma
! ton, state or county, and this condition
is likely TO continue indefinitely. unless
/ some additional national legislation can
/ be had. Also. II is more than likely that
/ the twenty-seven special agents can have
steady employment. indefinitely, through
/ the sand hills, watching the ranchmen,
| large and small. that the said ranchers
do not in fencing their own lands "acci-
! dentally" encroach little upon this 1,5O0,-
! 600 acres no one wants for homestead and
which all want for pastures. Not only is
| this vast area of land not yielding any
revenue in taxes directly, nor adding any
resources to the country that naturally
comes with settlement and cultivation,
| but II is costing a large amount in salaries
/ of special agents, surveyors. teamsters
and transportation to enforce the laws
against fencing and to observe" the
/ homestesder that he complies with his
I part Of the contract in acquiring title
I Therefore. some law modifying present
conditions should be welcomed.
In submitting a proposition TO lease this
! unoccupied territory no present law IS
( repealed, the same being drawn with the
view that II al any time any part of the
land should be desired by a settler for q
home under present laws, he can avail
himself of them. The proposition, how
ever contemplates leasing the land &c
the highest bidder, with privilege of fencing
and controlling. subject 20 homestead
entry, thereby taking the same OF the
expense account and making It revenue
! earning.
In submitting my measure, | expec
that it will meet with many objections
and sugge stions of alterations. etc. all Of
which will be most cheerfuily entertained
and out of which il is hoped may de
velop proposition the people of the terri
tory interested may go unitedly befor'
congress with and ask additional legisla
ton. c. II. CORNELL.