The Estancia news. [volume] (Estancia, Torrance County, N.M.) 1904-1912, 1908-02-14

ditonal affidavit to the effect tina
such officer was the nearest an
most accessible one before whom
entry could be made.
The right to surveyed tract o
public land as homestead can b'
secured by settlement, which act will
hold it for 80 days, when, or durini
which time, entry must be made.
When a settlement is made o0 un
surveyed land the entry must bt
made within 80 days from the filing
of the plat Of same in the U. S. land
office, notice OF which is given by
publication.
On every homestead entry final
proof must be made within seven
years after the date OF the entry, OF
1t will be Cancelled. Proof may be
made any time after five years. Resi-
dence is absolutely required for five
years within seven years after date
of entry.
After fourteen months from the
date OF settlement, the homestead
claimant if he has resided upon, i'm.
proved and cultivated his entry dur
ing the last eight months, can make
Communication proof and pay for the
land at s1.25 per acre, If not Within
the limits Of a railroad grant, $3.50
per acre If within such limits. In
such cases residence must be shown
to be practically continuous.
In New Mexico the only public land
valued at $3.50 per acre is situated
within the land grant to the Atlantic
& Pacific Railroad, now the Santa
Fe-Coast Line, from Albuquerque to
the Arizona line, and extending for
forty miles north and forty miles
south OF said railroad The remain.
ing public lands in New Mexico are
rated at s1.25 per acre.
Soldiers who served in the Civil
War, the Spanish, or the Philippine
wars are entitled to have the time
OF their service, not exceeding four
years, counted as residence on the
land.
II a homestead claimant dies, the
land goes to the widow, If he leaves
one. If not, to his heirs. Neither the
widow nor the heirs are required to
live on the land, but must keep up
he cultivation and improvements.
The widow of a deceased soldier
Who never used his homestead right
2an make a soldiers homestead entry
md is required to reside personally
IN the land for at least one year
She must examine the land before
making entry and must afterward
improve and cultivate it for at least
one year and this cannot be lawfully
lone through a lessee or agent.
II the widow Of deceased soldier
las died or has again married, his
minor children, through a guardian,
IAN make a soldiers homestead en-
ry.
Abandonment or a change of resi-
lence from homestead for six
months or more, at any time, leaves
t liable to contest, unless a leave Of
absence has been obtained.
Land unfit for cultivation or graz
ng purposes, or only valuable for its
imber or stone, is not subject to
homestead entry. Otherwise, as
ule, all public land, not mineral, may
'e so entered. The settler is re-
uired by law to make improvements
pOn the homestead and to cultivate
'art Of the same during the period |
4 residence, He must also make
he tract his actual and bona fide |
esdence and home.
The law and the regulations of the
ieneral Land Office do not prescribe
he value of improvements, nor the
haracter Of the house and other
uildings on the land; however, the !
improvements and buildings should
g of such a character as to show
ood faith and an earnest intention
nd desire on the part of the entry |
ian to make the tract entered a per-
lament home for himself and those
ependent upon him if any.
xPIRED ENTRIES
Homestead entries upon which no
nal proof has been made, expire by
of the law In seven wears
tier the date Of entry. Desert land
ntries expire in four years from
ATE or entry il no final proof has
cen made. the lands then reverting
} the United States.
Such entries are not Cancelled i'm.
lediately upon the expiration of the
tatutory period and the land cannot
Q entered by another settler uotil
UGH cancellation Is secured.
II the law has been fully comn,ied
18th for five years on a homestead
nal proof can be made at any TINA
efore the cancellation of the entry
oNTEsrs-
All entries requiring settlement or
are subject to contest