The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-11

Of land that our benofeent government
viii let loose into private lands in this
large a chunk
Congress on February 10 Of this year
passed what IS called the enlarged
homestead act Ii was 20 permit the
settler to take sufficient acreage Of
non-minersl non timbered. and non-irri
gable land, SO that while he might dry
farm on part Of it, the remainder
might be allowed to lie fallow each sea-
son, that Congress enacted this measure.
The provisions Of the law apply only
to certain lands ia Colorado, Montana.
Nevada, Oregon. Utah, Washington and
Wyoming, and the territories Of Arizona
and New Mexico. Up 70 the present time
there have ben designated By the secre
tary Of the interior as prima facie sub
iect 70 entry under this act, in round
numberss
20.25000O acres IN Colorado,
2d.000.000 acres IN Montana,
l,550000 acres IN New Mexico,
100000 acres in Oregon,
s.500000 acres in Washington,
lli000000 acres IN Wyoming
Large areas in Utah have also been des-
ignated under a special provision in the
act.
Under the enlarged homestead act"
residence must Be established on the land
by the entryman within six months from
date Of fling and Be continued, together
with cultivation and Improvement of the
land, for five years. The law requires
that one-eighth Of the land be cultivated
beginning with the second year, and one
fourth Of the land beginning the third
year. the latter area being required to b
cultivated each year thereafter until date
Of final proof THE Zee % be paid
the register and receiver at time Of orig.
inal entry Is not exceeding $40 The com.
missions payable at the same time, also
az date Of final proof are per cent on
the cash value Of the land. No payment
for the land homesteaded under this act
IS required to be made, except in cases
whore the land were formerly embraced
in Indian reservations and are required
by Law d be disposed Of at a fixed price
for the benefit Of the Indians
The ground squirrel 50 common
throughout the West and in California
i The latest undesirable
citizen among animals whose death war
rant has been signed BIZ the public health
and marine hospital service
The little animal has long heen sus
pected of spreading the dread bubonic
plague A report by Surgeon Rucker
made public to-day, eonelusively proves
that Id Contra Costa county, California,
alone. half q dozen or more deaths from
the plague are directly traeeable 60 the
eating 81 infected squirrels, or bites from
leas carrying the germ from that ami. /
nal. II Is further believed that the boo /
By owl, which Il d constant companion /
OF the ground squirrel, occupying the
same burrows with il, is equally culpahle
in spreading plague germs,
In view Of these findings the service
viii during the coming winter start an
active campaign for the eradication Of
the rodents and The owls
ut Is planned saws Surgeon Rucker
shat IN the autumn. when the suitable |
time for poisoning squirrels arrives, and
the ranehers have the time to take up 4
the matter, a general campaign Of educa
ton win be instituted and an endeavor
made to enlist the cooperation Of ev-
cry person holding land in Contra Costa
county. Poison win be issued gratis.
The navy department Is sitting tight
and waiting for an opportunity 10 take
the field and make the army air record
look puny and mean. At present the
navy is a dark horse, very dark, indeed
but there Is d sly and pulling attitude
70 be observed on the part Of many Of
the officers who are sworn, as q matter
Of tradition. to beat the army at any
game that may be invented
The hopes of the navy are now pinned
on an officer his name, for the present,
is kept secret who Is planning to evolve