The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-17
WOULD MODIFY
HOMESTEAD LAW
Letters being Written Asking
Changesfor Benefit of
All Concerned.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR -FOUR MONTHS
Exteneion of Time after. Entry-Re-
quirement Inflicts Hardship and
Suffering on New Settlers.

+ q -
With the desire to alleviate suffer-
ing and benefit the country, numerous
letters are being written to Congress
men Burke and Martin asking them
to use their influence to have the
homestead law so altered as to grant
settlers an extension Of time in which
to 90 upon the land. Under the pres
ent law it is necessary for all persons
entering land to go upon it within six
months after date of entry. This
works hardship on people, especially
as large majority make entry in the
summer and fall, compelling them to
establish homes on the property in the
months of November, December and
January. the very coldest and most
disagreeable time in the entire year.
These entries are in most cases made
by people Of very limited means; people
who are actuated by the desire for in
dependence, to secure a home that in
time they may call their own. They
make the entry late in the summer
for the reason it costs considerable to
do so and and to secure the money
they have to work for it and save as
best they can, with attendant priva-
tions. After making the entry they
again save until the time comes when
they have. to go on the land, with the
result they are compelled to do so with
means and time Inadequate to sur
round themselves with coyeniences
for making themselves comfortable.
The rule is to secure simply enough
rough lumber to build a small shack,
place therein limited furniture and
furnishings and by grim determine
tion resist fate as best they can, Sc
curing what little they can to live on
during the time it is cold, with work
impossible to secure.
1t is necessary for them to do this
in orderto hold the land. If they do
not their homestead is subject to con
test and in all probability is lost to
them with all expense necessary to
make entry.
1t is not believed the intention of
the law to intlict hardship and priva-
tion on the people, but to place vacant
lands in the hands of people who will
make homes thereon and improve the
country, beneftting conditions ,ifl
every way. The time was; when pri.
yations were not so acute as they are
today for the reason the lands entered
were quite accessible to town and
railroad accommodations. Now the
available land in proximity to those
conveniences has been taken up anC
all entries have to be made on land A
toI00 miles distant from a convenient
shipping point from the east-for it i.
from the east these people come, emu
lating after years the advice of Horace
Greely because they are forced to dt
so under the stress Of high pricee
living and attendant conditions
There are many instances of priya
with accuracy, especially the occasion
lastweetl whena homesteader in Meat
county was frozen to death. He wa
endeavoring to Get lumber and provis
+ ions to his land, and while enroute hi
load toppled over, pinioning him unde
4 it, where he remained anbwas fount
dead by those in search Of him, who ha,
become apprehensive at his absence.
The condition here depicted doe
not especially refer to Pennington
county, but to northern Mead county
But the changes of the requirement
of the homestead law will benef
everyone if sanctioned by the publ
land commission. tits desired to hav
the time for going upon the land e,
tended beyond the present six month
requirement., making it sufficient S
that the entryman may go on his Ian
in the early spring, atwhich time it
possible for people of limited means I
do so without withstanding the rigol
of winter in a lonely claim shant
with scant protection. Another mot
itication is that those already on I'll
land, known as homesteaders maxim
early improye ments, be granted lea,
ofzabsence Of four months, such tin
to be given during the ewinter month
viz, November, December, Janual
and February. a ss5'
Letters besides being sent to. co
gressmen are being written to f.. Y