Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-07-09
NEW RULING ON
HOMESTEAD PROOF
Many Changes in Questions
Propounded to Claimant in
Securing Title.

A new ruling was inaugurated OF
July by the department OF the in.
terror with relation to the submis.
sion OF final proof on homestead
lands BY claimants and their wit.
nesses, and will hereafter govern thi,
subject Besides making additional
requirements, a number of changes
have been made in the old mode OF
procedure, which are of a general
Interest TO the public at large, and
of especial interest to all those who
now have homesteads and contem-
plate submitting final proof on them.
and those who contemplate aVailing
themselves of the provisions of the
homestead laws. Because of the ig-
uorance of the homesteader and his
witnesses with respect TO these re-
auirements much trouble has been
experienced by the land officials 10
the making of final proof, and they
are anxious to give the requirements
under the new ruling as much pub
iicity as possible and make the pub
lie acquainted with them.
Testimony of Claimant.
The testimony of the claimant, as
in the old blanks, commences with
the question as to his name, age,
postonice address, and is followed IN
with the question as to whether he
is a natiye-born citizen of the United
States or not, and in the event that
he is, as to what state or territory
he was born in. Then he is asked to
describe his land and to state as to
whether he is single or married, and
to state of whom his family consists,
and in the event of married woman
as to whether her husband has an
unprotected homestead entry, and as
to the time he has resided with her
on the land.
The next question goes to the res
idence on the land-when 1t was first
established, when the house was first
built, and then follows another ques-
4 ton as to whether the claimant or
his family have been absent from the
land, and as to the length of time,
the reason for it, and the dates of
the absence. The claimant is then
asked to describe the land by legal
subdivisions, to state its character,
the kind and amount of timber on it,
to state by subdivisions the number
Of acres cultivated, the kind of crops
and the number of acres cleared and
under cultivation at the time of the
submission of proof. In the event
that the land is used for grazing,
then the claimant must state the
number and kind of stock grazed
each year and as to whom they be-
long A description of the improve
ments by subdivisions is then asked
for, and their value, and as to
Khether the land is of mineral char
peter. He is required to state |
whether ever before he has made
homestead entry, and also if he has
fOld, or agreed to sell, any portion of
me land, or as to whether he has
gwen an option upon it or mortgaged |
or if there is agreement to this ef-
ect He is then required to state
whether he has any personal prop
ry elsewhere than ON the claim.
nd to state If any entry. other than |
mineral has been made by him since |
august 80, 1890. That is the sum
nd substance of the questions re-
aired TO be answered by the claim
lnt.
Testimony of Witnesses.
The testimony OF the witnesses,
I'm a few exceptions, is practically |
he same as that required to be given
The claimant for the land. In ad-
'aon' he is required to state how
ohg he has known the claimant; |
aeh follows questions dealing with
. residence. settlement, absence
ON the land. and a statement of the
l'uVatiou of the land by legal sub
visions, aud also a statement as1to
y improvements by legal subdivi-
Ons' and as to whether he is inter
s'ed in the claim or related to he
a'mant. The other questions are
I same as those required of the
ainant.