East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-02-01
TIE RRADElELD CO., ATLANTA, GA.
BOURNE THINKS CROP PRODUCTION. RATHER
THAN RESIDENCE, HOMESTEAD ESSENTIAL

members of his family have the ad.
vantages of attendance at church
and social functions. and at the same
time by complying with the law re.
sarding cultivation and production
he could secure title to the land
There would be no opportunity fol
fraud because the bill requires tina,
annual proofs must be submitted
showing the amount of land cultivat-
ed and the character, quantity and
value of crops produced.
l believe that the average farmer
on $50 acres of land subject to entry
under the enlarged homestead ac,
would be able to produce crops of
much more than $500 in value in
a period of five years: but the $1,000
minimum limit is fixed as a standard
to which the entryman must work
and I believe that even under ad-
verse circumstances any man who is
enterprising and diligent will be able
to produce crops of this value.
The theory of the homestead law
is that the government should provide
cheap homes for the people. This
theory is in no way violated by nv
bill. Land taken under this measure
would maintain homes for the entry
men even though these homes were
few miles distant rather than up-
on the land itself
The residence requirement of the
homestead law is in the nature of a
penalty the punishment being inflict-
ed not only upon the entryman but
upon his wife and children. At pres
ent the entryman takes his family in
to isolated regions in which vacant
land can be found and keeps them
there to live period of five years of
banishment from association with
fellow beings.
In a great many cases the home
steader performs, just as little work
upon his land as possible, and as
soon as he gets title removes his fam
lily to town where they can have the
advantages Of school and social inter-
course. The real object of providing
homes is not accomplished by the re-
quirement of actual residence upon
the land This object would be ac-
complished. however, by the require
ment that a man shall bring his land
into productiveness. To produce,
some one must cultivate the land. To
cultivate economically, vicinity, labor
and intelligent attention are required
of the entryman or his representa-
tive. The entryman's desire is the
acquisition and ownership of the
land; title can only be obtained
through production; production neces-
states increased population, either of
the entrymen or their representatives
The value of the land acquired by the
entryman depends upon continuing
production. Thus, it is certain that
the land once acquired will. under
normal conditions, continue produc-
tive, otherwise there is no incentive
for entry nor to purchase after title 1
is acquired. Necessitated production
the evil of idle land due to
ownership.
My bill requires that the entry
man shall cultivate at least one-eighth
Of his land the second year, one
fourth the third year, one-half the
fourth and fifth years and that he
must file in the local land office by
the first of December of each year a
sworn statement verified by the affi-
davits of two persons having know
ledge of the facts, showing the char
acter quantity and value of the crops
produced by him.
I would be pleased if the people Of /
Oregon would advise their delegation !
In Congress of their views Of this !
measure.
Yours very truly
JONATHAN POTTP Ne