Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-02-04
BOURNE HAS new Plan
OREGON SENATOR INTRODUCES
BILL TO CHANGE HOMESTEAD
LAW.
Would Make "Production of Crops
Rather Than Residence"
Prerequisite to Title.

Editor. il am SenulHS tniS lSltSl AoA
the purpose of getting before the peo-
pie the idea have embodied in bill 1
I shall introduce in the Senate that
Production of Crops rather than Res
idence upon homestead is the es-
sential of successful and most efficient /
development of our resources. l have
done this in the hopes that the people
of oregon will favor their delegation
here in Congress with their views as
to the wisdom of the proposed legis-
lation.
am informed by Mr.. William Han
ley, an extensive stock raiser in Har-
ney County, that there are 10000, 600
acres of vacant land in Eastern Ore
gon incapable of irrigation, but nearly
all of it susceptible of cultivation un- |
der the scientific methods now in
vogue in dry farming" Mr. Hanley's
suggestion of substitution of Crop Pro-
duction for Actual Residence as the
consideration for obtaining title in
creasingly impresses my mind.
If the bill which I have prepared
should become a law, the homesteader
on non-irrigable land in what is known
as the arid region need not live upon
his land at all, but must live WITHIN
the state He must cultivate 1t either
personally or by representative ana
he must show by annual proofs that
within a period of five years the land
has produced crops of total value OF
$500.
Assuming that Mr.. Hanley's esti-
mate of 100000 acres of vacant
land in Eastern oregon is correct and
that same can be brought under cul-
tiyation by adoption of what is known
as "dry farming" this area of land
would furnish opportunities for oO,-
900 homestead entrymen who, before
they could acquire title, would be
Obliged to produce crops of total val
ne of $9O,OO0,000. Thus it will seen
that the nation, state and community
would be benefited in the develop
ment of our natural resources, wealth
increased. and, what is more import
ant. a class of citizens gained who
would be obliged to produce rather
than merely live on the land---a pop
ulation of workers
In its present condition and in the
present state of settlement and OIL
transportation facilities most of this
land is not suitable for home-making,
though it could be cultivated by men
who would make their homes else
where, or upon the land through only
a part of the year.
NV bill is based upon the theory
that if a tract of land is made pro-
ductive it will provide some family
! with a home even though that family
Lives in a town near the land rather
than upon the land itself, and that,
therefore, all of the essential objects
of the homestead law will be accom-
plished. The great difficulty under
the present homestead law is that q
! great many men who settle upon the
land under the homestead act do as
: little cultivating as the law will per-
nit and avoid as many as possible ol
the Governments requirements ant
their land is not made productive
Believing that production is th'
real essential / made that the mos
important feature of my bill. Lane
3 suitable for "dry-farming" is frequent
= ly such as a man would not wish u
make his home upon for tweiV
t months in the year but the presen
: law permitting an entry on SZO acre
requires actual residence, and, l be
=, lieye. without accomplishing any de
:. sirable end by such requirement.
Under the plan proposed by my bi
an entryman under the 32O-acr
homestead act could keep his famii
in any town of Oregon, where his chic
rem could go to school and all men
bers of his family have the aoVai
tages of attendance at church ana 81
Is ciaI functions, and, at the same tim
bv complying with the law regardin
cultivation and production, he cou'
secure title to the land. There wou
n be no opportunity for fraud becaui
Mt the bill requires that annual proc
IN must be submitted showing u
at amount of land cultivated and Il
lg character, quantity and value
n crops produced.
Wy I believe that the average farm
n on 32O acres of land subject to ent
le. under the enlarged homestead a
m would be able to produce crops
in much more than $500 in value In
IS neriod of five years; but the $15
He minimum limit is fixed as a standa
lip to which the entryman must Wor
ds and believe that even under adver
circumstances any man who is e
he terprising and diligent will be able
en- nroduce crops of this value.
ids The theory OF the homestead law
that the Government should PROV
er- cheap homes for the people. This II
rt- ory is in no way violated by my b
as Land taken under this measure woI
ge maintain homes for the entrym
of even though these homes were +
in miles distant rather than upon I
he land itself.
rer The residence requirement OF I
he homestead law is in the nature OF
2 penalty. the punishment being
vas aicted not only upon the entrym
hut upon his wife and children
present the entryman takes his fam
into isolated regions in which vae'
,er lands can be found and keeps IN
vas there TO live period Of five years
sna banishment from association with
,fr Ilow-beings.
on In a great many cases the nor
,te steader performs just as little w
=, upon his land as possible. and as 81
as ne gets title removes his family
town where they can have the
vantages Of school and social IN
course. The real object Of provid
ioe- homes Is not accomplished by the
leh. ouirement Of actual residence u
1g's the land. This object would be acc
'ure plished. however. by the reqSsreH
'sia. mat a man shall bring his Land
ion. productiveness. To produce. some
zse nus cultivate the land To eulti'
TrH.rw and lin