The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-03-27
LAND OFFICE CONSOLIDATION
Why the Natchitoches Office Should Be
Retained

Believing that it might be of interest
to many of those having business with
the land offices, | submit the following
statement of the situation and urge a
feasons why, in my humble opinion, the
office at NatchitocheS should be re
tanned.
There are something over $4,000 acres
of land in unprotected applications OF
various character and over 10000 acres
of surveyed and unapproprlated land III
the Natchitoches district, being over
100000 acres, the title Of which is still
in the government Natchltoches IS
nearer the center of the lands in LOUIS
lana now open or subject to entry than
either Alexandria, Baton Rouge or New
Orleans, and easily accessible as either
of them from the vacant lands.
While it is claimed that o5 per cent
of the business in the New Orleans OF
flee is done by correspondence and
through attorneys which entails cons1d-
cradle expense to homesteaders who, IN
the majority of cases, are not able to
write about their affairs. 1t is fact
that over Is per cent of the business OF
the Natchitoches office is transacted by
applications in person.
Claimants in over so per cent OF the
cases select the local office as the place
to submit final proof, as they can come
at very little expense, whereas if they
go before other officers it simply dou-
bles the cost, as the same commission
must be paid the land officers to which
must be added the cost of making proof
before another officer.
To remove to Alexandria would be
only a change of from so to 90 miles
from the present location, and that much
more difficult to reach, as trains would
have to be used, instead of using their
horses and wagons at much less cost to
come here as they now do. The poorer
people could not go to the office, the ex-
pense would be beyond their means, and
the majority are poor people.
In all contest cases the litigants come
with their witnesses at very little ex-
pense and trouble, and attend to their
own cases, which they could not do if
the Office was more remote.
An office should be located so as to be
accessible with as little expense and in
convenience to the majority of those
having business there and at neither of
the places suggested can it be done with
in Natchitoches
On the question of easy access to
special agents, it is fact that fully Is
per cent of the information desired is
through letters of inquiry and
at no costs to them or the government |
This office almost invariably furnishes it !
by return mail to any point i'll the dis
trlct. Another important consideration
is that when mineral claims will have
been acted on, the poor men will need
be able. to come i'll person to the local
othce, tor If they have to employ attor
neys to adjust their rights, in the event
of tract on which homestead claim
ant resides be declared mineral land,
unless he can attend to the business in
person and get information free of cost
from the Office, he might as well aban-
don his claim and lose his home, for
having spent all he had to build a home
md care for his family, having no
money, can not ALLEVIATE the land to OBJ
ain money, he will be between some!
hing and the deep blue sea. Respectful
y submitted
J. ERNEST BREDA.