The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-03
OPENS IMMENSE
M|LLARD TRACT
Government Designates 150,-
600 Acres Under Enlarged
Homestead Act.
EXPECTS BIGGEST RUSH IN
HISTORY OF STATE TODAY
Desirable Land Lies Between
Lund and MOdena on Salt
Lake Route.

With the opening under the enlarged
homestead act of more than $50 square
miles of land In the Millard county dis
trict between Lund and Modena on the
Salt Lake Route this morning at 9
O'Clock, one of the biggest land rushes
in the history of the Salt Lake United
States land office is expected.
The land. which is said to be suitable
for dry farming, WAS surveyed some
time ago and plats were formally pre-
sented to the land office by the sur
veyor general month ago. The law
provides that the plats shall be on file
month and then the land thrown open
for entry. Since the filing of the plats
hundreds of people have visited the
land and selected homesteads. There
will be rush in the morning to get
the entries filed early and secure the
choice of the land.
Not all the land is to be opened under
section 6 of the enlarged homestead
act, which includes the non-residence
features. but large part is. The rest
is included under section 9. which
but requires residence.
Expect Rush on Section g.
II is on the section 6 land that the
rush is expected. This land is all the
way from few hundred yards TO sew
eral miles from the railroad and is
said to contain good growth of sage
brush. which is an indication that ii is
good for dry farming 1t is said to be
free from alkali and other substances
which might hamper successful cultiva-
tion.
The designation of the land is the
largest ever made bv the government
in the state, it is said. the total acreage
amounting to more than 100000 acres,
included in eight townships.
AS soon rs the surveyors began the
surveying of the land last spring peo-
pie began to select homesteads with
the result that many thousands of acres
the filing process which will take place
this morning. II was said by Register
E. D, r. Thompson Thursday that the
land office employees are expecting
big rush as soon as the land office is
opened and expect to receive great
many entries before noon, There will
be many who take up land under sec
ton 2. having planned to reside on the
ground in parts where water for Gull
nary purposes and for limited irrigation
can be found.
Strong Demand.
It has been possible for people to set
tie on the land. before it was surveyed,
under the squatter's right, but they
could get but 100 acres each and there
were many more favorable places in the
state for the taking of land under these
conditions. With 320 acres in each
grant and no residence required, the
conditions are changed and there is
Great demand for the land. This was
brought about by the surveying which
has made possible the taking up Of land
under the souatter' right in tracts of
320 acres. The law requires the squat
ters to file their entries when the land
is designated and thrown open for en-
try.
The land to be opened is said to be
very level. corresponding to the ground
all through that part of the country.
It's proximity to the railroad makes it
especially desirable. The sagebrush is
said to stanl several feet high'in many
places and the rainfall is said to aver
age over twelve inches each year, which
is sufficient for dry farming.
Must Plow Tract.
In the parts of the district opened un-
der section of the law it is not pos
sibe to get water for culinary pur
noses and for that reason the establish
ment Of residence on the land is not
REQUIRED. Two years is given to cult
vate forty acres and FIVE years to cul-
tivate half the tract, totalling 160 acres.
The government does not require the
cultivation of the entire $50 acres. al
though it is said the law is laid down
under the supposition that the entire
tract is to be plowed to conform with
scientific dry farming on semiarid
land
Above Lund, near Milford, on the
Salt Lake Route. is another large tract
of land. including $4,000 acres. which
Continued on Page Two.