Semi-weekly herald., 1911-06-22
HOMESTEAD LAWS.
(By Alfred Patek.) J


The results Of one years work by
the Colorado state board of immigra-
tion has convinced me that we are
still far behind other nations in the
manner in which we treat our pioneer
ing farmers. Our homestead laws are
by Tar too exacting, and we give no
heed to the future oil the young man
who is deluded into taking up 100 or
$40 acres and believes that he can
make success OF it by dry farming
methods.
Some wag has put it this way: "Un-
Gle Sam bets 160 or 500 acres against
the young mans $1,000 or $21.50 that
ne can't live on government land for
1--WE years and succeed in making a
farm of it,"
The problem was easily solved when
much desirable land was available for
homestead purposes, Now that prac
tically all of The first-class locations
are gone, there remain vast tracts
which hard work and trained intelli-
gence can surely develop into produc-
tive properties. 1t is at this point that
we fail. We invite without discrimi-
nation; we allow families to go on
these lands knowing absolutely when
they leave the land office that they
are preparing for ruin and destitution
Our agricultural department could
well afford to devote a good part of
its funds to careful study of meth
DDS that obtain in Canada and Aus
tralia, with virgin soils, and in Eu-
fopean countries where there is the
struggle with soil impoverished by
ages Of use.
Uncle Sam should frame his home
stead laws so that there will be help
at hand for every poor man who is
brave enough to take up homestead
in order to increase the country's food
supply, and who puts into it the best
that there is in him. Today the only
concession the poor fellow can get
go to work during the winter months
and to live away from his homestead
for that short period. AS rule con-
gress enacts this just after or during
an exceedingly cold spell. Beyond
this | know OF no actual concessions
that are made to the homesteader.
The result is better paraphrased in a
remark that was made to me in a dry
farming district of a neighboring state
some years ago, when a general store
keeper who was asked how trade was
in his little town said: Its hell to
live in country that you've got to
settle three times"
In this brief article the remedy can
only be limited at, but it lies in gov
ernment help financially and industri-
ally. The homesteader must not alone
be given the privilege of borrowing
money on his holdings, whether they
be livestock or in the shape of perma-
nent improvements, with plenty of
time for repayment, but he must also
get something more than the print
ed technical, unintelligible advice that
is sent out from agricultural expert
ment stations, OF that is impaired by
an agent of the station, whose ex-
perience is often limited, and who
endeavors to give his vast acquired
knowledge to large group of farm
ers gathered at railway station, in
something like an hours talk.
What we should do is to give the
farmers who are on homesteads in
dry-farming sections instructors who
will remain in one section during one
OF two seasons, going daily from farm
to farm and educating these pioneers
in the simplest manner possible and
by instruction right in their own fields.
The so-called "plainsman" cannot pos
sibly do the work required. 1t is ex-
pcnsive, l know, but it will be worth
as much to us as the Panama canal
If we conduct it along proper lines.
/ know also that loaning money on
livestock is precarious business, but
the government of the United States
can well afford TO lose 25 per cent
of the money loaned out and get its
benefits in increased production and
in the future prosperity of those who
stick to their homesteads.
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A man gossip is worse than wom-