Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-10-17
ONLY ONE SURVEY NECESSARY
NOW FOR NATIONAL FOR
EST LANDS ACCORDING
TO DECISION.
Heads of Departments of .Agricul-
ture and of the Interior Agree on
New Plan that Will Benefit Those
Filing on Agricultural Claims in
Government Reserves.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. To-
Settlers on national forests under
the Act Of June II, 1906, will no
longer have to pay for a survey, as
they have had to in the past on un-
surveyed lands, when the claim goes
to patent. This relieves many set
tiers under the act, commonly known
as the forest homestead law, from
a burdensome expense. Relief from
this burden has been brought about
by an agreement between the Sec
retary of the interior and the secre-
tary of agriculture, whereby sur
veys made by employees of the for
est service will be under the super
vision of the surveyor general so
that they can be accepted by the
general land office as final.
Only One Survey.
Hitherto it has been necessary to
make two Surveys. Under the terms
of the forest homestead law, nation
al forest land can not be opened to
settlement unless the secretary of
agriculture has recommended to the
secretary of the interior that it be
listed for settlement; and listing is
not possible until a survey has been
made. The secretary of agriculture
has no authority to list any land
unless an examination has shown
that the land is more suitable for
agriculture than for forest purposes.
So when land is applied foremployes
of the department Of agriculture are
sent to ascertain its character, and
at the same time make a survey of
it by metes and bounds if a survey
Is necessary.
Double Expense.
This survey could not be accepted
by the land department as a basis
for patent because only surveys un-
der the supervision of the surveyor
general can, under the law, be ac-
cepted as a basis for passing title. |
In consequence, under the procedure |
provided for when patent is sought |
to unsurveyed land, the settler on
land within a national forest has had |
to pay for a second survey. This |
has been felt to be especially hard .
because it has subjected settlers on
national forests to an expense which
settlers ON surveyed public lands do
not have to bear. Since it merely
the work of the first sur
vey, there seemed no reason why
this first survey might not answer
both for listing the land and for pat
enting it.
Simplifes Procedure.
The survey for listing. made by
forest officers, has always been with
out expense to the prospective 4,
h0mesteader. Under the new arrange
ment the field expenses of the sur &.
vey win continue to be paid by the
of agriculture, so that 4.
The applicant will merely be called .
on to meet the cost of checking mp T.
and plating the surveys by the sur .
pey0r general. This will remove one f.
Df the greatest objections to the /.
of the forest homestead /.
law. The officials of both the de- .
Dartment of agriculture and the de- !
oartment of the interior are pleased 1
hat the way has been found through .
cooperation in the surveys, to sim .
Dlify the procedure. cut out a dupl- .
,aliOn Of the work. and lessen the 4.
'ost Of settling upon agricultural 1
ands within national forests. .