The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1911-06-17
UNCLE SAM TRYING TO
PROTECT THE SETTLER
Precautions Of sleuths' Solely for
Bona Ftde Entryman's Beneht,
Declare Field Division Chief.

For publication, the chief ~ the field
division Of the federal land office hu,
cent to the Morning journal, Alhuqurr.
que, y. NJ, the following copy of % lrt.
ter addressed to the evening paper:
santa Fe. " NJ, June 10, 1911.
Editor Albuquerque Evening Herald,
Albuquerque. Y. NJ.
Sir:
The following editorial is noted In
your issue of June :. 1911;
1.-THE Evening Herald is informed
that throughout New Mexico al this
time there are a number Of Ian Of.
ice sleuths who are checking W aud
reporting on homesteaders who have
taken up lands in the dry farming Soc.
tions.
These slcuths. Il il said. are incl Ne.
ed 10 be hard on the homesteaders and
are causing them much trouble in retain
ing title 10 their lands. In many cl-,#
indictments will be sought before .h,
grand juries for violation Of the home
stead act.
1.-The entire procedure IN 90 out ~ q
loo eases is nothing hut rank injustice
For two years past the dry farmers in
New Mexico have faced great Difficult
ties. They have had little or no rain in
most sections, and many Of them have
been forced by sheer necessity 10 hc
rather lax about compliance with the
homestead net.
"The spirit and intent ~ the home
stead act is 20 give land 20 famlljr.
that are actually seeking homes II BE-
doubtful II one in a hundred OF uur
homesteadcrs have any other iutcnt or
thought than 10 develop farms and make
a living on their claims by building mp
homes and producing crops. That they
have not succeeded as well ~ they
would like Il no fault Of their own. They
are irving hard enough and the man
and his family who lives on q home.
stead and undergoes the hardships and
privations incidental thereto Is entitled
"a a great deal Of charity,
"These departmental sleuihs have
nothing 20 40 but make a showing for
themselves. They are paid to go out
and find defects In the homcsteader's
claim. Now and then they actually a..
cover real fraud and IL Is right they
should expose IT and prosecute the of.
fender.
"But just at this time, when after
a long drought the farmer l. in a fnir
way 10 produce n crop on his land, he
should not be prosecuted in any such
a manner, aud II would be n good idea
II the land officials who are responsible
for sending out these embryo sherlock
Holmes would postpone their operations
until the farmers have more " an OPP.
portunity 10 make a living from the
land and thereby comply with the word.
Ing Of the law"
Seyenty.hve per cent Of all adverse
reports on homestead entries In New
Mexico are on entries more than two
years old, are abandoned, and there has
never been any residence made or a par.
ticle % improvements place upon said
entries. OF the other % per sen the
entries are abandoned or intention man.
ifested to hold same for speculation In
the rellnquishments thereof. No adverse
reports are submitted upon entries
where a BONA FTDE attempt is being
made q comply with the law, and every
opportunity Is given them to do so,
All eases made for investigation by a
special agent are when complaints of
citizens OF New Mexico are received or
when other reliable information Is filed
In this once. There are no eases Of
checking mp Of homestead entries with
out the making or filing Of specific com
plants or information, tending 20 AT
tack the validity Of same, or the sufic-
ieney % the compliance with the law.
When adverse reports are made en-
trymen are served with the charges aud
are given an opportunity to apply for
a hearing 10 determine the truthfulness
Of such charges by competent testimony.
or all adverse reports submitted not
evar two per cent have applied for a
AearlnR and seventy.hve per cent II
ehass Who do have dsfaultod In appear
anss q The date set for hearing or have