The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-04-03
FOR THREE.YEAR HOMESTEADS

According to ad vices from Wash.
ington, the en- actment of q ~three.year
homestead law is assured, but q final
vote upon the matter is delayed by
western congressman who persist 10
making speeches. Favorable action
will follow as coon as these %oratorica'
efforts cease.
In its report upon the three'year
homestead bill, the house public lands
committee said in part:
The committee and every member OF
congress from the public land states
are earnestly in favor of the enact
ment Of q law substantially as herein
recommended, and are confident IN
their belief that the time has arrived
when the welfare of the country i'm.
peratively demands the enactment of
q three.year homestead law with such
reasonable regulations as to leave of
absence as will render it possible for
a poor man to locate a homestead
claim upon the arid public domain
and support himself and family, and
at the same time comply with the law
during such a residence period as may
be reasonably necessary to show his
good faith.
"There are no longer large areas OF
contiguous public sd -uitable and
subject to homestead eL.ry: they are
either arid or semi-arid and difficult
and expensive to either clear or irri-
gate. 1t is q rare exception when q
nan can now fnd a 16O.a tract of
contiguous good or level land. He is
usually fortunate il one-half of his
claim is capable of being cultivated
or irrigated at all, owing to the broken
and mountainous condition of the
country.
"To reclaim and subdue our remain
ing public land requires al expendi-
lure OF labor and money far beyond
what il generally supposed; it re-
auires determin alton, courage and
energy OF a high order and continuity
OF purpose, which are characteristic
and virtues alone of good citizens.
"The hope of securing q home Is
one OF the noblest instincts OF the
human race, and your committee be-
lieves it should be encouraged rather
than discouraged.
"Under the present law and especial
" its administr alton many good mer
who would make admirable settlers
and citizens of the western states are
prevented or discouraged from &C
quiring the homes and developing tn
country which would by the passag
of this bill, be opened to them.
your committee is of the unanimOu
opinion that the passage of the three
year homestead bill will largely checl
the tremendous exodus Of farmers tC
Canada and, it is hoped, may possibl.
the return Of some OF then
to this country. We %confdentll.
believe that If the law is construed II
the liberal spirit 10 which the commit
tee hopes and intends that it will at
ford an impetus to the settlement o
the vest by home seekers, home build
ers and men who will develop our re
sources and become the producers Q
wealth and the substantial citizens 9
the country. The bill is in the interes
OF the actual settlers who, your com
mittee believes, will have mple or
portuuity in three years to entirel
demonstrate their good faith aud t
establish u permanent home.
ut should be remembered that as
our remaining public lands subject I
homestead settlement the governmel
needs the man on the land quito 9
much as the man needs the lant
When a homestead meant l6O acre
that would all produce proitab
crops by the mere turning Of the SOC
the homesteader problem was con
paratively a simple one. But now tt
remnants of the public land in tt
Grid west, the reclamation hOmestea
and the dry land homestead prese
entirely different and much more tr
ing problems, and If we are to co
tinue to obtain for the conquest
these lands the men best qualified II
the work, we must establish conditio
which will encourage them in the u
dertaking.'