The Winslow mail., 1912-04-20
SPEECH OF HON.
CARL HAYDEN
In Congress, Reducing The Homestead
Period From Five To Three Years
Mr.. HAYDEN said:


in the United States is this legislation
more needed than in Arizona
AS most of you are well aware, the
larger part of the area of my State is
desert land, and there can be no culti-
vation without irrigation. It is true that
there are comparatively large sections
where certain classes of crops can be
grown by a system of dry farming, but
any land in Arizona will produce in
greater abundance if the flow of some
stream or the water from some we'll can
be applied to the land.
When the homestead law was first
adopted it was applied to the lands OF
the Middle West, where there was ample
rainfall to produce crops. After the
first year, when the prairie was once
broken, the homesteader had an income
from his land, and the amount Of that
income was generally sufficient to keep
him and his family supplied with at
least the necessities of life without any
OuColOo l0SOuICSS'
But when the homeseeker reaches
Arizona he finds the conditions entire.
ly different. The rule there is that the
settler goes upon the land in anticipa-
tion of the building of some irrigation
enterprise either by the government or
by private capital.
10 fol m lo f.,N 1. 4
oftentimes with an assurance that he
will receive water for irrigation in the
near future. But the best-laid plans of
Government engineers or of the manag
ers Of private enterprises are always
subject to unforeseen delays. The uni
versal rule has been that the water has
anticipated. The result is that the poor
homeste6der chained to his land by
the requirements of the law, must
either receive outside assistance in the
shape of his own previously accumulat-
ed capital or by loans to the limit of
his personal credit, or else he must aban-
don his hope for home and go else
where to make livelihood, for the land
upon which he resides absolutely will
not contribute anything to his support
without water.
This bill, which reduces the time in
which he may obtain a patent from five
to three years, will not only lessen the
period of his struggle, but the further
provision which permits him to be att
sent from his homestead for five months
in each year will be of inestim al BILE be-
nefit. He will then have an opportuni-
ty TO go into other and more settled
parts Of the country and there, by his
la bor accumulate the means whereby
be can devote the remaining months of
the year to the Improvement of his land.
There are many places in Arizona
where water can be developed, either by
pumping or artisan wells, in sun cient
quantities to irrigate profitably Con-
siderable areas.
But pumping plants and deep wells
usually cost more than the limited
capital which the homesteader has in
his possession IF he can obtain title to
his land within short period, he comes
that much sooner to the time when he
has an asset in the shape of real estate
upon which to borrow the money for
these most necessary improvements.
We have been told that, by reason of
the liberal homestead laws of the Do
minion, last year 125, 900 American ci-
tizens left the United States to settle
in Canada, taking with them millions of
dollars of wealth. Arizona would well
come such an addition to her popuIa-
tion. We are developing our resources
so that we will be able to eccomadate
many times that nun Der of people. We
are storing the floods of the rivers; " g
are boring deep into the earth, and there
finding the precious fluid that brings
life to thirsty soil. There are no fair
er fields to be found 1nder any flag
than Can be found in Arizona.
This change in the homestead law is
one of the best means of biverting the
great stream OF emigration which is
now leaving the United States and d.
recting it's course into the States of the
arid West, such as the one which have
the honor to represent.
Twill close by reading from an edi-
-1.,l l.. 4 Al.
Free Press, newspaper published in
Mesa, Arizona
1t is as follows:
THE HONEsTEADER's DILEMMA
1t has been supposed for long time
that the real intent of the original
homestead law was primarily to pro-
vide means Cf furnishing the indivi-
dual not owning real estate au oppor-
/ I'm, Ifr, l.