The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-12
HOMESTEAD LAW
WILL HELP STATE
PROVISIONS or NEW ACT WILL
HASTEN DEVELOPMENT or
NORTH pAkoTA-IT is LARGE
LY THE WORK or CONG. /. ..
HANNA.

The new homestead law, providing
for a three.year proof of entry instead
Of q fve4year proof, as formerly re-
CURED, and which was largely the
work of Congressman Hanna, will be
beneficial to North Dakota in that It
will tend to develop that portion OF
the western part Of the state where
the bulk of the remaining homestead
lands are to be found.
The new law, which was approved
and went into effect June 6, pro-
vides in effect that all entries made
prior to that date unless the entry
man whiting 100 days after June 6,
1919. indicates his intention to prove
up under the old law, may be proved
up after three years of residence on
and cultivation Of the land instead Of
having to wait Ave years; that is to
say, all Of those homesteaders who
entered upon land prior to the enact
nient OF the new law, and who have
resided upon the lands for the fun
period of three years, and have ON
piled with the other conditions OF the
new law as to cultivation, are entitled
to make immediate final proof.
Fivs Months Leave.
The law also provides that entry
men fling hereafter shall only be re-
CURED to reside upon their land for
the period Of three years, that Ave
granted by the department of the in
terror every year upon request made
by the entrYman4
Communication proof after fourteen
months actual residence is not af-
fected In any way by the new law.
There are some changes, however.
as to cultivation of land.
Under the new law q certain
amount of the lands must be reduced
to cultivation In addition to other I'M
provements, showing an Intention on
the part of the ~entryfnan TO make
the land his home. At the end OF
two years one sixteenth of the land
entered must be under cultivation
and at the end Of three years one
eighth of the land must be cultivated
The latter requirement as to cultiva-
tion. however, In certain cases. be
modified by the secretary of the in
terror. This is true in the case OF
heavily tinabered lands or swami
lands that cannot be cultivated. Oh
in other cases where 1t would be i'm
possible to have the required amount
of land cleared.
Proof Left Optional.
The new law does not make proof
In three years compulsory, but leaves
1t optional with the entryf1an whethei
he shall make communication proof III
fourteen months, final proof in three
years, or proof at the end of sever
| years.
There are certain provisions Of thu
old homestead law which have mo-
been affected by the new three-yeal
residence enactment that are of in.
terest to the general public. For in,
stance, it Is O. matter Of general pub.
lie concern that homestead entries
can be made by any citizen or person
who has declared his intentinon Il
become a citizen Of the United States
over 81 years OF age. A person under
81 may acquire a homestead If the
head OF a family. Homesteads are
limited to 100 acres. The fling fees
amount to about SIS. The person de.
string to make entry must appear be.
fore the district landoffice of the dis.
trict court in the counties where lands
are situated.