Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-08-22
Land Office Has Applications
For New Provisions Of
Homestead Law
Questions Are Given 10 Per-
nit Claimants 10 Edmi|idrlze
With New Law
Number Of Acres For Cu|hvat.
ion Can be Reduced Upon
Proper Showing

Applications for reduction OF the
required are OF cultivation under the
%three-year homestead law OF June 6,
1912 public. No. 17e). have been re-
ceived by the local land Office and
are being distributed among the en-
trymen. The three-year homestead
law provides for a reduction in cul.
tivating.
In order to secure the reduction
of the required area of cultivation,
the following six questions have 70
be answered properly on the appIica-
tons:
Question I. State fully, by legal
subdivisions, (a) the character Of the
soil, % the condition of the surface,
(c) whether the land is level or brok.
en-, (d) the kind and amount OF tim.
Der, or other growth, If any, and (e)
the altitude is more than 1000 feet
above the level of the sea.
Question 2. If you have any i'm.
provements on the land, describe the
same fully in amount, kind, and val.
ue.
Question 8. When did you estab.
lish residence upon the land, and
for what periods, II any, have you
been absent therefrom since that
date?
Question 4. State the number OF
acres, II any, cultivated in each legal
subdivision, kind of crop planted, and
approximate amount harvested, each
year, since date Of entry.
Question 5. Describe fully the eli.
matte conditions obtaining in the 10.
caity of the land, giving the approx.
mate amount of rainfall and the tenn.
perature during the ordinary season
Of cultivation.
Question s. State how many acres
of this entry can be cultivated dur.
ing the second year Of the entry and
how many acres car be cultivated
during the third year of the entry
and until final proof, and state fully
the reasons why a larger part Of the
area of the entry can not be cult
waited in each year respectively.
The following are sections seven
and eight from circular no. 142, OF
the %three-year old homestead law, in
regards to the reduction of the re-
Quired are of cultivation, and will
be of much interest to all home.
steaders.
CD The Secretary of the Interior
Is authorized, upon a satisfactory
showing therefor, to reduce the re.
quired rea of cultivation. In the
administration of this provision it is
not believed that the physical or fin
ancial disabilities or m%isf0rtunes OF
the entryman should be the grounds
of reduction, but the sole question
should be as to whether, under the
peculiar conditions governing the
tract entered, the exaction of cult
walton of this particular tract by any
entryman to the amount required as
reasonable. The actual special hpsi-
cal and climatic conditions of the
land entered in each case must there
fore determine whether the required
amount of cultivation should be re-
duced. 1t is desirable that the en-
tryman should, wherever practicable,
know in advance what, If any, reduc-
ton can properly be made; and there
fore, as a general regultion govern.
ing applications for reduction in area
of cultivation, it is directed that all
entrymen who desire a reduction
shall file applications therefor during
the first year Of the entry and upon
forms to be prepared and furnished
by the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office and distributed through
the land offices. Where a satisfac-
tory showing is filed in support of
an application for reduction, you will
submit the same with your recon
mendation in the premises; other.
wise the application will be by you
rejetced subject to the usual right
Of appeal. The final granting of any
reduction in r OF cultivation rests
with tse Secretary if the Interior,
who may in appropriate Eases defer
action until final proof.
Exceptions.
(S) The requirements as to cult
walton do not apply to entries made
for lands within q reclamation pro-
ject under the act Of June II, 1902
(32 Stat, 1889, nor to entries made
in State if Nebraska under the act
of April %, 1904 (33 Stat, $40, com.
monty known as the Kinkaid Act. In
such instances the existing require.
ments az to cultivation made by the
acts named continue in force.