The Delta independent., 1912-02-16

which leave him in a position to
tahe care OF his 1amIly after he has
acquired a home.
MS family is deprieved of school
ing, church AID society. He cannot
ieaye his claim without first OBJ
calming a leave of absence. TO Cd
.aln II he must pay out money and
80 through lot of red tape. Then
ne must make up for the lost time
ere-'LJed under such leave OF az
scnce. should he depart without
leave OF absence, a special agent is
after him causing him untold worry
and loss of money.
His land is mortgaged the first
day after he acquires title ia order
to take care OF the expenses that
nave been incurred during the
| long years which he has been upon
| the land. Uncle Sam is persistently
pursuCiHg a course year after year
of impoverishing the men who, as
home builders, are trying to build
| up and reclaim these unsettled re-
gions, for some money shark or
Spectator to enjoy that which has
caused the original settler untold
hardship. grief and tears.
Judging from the remarks of in
terest taken by some of the sen9-
tors and the number of senators con
curing in the idea, very general
and drastic revision of the land
law is certain in the not very
distant future In fact, the present
congress will vrey likely take it up,
if the people will urge and call up
on them to pass a new homestead
law.
IF congress would modify the
homestead law and make it easier
for the homesteader, there would
be no need for special agents. The
settler would be PERMITTED to profit
and enjoy the liberties of a free
home and free country. The farm
would be better improved, as the
settler would be encouraged under
the easier conditions. He would be
more certain that the land he has
filed on would some day be his own
Il have made a careful study OF
the conditions OF the homestead set
Ter and believe the laws should be
modified as follows:
'The homesteader shall reside
on his homestead for a period of
three years, with a siX-months' leave
of absence from October LIST to April
LIST. During the three years the home
steader shall fence the claim with
not less than three wires and with
fence posts not more than twenty
feet apart. He shall build at least
a two-room house not less than IL
feet wide and "a feet long, con
structed of lumber. brick, cement.
stone or adobe.
He shall obtain water on his
claim by any means. He shall pillow,
seed, cultivate and harvest not less
than eighty acres of the claim. If
the above is complied with the set
tier shall be entitled to a patent in
not les than one. year or not more
than three years of actual residence
thereon from date of entry.
Thus the stetler who has the
means to comply with the require
ments can do so IN one year, while
the man of very little maens has
the opportunity to earn his money
with which to make the required
improvements
The improvement of the claims
would greatly enhance the value of
all of the land In the event of
sale the land would have ready
market. The tax payers burden
would be greatly lessened.
The homesteader would look
more prosperous and would not be
broken up. as they usually are I'M
der the present system, There
would be no need for the large
forces of special agents. This and
the enormous court expense could
be saved by the government.
If every settler would take this
matter up by letter with his con-
gresham or senator. We would soon
obtain the needed changes in our
homestead laws"