The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1912-08-08
NEW THREE YEAR LAW
In Dislavor with Settlers Wien Under
stood.

Some Of the provisions inserted i
the three-year homestead bill in con
ference seem likely to lead to mucl
confusion and possible hardship
These are the provisions relative Il
cultivation and absence, says thu
Boise Statesman.
II is required that an entrymar
under this act shall cultivate at leas
one-sixteenth of his land to crop the
second year and one-eight the third.
Another requirement is that an
entryman may be absent from bis
land i've months Of each year, but
the period of absence must be con-
tinuons.
Still another requirement is that
within 100 days from the enactment
of the Law June 8. 1912 every en-
tryman desiring to make proof under
the old Law must 6le an election TO
that effect.
From statements made by some
homesteaders who have received
notice of this requirement with re-
spect to such election, it appears that
many do not understand the effect Of
fling or falling to 6ls such election.
If the election be fled, proof can be
made under the old taw; if II be not
fled, the entry goes under the three
year Law. and proof viii have to be
made under that act.
The statesman has made inquiry
at the local land Office as to the diff
fculties that seem to be met with.
Il has been learned there that some
men desiring to make proof under
the three-year Law have sought to
file election to remain under the
other; also that entryman Who have
not complied with the requirements
of the three-year Law are planning
to offer proof under that enactment.
The homesteaders are asking
many questions which cannot be an
swered definitely at this time. For
instance man comes along saying
he did not have the required amount
of cultivation the second or third
year. his inquiry being whether or
not be can prove up if he now has
the necessary area in cultivation.
The local officers cannot answer any
such question excepting BY referring
the inquirer to the language Of the
Law. They do not know what the
regulation viii provide, not having
been received.
Another viii say he has not been
absent more than Eve months Of
each year, but this absence has been
in more than one period !. he also
wants to know if he can prove up.
Another has an entry one-eighth of
which cannot be cultivated to crop
be likewise wants to know whether
he can prove up under the new Law.
The local officials say that, while
they may have opinions on all such
subjects, they would not be justified
in attempting to give an unqualified
answer to any Of that class Of ques-
tons.
Notices have been sent out to all
entrymen with respect to the nee
essity for fling and election if il be
desired to make proof under the Eve
year Law, this being in the form of
circular upon which the new Stat
ute is printed. If any entryman
fails to get his notice. he viii find
himself after q while under the
three-year Law, though he may not
be able to make proof under that
act.
The present addresses sf many
entrymen are not known, and under
instructions the notices have been
sent to the late addresses of record.
Many Of the notices are being re-
turned uncalled for. In these cases
an effort will be made to reach the
entryman by sending notices to the
postofices nearest the land. Still
many are likely TO miss the notices,
or getting it failing to grasp the fact
that they viii 60 under the three