The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-08-30
THREE YEAR HOMESTEAD.


ton of the new homestead law and the
manner of choice between three-year
proof and five-year proof on those en-
tries made before the law was enact
ed, and as guidance to those inter-
ested the following facts CLEANED from
the circulars issued on the subject by
the Department of the Interior are
made public:
RESIDENCE.
Under the new law the minimum re-
quired residence is reduced from five
to three years, and the maximum re-
duced from seven two five years. The
entryman is allowed six months from
date of entry in which to establish ac-
tual and permanent residence on the
land. but his proof date must be at
least three years from date of actual
settlement and not three years from
date of entry, as many suppose. Proof
must be made not later than five years
from date of entry. On a proper show
ing the entryman may be allowed by
the Commissioner of the general land
office longer time than six months
after entry in which to establish resi-
dence on the land. The showing must
be made by corrObOrated affidavit, and
other unavoidable cause. The maxi
mum to which the Commissioner may
extend the time of commencing resi-
dence is one year from date of entry,
or six months additional to the time
allowed by law. and application for
the extension of time should prefer
ably be made before the end of the
first six months. If the cause for
which extension of time is asked be
removed before the expiration of the
additional time allowed by the Com
missioner the entryman must go i'm
mediately upon the land and establish
residence, regardless of the fact that
his permit has not expired.
PERMISSIBLE ABSENCES
After establishing actual residence
on the land the entryman is permit
ted to be absent for one continuous
period each year of not to exceed five
months. provided that upon absenting
himself he files a notice to that effect
at the Waterville land Office telling of
such intended absence. Then upon
his return to the land after such alb
sence he must also file notice to that
effect with the land Office. 1t will be
noticed that but one absence is allowed
during any one year. whether that alb
sence be for two weeks or five months,
and bona fide continuous residence
must be shown during the balance of
the year, this showing to be made at
time of final proof. One absence i'm
mediately following another is not al
lowed. even though they come in diff
ferent years, so there must be a period
Of actual. continuous residence be-
tween the periods OF absence. Only
those absences regarding which MOTTO
es have been given will be respected
in case of contest or final proof.
COMMUTATION
Communication proof by paying for
the land may be made the same as I'M |
der the old law upon showing of IA
months actual and continuous resi-
dence Immediately preceding day of
proof. Foreign born entrymen must
now, however, have their full citizen
ship papers at time of Offering proof |
Formerly communication proof might be
made on the entryman's Declaration |
of Intention to become a citizen. this |
being the only change in the cOmmu-
tation procedure by the new law.
CULTIVATION.
Beginning with the second year of |
the entry at least One-siXteenth of the |
homestead must be cultivated and at |
least one-eighth must be cultivated |
beginning with the third year. and at
least that amount during each sue
ceeding year until proof is made.
Merely blowing or summer following |
will not be accepted as cultivation;
the land must be cultivated to agri- !
cultural crops. other than native grass ,
es." The period to reckon from in
respect to cultivation is the date of
entry. Upon proper showing and APP
during the first year
that physical condition of the land
or climate conditions make it impos-
sible to cultivate the required amount
the Commissioner of the general land
Office may reduce the area of land to
be cultivated. Physical or financial |