Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-08-16

ious land offices throughout the eoun-
try regarding the new homestead
law:
/. The period OF residence is re-
duced from five years to three, the
credit to begin however, from the
establishment OF actual residence up
on the land; proof must be sub
mitted within five years from the
date Of entry.
Actual Tillage is Required.
,. Cultivation for three years,
counting from date of entry, is re-
Quired, including actual cultivation
/ of not less than one-Sixteenth of the
area beginning with the second year
and not les than one.eighth begin
ming with the third year and until
final proof Tillage of the soil is
required; mere breaking of the
soil is not sufficient; but this must
be accompanied 10y a planting or
sowing OF seed, Grazing is not ac-
cepted, except with respect to certain
lands opened to entry under special
acts providing therefore. Except us
TO certain lands in Idaho and Utah,
hereafter mentioned, the cultivation
required is the same on entries un.
der the enlarged homestead acts as
on ordinary entries; that is, the cul.
tivation of the former heretofore
required) is reduced by half.
3. The secretary OF the Interior
Is authorized to reduce the required
area of cultivation; this will not be
done on account of the physical or
financial disabilities or misfortunes
of the entryman, but only where ex-
action Of cultivation to the statutory
proportion is unreasonable under the
peculiar conditions governing the
lands The entryman must make
application for the reduction during
the first year OF entry. Forms will
be furnished for that purpose. These
applications are primarily passed up
on by the general land office, but the
ultimate decision thereon rests with
the secretary of the interior.
Veterans Service Recognized.
4. After residence upon the land
for one year, soldiers and sailors
who served in time of war may have
credit for the period of their service.
They must, however, show cultiva-
tion OF not less than one-elghth of
the area for at least one year
.. The general land office is au-
thorized to extend for not more than
six months the ordinary period Of
six months allowed for establishment
OF residence, on account of climatic
conditions, sickness or other un-
ayoidable cause. Application for this
relief will not be considered In ad-
vance, but the homesteader rights
will be adiudicated when the ques-
tion is raised The homesteader is
required to go upon the land when
the hindering cause is removed.
G. The entryman may absent
himself for one continuous period OF
not more than five months in each
year following establishment of his
residence, but he must show bona
iide continuous residence during re-
naming portions Of the three-year
period Two hye-months periods of
absence Immediately succeeding each
other, though in different years of
entry, will not be allowed: six
months absence renders the entry
subject to contest. Moreover. I'm
considering either final PROOF or con
tests, extended periods Of absence
are respected only where notice has
been given to the local land office
of the beginning Of the intended abb
sence and also notice of the home
steader's return The acts following
leave Of absence 10 be granted by
the local land officers have not been
repealed
T. The privilege Of commutatlon
Where it heretofore existed) is not
affected by the new act EXCEPT that
the entryman must be citizen of
the United States, and the old prac-
tice under which commutatlon was
allowed by persons who had merely
declared their intention Of becoming
citizens is abrogated as to an en-
.ries
Widows Residence Not Required.
s. Where o. homestead eutryman
lies his widow or otncr statutory
successors may make mp the three
.ear period by adding together the
Ieriod during which the cntryman
ompIied with the law and the