Arizona republican., 1913-12-05
The Limited Homesteads

Limited HomeSteaCS
 In view of the apprehension which has been ..,,.ead among the homesteaders under the Salt river project by a letter Secretary Lane to Pres ident Orme of Water Users association printed Hy The Republican yesterday. informing him of the limitation of homestead holdings under the project to forty acres The Republican would as far as possible reassure those who will be affected by the order.
 Knowing Secretary Lane as we do and knowing his genuine solicitude the actual homemaker We are sure that he will enforce the law in such manner as will work the least hardship to the genuine homemaker. The situation of the home stcaders under this project is such as must appeal most strongly secretary. They illustrate. as no other class orandhoders real spirit of the recla nation act Most of the men with small means but Icndid courage entered into the contest with the desert and have laid the foundation for prosperous homes. They have proved themselves to bt the kind of whom the act was designed to help and who make the class o citizens who dit any community.
 The homesteaders. who will be affected by the order of limitation of classes those who have made final proof and have have ccivcd certificates and those who have not completed the requirements the law to residence and Improvements To the former re- lief is afforded by the act of June g, 1910. They may make assignments of such parts of the hold ings as they may retain under this order, to persons who qualified to become assignees; that is to those who not already holders of an entry or unit under any irrigation project eX- ceeding acres. Affidavit must be made of ones qualifications to become assignee and the as sgnor must make affidavit the transaction is bona fde and absolute sale. This arrangement while relieving the entryman of bitter disap- pointment will afford him compensation for his labor and expense in bringing his holdings into cultivation Assignment may be made adult children of the entryman and to relative except his wife.
 
 is differently situated Under the order he must make reIfnquishment to the government. Without some modification of the order. of the home steaders will seriously affected. Many of them are owners of tracts wholly under cuItiva- ton. fenced otherwise improved. The entry men have fully complied with the law and have paid the assessments for power and water which have levied against them. The order as it stands would leave them without relief. But entertain no doubt that their rights will be cared for; not, however. the rights they thought they acquiring when they filed on their lands but we mean that believe that they will be pro tected against the actual loss of the time and the money they have expended upon the lands they surrender. Such protection would mean only simple justice.
 When Secretary Lane comes here next month he is expected and when he sees the splendid empire south of Phoenix built largely hy the thrift, and cooperation of the homesteaders we feel sure will feel justified
 
 hold hope that the secretary will set it aside win increase the farm unit. That is tirely improbable the order is in line with the policy which adopted for all the reclama- tfon projects. think that the homesteader will be given time and a way which will secure him against the loss his years of toll and the expense he has incurred
 This is not an arbitrary order of the secretary. He is acting under the requirements of law in fix ing the farm unit The law, however allows him . certain degree of latitude and he may be expect e to employ it behalf of a square deal to the homesteaders of this valley
 The matter of fixing the unit for homestead lands has been under consideration for long time. The department than a year ago issued report which it was recommended that under all projects be fixed such a number of as, to the language of the irrigation act. may reasonably be required for the support a family7 As a proper unit forty eighty acres were suggested by the then Secretary Fisher The idea of the department was to prevent excess holdings so that might be made many families as possible. the specuIator the professional pioneer" that the department aiming
 If settler undertaken to hold 16O acres of land by the cultivation only forty acres of it. leaving the to lie idle with idea of gath ering the unearned increment he comes under the head specuIator at whom the order is aimed. He will suffer