Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-05
HOMESTEAD LANDS,
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Within the past year the United States
| government has spent over S7O,OO0 for
| small iron posts. These posts are used
solely for the purpose of marking the
boundaries of the free homestead lands
| in the different parts Of the country
| which Uncle Sam is anxious TO give TO as
many of his nieces and nephews as will
/; accept them. One of these posts will be
found upon every half mile of each
homestead tract This will make 1t easy
for even an amateur surveyor to secure
his own boundaries.
Much of the cost of taking up home
stead land in the past was due to the
uncertainties of the boundaries, the lack
of guide posts and the necessity of MAX
ing new surveys. Uncle Sam has pro-
vided against future trouble of that kind.
The earlier government surveys were
marked by wooden stakes, which were
easily removed. or rotted themselves il
left long enough. Many of them are now
being replaced by these new iron posts.
In order that it may be as helpful as
possible each of the iron posts is sur
mounted by brass top bearing the num-
Der of the section, the township and
range, and each is liked hrmely into the
ground by concrete base.
Those who have not given attention to
the subject have no idea how much land
remains to be "homesteaded'' by the set
tier in the United States. Within the
past five years the back to the country"
movement has made many persons con-
slider it. demonstrating in five years has
increased at least % per cent in proper
ton to the land yet to be claimed.
The vacant homestead lands now avail
able aggregate 6S2, 9S4, 162 acres i'm the
United States, exclusive of Alaska. They
are not all located in the far west, as the
been supposed. but are well scattered
over twentysix states. More than half
million acres are to be found in the
south Florida has the largest holdings,
comprising 1864 39 acres. Much of this
is low swamp land, some of which has
been reclaimed by government irriga-
ton systems.
Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi
also have considerable homestead tracts.
The largest is in Alabama, which has
free land in almost every county. Ala
bama homestead sections include agri-
cultural lands, broken sandy soil. hilly,
level and rolling lands, timber and APP
parently almost everything that can be
looked for in the way OF variety. In
Louisiana a large proportion of pine
a little hard wood, much swamp and
some farm lands are set aside as home
stead lands. In Mississippi good-siZed
plots of what the government surveyors
describe as good farm land is yet open
to the homesteader. Timberland and
swamp lands are also to be had free in
this state.
Free land is yet to be had in the middle
west, in the states of Arkansas, Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska
Still Free Land and Oklahoma, to
rr:1,, w. the extent of near
III 3AuAS Ss'' ly a million and a
half acres. 1t does not attract the aver
age settler, because it's description con-
sists largely Of swampy and broken tim
bered land. calling for large investments
before returns can be expected. Ne
braska has large grazing lands with a
small amount of timber, and also of level
prairie. The great rush to Oklahoma
has taken up the most desirable land
and most of the free Oklahoma land now
available is rough and unfit for cultiva-
ton.
Minnesota and Michigan have consider
ably more than q million and a half
acres of free land. The largest areas are
in Minnesota. These comprise some good
land, large holdings Of reclaimed swamp,
brush and timber land. and also some
mining lands including copper. tin and
iron. Most of the Michigan homestead
tracts are described as good farming
land, with some timber and also some
light soft. Over 10000 acres are yet avail
able for the Michigan homsteader and