Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-05

INNitH 10y MI dNitHi A'HiNftN W. iliN't B.
ify DE homestead laws as they affect
che public lands, ~ o. especial interest
10 the people Of New Mexico since
This Hnte has millions Of acres q pub
llc lands set subject to entry under
the homestead on1 desert land laws
The letter Of Mr. Jones, ana his bull
follow
Department Of The Interior, Washing
ton. Jan. 30, 1914
Hon Scott Ferris. Chairman, Commit
tee On Pubic Lands, House Of Rep
rcscntntlvca,
sir. Referring TO II. r. gG347 ana
il r.. $685. bills designed TO modify
the homestead laws as 20 public land
areas to which present laws are
deemed not wei adapted, have tot
advise as follows
Tho existing homestead laws Of the
United States show an evolution or.
adaptation 10 conditions which deyel-
opcd, or were found to exist, aB pub
lic land settlement and entry pro-
grcssed. The general homestead laws
carried into sections 2289-229i Of the
REVISED Statutes and under which tho
public lands in the Mississippi vail
lry and in other portions Of the
United states, whore SOIL, rainfall and
climate justified ~ were entered, linn
tied the maximum area which might
bc entered ana acquired ia l60 acres
In irrigation projects constructed by
the United states under the provisions
Of the act OF June a. 1902, (32
stat, $3.50, the area which might be-
entered was fixed By Tie secretary Of
the interior through the establish
ment of farm units, each supposed TO
boz sufficient for the support Of q
family. md w no case exceeding 1850
acres Ia other sections of The couu-
try particularly nigh platcaus Of the
intermountaln states. there are areas
which win not produce remuncraiive
crops ana cr the ordinary methods 81
farming. but which will. through the
soil following and moisture conserva-
ton methods of dry farming. produce
profitable crops of wheat ana other
grains For this class OF lands con-
gross enacted what ia known as the
enlarged homestead laws Of February
49, 1908, t35. Stat, G30), ana June
a. 1910, t26 stat, 68D, under which
not exceeding 800 acres may De en-
tered upon condition Of the cultlva-
ton TO agricultural crops OF "a pre-
scribed acreage annually In The sand
hin country of western Nebraska, an
prcn o. which none OF the laws hcre-
totoro described were found adapted,
congress by The act OF April 2S 1904,
tas Stat, SAD permitted the entry of
not exceeding Gao acres OF land, upon
condition that ontrymen comply with
the homestead laws aa 10 residence.
Improvement ana cultivation, md also
place upon lhe land entered perma-
ncui improvements % the value of NOT
less thun Si2b per acre The settle
ment homemnlting and agricultural
development which followed the en-
laclment Of these laws is wen known
+ and need not be here described Their
Ireman. however. as indicated. vast
areas of the public lands to which
mono az the foregoing laws seem Well
adapted ana j am of the opinion tml
+ the time has arrived when new form
of homestead nw should bc enacted
4 peculiarly adapted thereto. The lands
i / have in mind, because Of their arid
or seml-amd character or because of
thclr location on mountain tops or
sides win not produce agricultural
crops for sale or expectation iu suf-
F.. fieicnt quantities 20 Justify acquire
ment thereof and residence thereon
under the existing laws They do,
however possess some value for gray
lug purposes ANA often include tracts
of greater or less cxtcnt upon which
might boz grown forage crops. such us
l0tfir eorm milo maize, fodder, OF
other rough feed. OF little value
for ulo and transportation, but yolua-
bile cor winter feed or for the uttcn.
lnr eft ruuge stock. j believe that Will
'thIH class of lunds homestead oi
. $50 a.rw ot land would enable bona.
udo hamcscck,m Go establish uH
m1Iunn homes for che purpose Cd
stock raising aud Tor such farming
operations as viii enable them to raise
/ thrir owu supply of rough feed for On.
I sloch pWIual upon tho rcmainma
land entered on acquired
Therefore, instead OF enactiug H.
d 663f Unl 81. a. a5s2. / recommend
che enactment of general mcasur,
applicable to lunda of thls character
wherever found In the public domain