The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-17
TIE HAsKIN LETTER
COUNTRY HOMES FOR ALL
BY Frederick ). Haslsin.

BY Frederick J.
The density Of population in the
great cities and the increased privita-
lions of thousands OF people thrown
out Of employment because of the
European war, give the sociologist a
seemingly unsolvable problem. It is
rendered more perplexing by the
knowledge that there are millions Of
acres Of land in this great country
which could be utilized in providing
home and food for these people II
they could in some way be brought to-
gether. There never was period in
the worlds history when so great q
need Of the utilization of resources
existed, and yet millions of dollars
might be added to the annual food
products IL all the homestead lands
now available were being cultivated.
Thousands Of people might also enjoy
the fresh air and open space Of the
country.
Uncle Sam Is not offering a farm
and a mule to each OF his nephews
and nieces, but he is trying hard to
persuade as many Of them as possible
to take advantage OF the provisions OF
the homestead laws, under which
nearly 800, 100000 of acres Of land
are still to be acquired by private in
dividuals who will comply with a few
very simple conditions. New lands
are constantly being passed to make
these conditions easier. In addition
to these. the Reclamation Service is
offering some splendid opportunities
to those who desire to take up small
land holdings, which, IL properly
card for. will ultimately yield a COM
Portable living to their owners.
Thetlast three acts relating to
homestead lands have been passed
since the first Of June, and relate en-
tirely to women homesteaders, show
ing that the government appreciates
the efforts of the women who are am
bilious to acquire land. Last April a
bill was passed permitting the inter-
marriage OF homesteaders. Under
this bill, woman homesteader who
had lived a year upon her claim might
marry a man homesteader who had
also held his claim for year, without
impairing her rights to her land.
Sticklers for equal rights may OBJ
ject to the provision of the law, speci-
flying that the husband shall elect, I'M
der the rules and regulations proyid-
ed by the secretary of the interior. on
which of the two entries the home of
both shall be made after marriage,
residence upon which shall be con
sidered compliance with the resi-
dence requirements of each entry.
But, as before the passage Of this act
the woman who married before the
completion of her term of years
would lose her land altogether. the
lawmakers evidently considered they
were taking great advance towards
feminine equality.
On October IA, an act was APP
proved, providing that "any female
citizen who has complied with the
conditions for the acquisition of til
tie to a tract of homestead land shall
not lose this title II she marries an
alien, but shall hold her title to it
equally as though she had married an
American citizen or remained unmar-
ried. Circulars giving ull details as
to the povision of this act are now
being prepared.
A few days later. on October %,
an act was passed, providing for the
issuing OF patents upon homestead
lands to deserted wives. This bill
provides that when a couple has TAX
en- up tract of land and while re-
siding on 1t prior to the submission of
final proof of residence Cultivation
and improvements prescribed by law)
the wife of such homesteader should
be deserted by her husband. the de-
serted wife. upon establishing proof
OF the desertion to the satisfaction of
the secretary of the Interior, shall be
entitled to obtain the patent for the
land In her own name. These laws
have been passed because of the
numerous cases which have come be-
fore the department of the interior.
indicating the need for the special
provisions contained in them. An
increasing nun Der of women are tax
ing up land, and they are more likely
to fulfill the requirements than most
OF the men homesteaders, SO the. gov
eminent has indicated its willingness
TO lessen their handicaps.
While it is advantageous for the
nation at large to have the surplus
population of the cities transferred to
the large areas of unoccupied land, It
must be admitted that SO far compar-
atively few such transfers have been
practical. Not one in thousand of
the successful homesteaders have
come from the cities. Experience In
farming is essential unless the home
steader possesses a considerable re-
serve capital. The less experience
possessed, the greater is the capital
required The land commissioners
officers have come to realize that the
settlers who have already made good
are most likely to make the unoccu-
pied land valuable and so law has
recently been passed by which the
holdings may be increased from 100
TO $40 acres in certain states.
Lists of lands. which are subject to
entry for these large tracts under the
new law, are being issued from time
to time. The designations issued for
November and December are located
in California, Washington. New Mex
leo and Oregon, and include nearly