The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-03
New Homestead Law
Ts Now Tn Effect

fore withheld from all forms of entry
because OF the possible presence Of
mineral deposits are now open to agri-
cultural settlement under law which
went into eefsct July IT, 1914 ENTRY
under the new act Involves the re-
tsuf3on By the Government Of title
to certain specified minerals believed
to JnderIle the Lands. This sort OF
agx4cultuTaI entry OF coaA land mas
bosn allowed since Juno 23, 1910, and
Of OF land in Utah since August "a,
1912. The present law extends -Ats
right ct nonmtnerai entry to an pubic
lands withdrawn, classified or valuable
Tor phosphate, nitrate, potash, oil, gas,
or RsphaftSc minerals. Any form Of
nomzuaDeTal filing may be made
s&ons, State selection, or any other
tbs Government reserving the mineral
Deposits for which the lands are be-
1hsved 10 be valuable and the right
TO prospect TOR and mine them. IF,
for example, a man should make en-
try In one Of the great phosphate
fields OF Florida, idaho, Utah. Wyo-
ming. or Montana his patent would
give him the right to the surface and
60 all minerals which might thereafter
be found except phosphate. Or If his
homestead should be In one Of the on
fields of California, Wyoming, Utah,
Colorado, or Louisiana, he would re-
ceive patent TO everything but oil and
gas. Before the Government or les
assignee comes on his land to prospect
for phosphate or for oil, the entryman
Is secured against any damages which
he may sustain in the course OF the
prospecting or mining
Tnasmuch as large Withdrawals Of
mineral lands have been made in the
arid and semiarld Western States,
where entries may be made under the
enlarged homestead acts. the recent
law win considerably extend the area
open to dry-farming homesteads.
Many applications for the designation
OF lands as subject to enlarged home
stead entry have in the past been re-
fused because the lands We're with
drawn, but these applications may not
be granted. and those whose appltca-
tions have been refused on this ground
should resubnit them to the Director
Of the Geological Survey. In this con-
nection the Director reiterates a
former statement to the effect that no
e.
and that there is no necessity for en-
pioying the services of an attorney to
draw up petitions. He suggests how
ever. that the following rules be OBJ
served:
Each application should be limited
as far as possible to the specific tract
desired for entry and should contain
the applicants poet office address and
a description by section. township, and
range, OF the applicants original home
stead entry and the date OF this en-
try, as we'll as a description, also by
legal subdivisions, of the land desired
for additional entry. Information as
to the possibility OF irrigating *he
land should also be furnished and
should include the distance and direc-
ton OF the nearest stream or existing
or proposed irrigation canal, the eleva-
ton of the lowest point of the land
above such source Of water supply,
the depth at which water can be
reached by wells sunk on the land.
and all available information concern
ing attempts to obtain water by this
method. The general character If
the land. both of the homesteader's
and of the land desired for additional
entry, should also be described to aid
the Geological Survey in reaching a
decision as TO it's nonirrigability. Il
should be noted that at present only
entrymen who have not made final
proof are entitled to make additional
entry
This information should be embodied
In letter sent to the Director, L. s.
Geological Survey. washington. D. @.
A formal petition drawn up by no.
tary win not result in any earlier con-
sheraton OF the matter than will be
given il the applicant writes person
ally. Action win be taken on each re-
quest as promptly as Is consistent With
a proper regard to other requests that
are pending. and the applicant will be
Immediately notified when final de-
ciaiOn has been reached.