Gilpin observer., 1914-02-05
MAKING FINAL PROOF
REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR HAS
NEW PLAN FOR coLoRApoANs.
Government Agent to 90 to Farmers
Land and Conduct Necessary For
malitles to Give Settler Title.
western Newspaper Union New. Service.

western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington.-Settlers on govern.
ment lands in Colorado are to have
the privilege OF making proof on their
entries without the necessity of jour
neying to the nearest land office and
going to the labor and expense of as
sembling witnesses at distant points.
Representative e. T. Taylor of Colo
rado. after conferences at the General
Land Office extending over several
months. has secured promise that
In Colorado will be tried out a new
system Of having the government go
to the farmers land and there con-
Quoting the necessary formalities to
give the settler his title.
Under the present regulations of the
land office, the person who desires to
obtain patent on a piece Of public land
must present himself before the near
est register and receiver and marshal
his witnesses to show that he has
fully compiled with all requirements
as to cultivation, that his lines are
run correctly and that the land is of
nature that permits acquisition un-
der the public land laws. Widespread
suspicion as to a farmers rights in
various cases have brought about q
swarm of contests on the part of the
government. The settlement of these
controversies has worked delay. hard
ship and often grievous injury to the
land applicant, as 1t has been neces-
sary for land office agent, in the
course Of time, to visit the land and
make report as to the farmers right of
entry. At Mr.. Taylor's suggestion.
Secretary Lane has ordered the land
office officials to investigate the feas-
ibility of having the government
agents visit the land in the first place
and there work out the entire matter
of proof and right to entry with the
entryman and his witnesses on the
land itself. The commissioner of the
General Land Office, 1t is understood,
has in preparation an order which will
apply the new system to Colorado
alone Although there will be an
added expense to the government. it
has been determined to try out the
new plan. II it works the advantages
predicted for it, Congress will be
asked to supply the necessary funds
to extend it throughout the territory
where the land office administers its
duties.
"The extent to which the filing of
contests against innocent land entry
men has gone has been outrageous"
said Congressman Taylor. There is
no reason why the government. if it
desires to contest the filing of any
settler.- should not send an agent at
once to his land and not require the
farmer to wait a long period
times two years-before the cloud is
removed from his ENTERPRISE. And if
these agents can be sent at once
when there are contests. there is no
reason why they should not visit
every holding at the proper time and
allow the farmer to make his proofs
on the spot. | am gratified to learn
that the officials OF the land office
are going to try out the new system in
Colorado. 1t will mean vast saving
in time and money to honest farmers
who can Ill afford to follow out the
devious system of red tape which the
government is ut present maintain.
ing"