Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1914-03-07
IMPORTANT CHANGES
Relating to Citizenship and Cultivation
Homesteaders Get More Liberal Treat
ment at Hands of Government.

ment at Hands of Government.
A few important changes have been
made in the laws relating to final home
stead proofs to which we deem it wise
to call attention. Under the head of
cultivation the law says:
Cultivation of the land for period
Of three years is required, and this must
generally consist of actual breaking of
the soil, followed by planting, sowing
Of seed, and tillage of crop other than
native grasses. However, tilling of the
land, or other appropriate treatment, for
the purpose of conserving tue moisture
with view of making profitable crop
the succeeding year, will be deemed cul-
tivation within the terms of the act
(without sowing of seed) where that
manner of cultivation is necessary or
generally followed in the locality"
The Secretary of the Interior is au-
thorized to reduce the requirements as
to cultivation.
"This may be done, if the land entered
is so hilly or rough, the sol 80 alkalide,
compact, sandy, or swampy, or the pre-
cipitation of moisture so light as not to
make cultivation of the required amounts
practicable, or if the land is generally
valuable only for grazing An applica-
ton for reduction upon the grounds in
dicated must be filed at the proper local
land Office upon the form prescribed
therefore, and should set forth in detail
the special physical conditions of the
land, on which claimant bases his right
to reduction.
A reduction may be allowed also if
the entrymen, after making entry and
establishing residence, has met with mis-
fortune which renders him reasonably
unable to cultivate the prescribed area.
In this class of cases an application for
reduction is not to be filed but notice of
the misfortune and of its nature must
be submitted to the register of the local
land Office, under oath, within go days
after its occurrence; upon satisfactory
proof regarding the misfortune at the
time of submitting final proof reduc-
ton in area of cultivation during the
period of disability following the mis-.
fortune may be permitted.
Another important change affecting
entrymen extension of time in which
they may establish residence.
"Where, for climatic season or on ac-
count of sickness, or other unavoidable
cause, residence can not be established
on the land within six months after the
date of entry, additional time, not ex-
ceeding six months, may be allowed.
An application for such extension must
include the affidavits of the entryman
and two witnesses acquainted with the
facts, which may be executed before any
officer authorized to administer oath
and having seal of office, though out
side of the country Of land district where
the entry is situated. The application
should set forth in detail the grounds
upon which it is based, including state
ment as to the probable duration of the
hindering cause and the date when the
claimant may reasonably expect to es-
tablish his resi- dence.
If the extension is granted, it protects
the entry from co ntest on the ground OF
the homesteader's failure to establish
residence within the first six months
period, unless it be shown that the or
der for extension was fraudulently OBJ
tanned. But the failure of the entryman
to apply for an extension of time does
not forfeit his right to show, in defence
of contest, the existence of conditions
which might have been made the basis
for such an application"
The matter of citizenship also is inn
portant in committing.
"Where the entry was made after
June g. 1912. the claimant must show
full citizenship, as in case of three-year
proof; if the entry was made before that
date, it is sufficient if the claimant has
declared his intention to become a
citizen"
Publication of final proof notices are
prescribed as follow:
"The register will furnish a notice
naming the time and place for submis-
sion of proof to the claimant, who must
cause same to be published at his ex.
pense once week for Eve consecutive
weeks preceding submission of proof
and newspaper designated by the re.
gister.
The first day Of publication must be at
least 80 days before the date set fol
proof, and copy ofthe notice must be
posted in a conspicuous place in the
Office of the register for at least 80 days
before said date.
The homesteader must arrange with
the publisher for publication of the
notice of intention to make payment
therefor directly to him. The register
will be responsible for the correct pre-
paration of the notice."
Those desirous Of filing on land, Of
those who desire to prove up on theil
land, can see copy of the new change.
in the laws approved January 14th, 1914
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