The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-08-06

lis given for an expenditure of one
dollar per acre each year for three
years, and the placing of water upon
a portion of the land Where it is
a physical impossibility to secure
water for domestic purposes on a
homestead entry title, should be given
after three years cultivation of the
land without residence.
Under the homestead law residence
is required to the exclusion Of a
home elsewhere, with little regard
ito the amount of land cultivated. The
government should be more concern
ed in regard to the cultivation of the
land and less in regard to the actual
residence where it is impossible to
secure water for domestic purposes.
Under existing conditions the dry
farmers can have no schools churches
or community life. They can not
raise a garden, nor have COW, nor
horses, unless they are equipped to
haul water and hay and grain for
feed. After the land is once cleared
There is nothing to be done except
ing to seed the land in the fall, har-
row it and harvest the crop and yet
the law requires that the entryman
must remain upon the land for seven
months out of each year, regardless
of these facts. A great many pros
pective entrymen decline to enter the
dry land when they learn that resi-
dence is required, as they realize the
hardship which would be imposedup-
on their wife and children.
IF law is passed permitting the
cultivation of the land instead of resi-
dence as an evidence of good faith,
every acre of land that can be culti-.
waited by the dry farm methor will
be entered within few years, and be
placed upon the tax list. The popula-
ton of the state will rapidly increase
and hundreds of thousands of acres
which are now idle will be cultivat-
ed bringing great wealth to the state.
Another law which I will endeav-
or to have enacted at the next ses-
sion of congress is one which will
authorize 1S-year-old boys to initiate
an entry on the public domain with
the provision that they cannot secure
title until they are q years of age.
Every ambitious boy at about the
age he graduates from high school
or completes his education, is anxious
to begin planning for the future, and
IL he could secure the benefits of the
public land laws he would be more
apt to remain upon the farm, other
wise many of the young men seek en-
ployment in the towns and cities. We
have heard much in the last few
years concerning the back to the
farm movement" but statistics show
that comparatively few men leave the
towns and cities for the farm. so
that 1t is important that congress
should enact laws which will encour-
age the young man to remain upon
the farm. The government is per-
fectly willing to accept the young men
as soldiers and sailors at 1S years of
age, and why should there not be
extended to them this opportunity of
securing foot Ihold on Uncle Sans
domain without being required to
wait until they are 81 years of eye.
The crop conditions in the eastern
section of the state are very salts
factory, especially in irrigated Sec
lions. The dry farmers in Fremont
county are jubliant over the prospect
OF splendid crops. 1t has been dem
that further south the fall
sowing brings better results than the
crops planted in spring.
II found much building activity
In Montpelier, Preston, Pocatello,
Idaho Falls, Rexburg and Rigby, the
county seat Of the new county of JEFF
ferson. In all the towns splendid
garages are being erected, indicating
that the automobile has come to stay.
1t Is surprising the number of ma