American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-08-05

ESyors Substitution Of Cultivation for
Residence Feature In Many
Cases.

congressman smith mas returned
home after an extended trip through
the eastern part Of the state, having
been as far southeast as Fish Haven
on Bear Lake and north to Ashton. Sn
speaking of his trip Mr.. Smith said,
my visit to the EASTERN section Of
the state was primarily for the pur-
pose OF studying the dry farming con.
ditions and with the view OF ascertain
ing what changes In the land laws
would contribute to the more rapid
ontry Of the public lands still avail
able. @Y@,s
> y am more than ever convinced
that a law authorizing title after thres
years Of cultivation without Residence,
unless water can be secured for do
messsc purposes at a reasonable depth,
Will bring about n rapid development
Of the remaining public lands. which
are adapted TO cultivation by the dry
farm method. found in some in
stances that settlers had entered laud
twenty miles from the postoffice. and
IN q country where water could not
be secured at a depth OF less than
hope of securing title many entrymen
are taking up the land, notwithstand-
ing the fact that they are required "a
live upon II seven months out OF the
year. There are numerous contests,
and entrymen In many instances lose
their homes and improvements be-
cause OF their occasional absence from
thei reclaim.
81 talked with n young nan who
during the two and a half years since
he entered his land had constructed b
comfortable residence, built a barn
large enough for eight horses, cult
waited twenty acres and fenced n good
portion of his land. In order to carr
money to make these Improvement
he secured a position In a neighborlnl
town. and at a time when his wifi
and little child were absent from thu
claim, a contest was entered and tn
department decided that the entr,
should be cancelled, because OF lacI
of continuous residence, which CAV
preference right of entry TO the con
testant. The savings OF many year
was thus lost, regardless Of the fac
that this entryman was spending a
much time on the land as possible, I
view Of the fact that he had to ear
money Mt wages to make the improv,
ments.
In another instance which came I
my attention n young nan had gon
up on the mountain side and taken u
. dry land homestead. No water Il
domestic purposes was obtainabI
nearer than two miles. It was alt
necessary for him to go away to ear
money to improve the place, and du
Ing his absence n special agent OF Il
government entered n protest becau
OF lack Of continuous residence, nj
upon his report the entry VIII dout
less be cancelled and thrown back
h public domain. I am told IN
are many such instances, al
that frequently entrymen are trea
Cd m criminals, regardless OF the IA
that they are doing everything possib
to meet the rigid provisions OF Il
public land laws, requiring residen,
regardless OF the necessity of the
leaving the claim. In order to en-,
money to Improve II.
Under the desert land law title
given FOR an expenditure or one dc
lar per acre each year for three veal
and the placing OF water upon n 20
uon o fthe land. Where Il liz a phys
cal impossibilIty to secure water Z,
domestic purposes on n homestea
entry, title should be given after thr,
years cultivation of the land wIthol
residence.
Under the homestead law residen,
In required to the exclusion of a hon
elsewhere, with little regard to n
amount OF land cultivated. The go
eminent should be more concerned
regard to the cultivation of the lar
n less In regard to the actual res
dence where II Ii impossible 10 q,
cure water for domestic purpose
Under existing conditions the dr
farmers a have no schools. church,
or community life. They can n,
raise q garden, nor have a row. n,
horse0 Mess they are equipped
a.. and hay and grain {,
Feed. ~~<Atef the land In once clear,
there Ia nothing to be done exceptir
to seed the land in the fall. harrow
And harvest the crop and yet the la
requires that the entrymen must r
main upon the land for seven mont
out OF each year. regardless of the
tacts. A great many prospects,
entrymen decline 10 enter the a,
land when they learn that residen,
10 required. as they realize the har
ship which would b. imposed up,
their wife and children.
IF a law is passed permitting Il
cultivation OF the land instead of re,
dence as an ~evindence o, good fait
every acre OF land that can be cu,,
waited by the dry farm method will