La Junta tribune., 1915-06-12
How to File on a Homestead.

homestead was originally 100
acres or quarter section of land,
half mile square. In some sections
designated by the United States land
office as semi-arid districts, a settler
may now take 320 acres under prac-
tically the same provisions. 1t is nee
essary first. that the land be visited
and examined. 1t must be selected
IN torty-acre tracts. These tracts
must be adjoining or touching on the
corner. giving a settler an opportuni-
" to select the best land that Is open.
After examining the land, applica-
ton must be made at the United
States land office for the district In
which the land is located. All of
the necessary blanks and legal forms
required for homesteading will be
supplied by the land office.
After making formal application
Tor entry a settler is allowed six
months in which to establish resi-
dence on the land. That is, to move
on 1t and take possession.
After he has lived on the land for
three years. from the time he actu-
ally takes possession, he is entitled to
patent. which Is equivalent to a
deed
hn tnn I,.,
actual and not as some people imag-
Inc, merely a pretense. The settler
must build some kind OF asuitable
residence on the land itself and act
ually live there. After establishing
his residence. absence OF not more
| than five months In each year is al
lowed, providing that upon leaving.
| notice of the beginning of such alb
senCe must be filed with the land of
flee. either in person or in writing.
on a homestead of 160 acres, the
Law requires that a claimants culti-
walton must not be less than one-six-
teenth of the area OF the entry. be-
ginning the second year and not less
than one-eighth OF the area begin
ming the third year and continue cul-
tivation OF this much until a patent
Is obtained.
Under the enlarged homestead law
on SEQ acres. the entryman In re-
CURED to cultivate one-eighth OF the
area the second year and one-fourth
the area after that.
After fourteen months OF actual
Residence on the homestead. the en-
tpman may commute his entry by
making a cash payment OF $l.25 per
acre providing he has complied with
the other regulations.
A soldier or sailor. who has serv-
ed our government In time OF war. is
entitled To have the time Of his mill
tay service apply on "a residence on
a homestead. providing that he. him
Fself maintains an actual residence
Tor at least one year. and no patent
will be issued until n suitable habit
able house has been placed on the
land, and there has been one years
residence and cultivation by him Of
al least one year.
Homestead entries can be made by
any male citizen of the United States
over twenty-one years: any unmar-
ried women over the age OF twenty
one: or foreign born persons who
have declared their intention Ia be-
come citizens Of the United States.
Under certain conditions married
women are entitled To make entry as
follows: Where she has been actu-
ally deserted by her husband: where
her husband IL ineapacitated by dis
ease or othcrwis. from earning a
support for his family aud the wife
IL really the head and main support
Of the family: where the husband
IL confined In a penitcntiary and she
Ia actually the head of the family.