Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1915-02-26
GIST OF BILL WHICH RECENTLY
PASSED THE HOUSE.
ALLOWS FOR MORE LAND
was REPORTED FAyoRABLY OUT OF
THE SENATE ComMITIEE--WILL
LIKELY PASS.

(By Chas. A. Nystrom. Buffalo Gap)
30 many Inquiries are made regard.
iog the provisions Of the GAO acre
homestead bill which recently passed
the House, that the writer has pre-
pared the following digest omitting
oil frills. The bill has the backing Of
the Administration, has been favorably
reported out of the Senate committee,
and We are advised, will probably pass
within the next ten days. The Senate
may amend the bill, but those we'll in.
formed say that no material change is
expected.
1t 10 said that the probability of this
bill becoming q law at an early date has
stimulated alinRs on homesteads, as
the men who already have homestead
has thirty day prior right in which to
select his additional 48O acres before
others can file. A number of home.
stssdera driven out through crop fail.
urss are also returning to be in line
for the land grab. II man returns to
bis original homestead making that his
home, he can prove up on 800 or 4sO
acres additional just as soon as i'm
provements in the way OF fencing,
sheds, wells. and water holes, have been
made, amounting to sl.25 per acre on
the new aliDg.
The qualifications are the same as
under the present homestead Law.
Those having fled upon l6O. or added
dssert fling, may add enough to
make II $40. So long 40 man has not
proved up. or In case he has, the time
on bis first entry counts on the new
entry. II he has parted with his land,
he hes broker: faith with the govern
ment and is left out in the cold. In
case, however, that q man who he's
proved up on homestead and is liv-
ing upon It desires to purchase sd-
dttionsl land adjacent to his home
stead, he may do so to make his home.
stead total GAO acres A homesteader
cannot commute, however. He must
show good faith and reside on his land.
The purchase price to the privileged
class 10 81 %. no more, no less. Most
men It is believed will find it more ad.
vantageous to put this sl.25 in i'm.
provsments on the land rather than
pay the same to the government since
10 either case residence is required.
This grazing land must frat be des-
isnated by the Secretary of the In
tsrior. aud must be better for grazipg
than for agricultural purposes. 1t
must not be In an irrigated area nor
susceptible Of irrigation from any
known source Of water supply. The
idea 10 to encourage homebuildinR
throughout the entire semi-arid
portion Of the country where lands are
situated only for grazing purposes.
The additional land taken must be In
. reasonably campaot form adjacent to
the homestead II possible. II not
enough such land is available, then it
can bs selected within ten miles in Q
reasonably compact body, but adjacent
land must arst be taken. II three
nsiahbors, already homesteaders. de.
sire to flle upon three quarters each
but only three quarters are available.
then the secretsry appoints q quarter
to each, irrespective of who made the
6rst 6ling. Each has the same right to
this land, and one man cannot play the
hog. Additional land may then be
selected anywhere within ten miles.
To protect homestesders who have
already proved up in communities
where no more public land is open, q
provision is added that such persons
may. II they choose, relinquish back to
the government-provided their land
is not mortgaged-and select tull GAO
acre homestead anywhere within the
came land district, complying with all
the provisions Of the homestead laws.
OF course man has right to dispose
OF bis improvements the same as' under
the present law.
II you want this law to be pushed In
the Senate, send Q letter to your
Senator"
CLUB Meeting